William Gilliland
Canadian politician
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William Floyd Gilliland (December 17, 1890 – September 5, 1961) was a politician from Alberta, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1944 until his death in 1961, as a member of the governing Social Credit caucus.
William Floyd Gilliland | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta | |
| In office August 8, 1944 – September 5, 1961 | |
| Preceded by | Eld Martin |
| Succeeded by | Euell Montgomery |
| Constituency | Peace River |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 17, 1890 South Mountain, Ontario, Canada[1] |
| Died | September 5, 1961 (aged 70) |
| Party | Social Credit |
| Occupation | farmer, politician |
Early life
Gilliland was a farmer in the Peace River district for thirty years before running for public office.[2]
Political career
Gilliland first ran for a seat in the Albert Legislature in the 1944 general election. He was nominated as the Social Credit candidate in Peace River on the second count at a convention held in Grimshaw, Alberta on March 2, 1944.[2] Gilliland took over 50% of the vote to defeat incumbent independent Eld Martin and two other candidates.[3]
In the 1948 general election Gilliland defeated two other candidates with over 60% of the popular vote.[4] Of the eleven MLAs who represented Peace River until 1948 he was the only one to win a second term in office.
In the 1952 general election Gilliland rolled up a very large majority over two other candidates.[5] In the 1955 general election he won over 50% of the popular vote to hold his district.[6]
In the 1959 general election Gilliland defeated two other candidates with over 60% of the popular vote.[7]
Gilliland suffered a heart attack at the 1961 Social Credit national convention in Ottawa. He died later that year while hospitalized in Edmonton.[8]