Changes

In 1959, Cleveland was  acting governor for a day for the observance in Baton Rouge by the Men's Goodwill Tour of the 250th anniversary of the founding of Marksville in Avoyelles Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm/ref/collection/LHP/id/8786|title=Acting Louisiaan Governor W. J. "Bill" Cleveland|publisher=llouisdl.louislibraries.org|accessdate=March 7, 2015}}</ref>

In 1959, Cleveland was  acting governor for a day for the observance in Baton Rouge by the Men's Goodwill Tour of the 250th anniversary of the founding of Marksville in Avoyelles Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm/ref/collection/LHP/id/8786|title=Acting Louisiaan Governor W. J. "Bill" Cleveland|publisher=llouisdl.louislibraries.org|accessdate=March 7, 2015}}</ref>

Cleveland was a delegate to the 1952 [[Democratic National Convention]] in [[Chicago]], which assembled the [[Adlai Stevenson II|Stevenson]]-[[John Sparkman|Sparkman]] [[Ticket (politics)|ticket]], which won the ten [[electoral vote]]s of Louisiana that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/cleveland.html|title=Cleveland, William J.|publisher=[[The Political Graveyard]]|accessdate=March 6, 2015}}</ref> He was subsequently an alternate delegate to the 1968 Democratic National Conventio], which also met in Chicago amid rioting and looting to nominate the [[Hubert Humphrey|Humphrey]]-[[Ed Muskie|Muskie]] slate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reggiefamilyarchives.com/435-7/24/1968.html|title=State Democratic Delegates to Convention Are Listed|date=July 24, 1968|publisher=reggiefamilyarchives.com|accessdate=March 6, 2015}}</ref> However, the Louisiana electoral votes in 1968 went to [[George Wallace]] of [[Alabama]] on the American Independent Party ticket.

Cleveland was a delegate to the 1952 [[Democratic National Convention]] in [[Chicago]], which assembled the [[Adlai Stevenson|Stevenson]]-[[John Sparkman|Sparkman]] [[Ticket (politics)|ticket]], which won the ten [[electoral vote]]s of Louisiana that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/cleveland.html|title=Cleveland, William J.|publisher=[[The Political Graveyard]]|accessdate=March 6, 2015}}</ref> He was subsequently an alternate delegate to the 1968 Democratic National Conventio], which also met in Chicago amid rioting and looting to nominate the [[Hubert Humphrey|Humphrey]]-Edmund Muskie ticket. However, the Louisiana electoral votes in 1968 went to [[George Wallace]] of [[Alabama]] on the American Independent Party ticket.

   

   

==Personal life==

==Personal life==

Cleveland was born in Lena Station in Rapides Parish in Central Louisiana.<ref name=findagrave/> His first wife, the former Willie Mae Dean (1903-1973), was a daughter of F. B. Dean (1861-1927) and the former Florence Nugent (1863-1935) and a native of Colfax in Grant Parish, north of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Cleveland&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1109&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=141306289&df=all&|title=Willie Mae Dean Cleveland|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 28, 2020}}</ref> Willie Mae Cleveland was an aunt of the Louisiana [[cartoonist]] [[Pap Dean]], affiliated for many years with ''The Shreveport Times.'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10965603|title=Florence Nugent Dean|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 28, 2020}</ref>

Cleveland was born in Lena Station in Rapides Parish in Central Louisiana.<ref name=findagrave/> His first wife, the former Willie Mae Dean (1903-1973), was a daughter of F. B. Dean (1861-1927) and the former Florence Nugent (1863-1935) and a native of Colfax in Grant Parish, north of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Cleveland&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1109&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=141306289&df=all&|title=Willie Mae Dean Cleveland|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 28, 2020}}</ref> Willie Mae Cleveland was an aunt of the Louisiana cartoonist [[Pap Dean]], affiliated for many years with ''The Shreveport Times.'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10965603|title=Florence Nugent Dean|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 28, 2020}</ref>

The couple had three children, Willie Mae "Billie" Cleveland Fulkerson (1924-2009); William Cleveland, Jr., known as "Jennings"; and Ella Florence Cleveland, all deceased. Willie Mae Fulkerson, a member of the Christian Church, served for eight years on the Crowley City Council and was instrumental in having her city designated as the first "Tree City" in the state. She was a member of the Acadia Parish Democratic Executive Committee. In 1956, she traveled to [[Washington, D.C.]], and met with [[U.S. President]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] as a member of the first Women's Congress of Housing. After her father's defeat, Governor Edwards appointed her to the Louisiana Prison Board.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geesey-ferguson.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=786248|title=Willie Mae Cleveland Fulkerson Life Legacy|publisher=geesey-ferguson.com|date=September 15, 2009|accessdate=March 6, 2015}}</ref>

The couple had three children, Willie Mae "Billie" Cleveland Fulkerson (1924-2009); William Cleveland, Jr., known as "Jennings"; and Ella Florence Cleveland, all deceased. Willie Mae Fulkerson, a member of the Christian Church, served for eight years on the Crowley City Council and was instrumental in having her city designated as the first "Tree City" in the state. She was a member of the Acadia Parish Democratic Executive Committee. In 1956, she traveled to [[Washington, D.C.]], and met with [[U.S. President]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] as a member of the first Women's Congress of Housing. After her father's defeat, Governor Edwards appointed her to the Louisiana Prison Board.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geesey-ferguson.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=786248|title=Willie Mae Cleveland Fulkerson Life Legacy|publisher=geesey-ferguson.com|date=September 15, 2009|accessdate=March 6, 2015}}</ref>