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Waller served from 1951 to 1953 in the Counterintelligence Corps of the [[United States Army]] during the [[Korean War]] and attained the rank of [[sergeant]]. Though offered a commission in the Corps, he declined and returned to the capital city of [[Jackson]] to Army Reserve duty and also resumed his practice of law.<ref>Bill Waller, ''Straight Ahead: The Memoirs of a Mississippi Governor'' (Brandon, Mississippi: Quail Ridge Press, 2007) (1st edition,. p. 34; ISBN=1-934193-04-6.</ref>  

Waller served from 1951 to 1953 in the Counterintelligence Corps of the [[United States Army]] during the [[Korean War]] and attained the rank of [[sergeant]]. Though offered a commission in the Corps, he declined and returned to the capital city of [[Jackson]] to Army Reserve duty and also resumed his practice of law.<ref>Bill Waller, ''Straight Ahead: The Memoirs of a Mississippi Governor'' (Brandon, Mississippi: Quail Ridge Press, 2007) (1st edition,. p. 34; ISBN=1-934193-04-6.</ref>  

Waller was the District Attorney of Hinds County, from 1959 to 1967.<ref name=NGA/>.

Waller was the District Attorney of Hinds County, from 1959 to 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nga.org/governor/william-lowe-waller/|title=About Bill Waller|publisher=National Governors Association|accessdate=September 28, 2021}}</ref>

In that capacity, he unsuccessfully prosecuted Byron De La Beckwith, Jr. (1920-2001) in the murder of [[civil rights]] activist Medgar Wiley Evers (1925-1963). Both trials ended in hung juries. Because De La Beckwith was never acquitted in these trials, he was prosecuted again in 1994 and found guilty of [[murder]]. Coincidentally, Waller's main opponent for governor in the 1971 [[general election]] was Evers' brother, James Charles Evers (1922-2020), then the mayor of Fayette, who ran as an [Independent]], but at times was affiliated with the [[Republican Party]]. Waller handily prevailed, 601,222 (77 percent) to Evers' 172,762 (22.1 percent).<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/11/03/archives/evers-is-defeated-in-large-turnout-in-mississippi-vote-evers.html|title=Evers Is Defeated In Large Turnout In Mississippi Vote|author=Roy Reed|publisher=''[[The New York Times]],'' November 2, 1971, p. 1.</ref>

In that capacity, he unsuccessfully prosecuted Byron De La Beckwith, Jr. (1920-2001) in the murder of [[civil rights]] activist Medgar Wiley Evers (1925-1963). Both trials ended in hung juries. Because De La Beckwith was never acquitted in these trials, he was prosecuted again in 1994 and found guilty of [[murder]]. Coincidentally, Waller's main opponent for governor in the 1971 [[general election]] was Evers' brother, James Charles Evers (1922-2020), then the mayor of Fayette, who ran as an [Independent]], but at times was affiliated with the [[Republican Party]]. Waller handily prevailed, 601,222 votes (77 percent) to Evers' 172,762 (22.1 percent).<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/11/03/archives/evers-is-defeated-in-large-turnout-in-mississippi-vote-evers.html|title=Evers Is Defeated In Large Turnout In Mississippi Vote|author=Roy Reed|publisher=''[[The New York Times]],'' November 2, 1971, p. 1.</ref>

Though supported by segregationists in the race against Evers, Waller was the first Mississippi governor in many years who won elections without employing racially offensive rhetoric. He organized working class white and [[African-American]] voters separately.  Waller effectively killed the segregationist Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission under executive director [[Erle Johnston]] by vetoing its appropriation. He appointed many blacks to positions in state government.

Though supported by segregationists in the race against Evers, Waller was the first Mississippi governor in many years who won elections without employing racially offensive rhetoric. He organized working class white and [[African-American]] voters separately.  Waller effectively killed the segregationist Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission under executive director [[Erle Johnston]] by vetoing its appropriation. He appointed many blacks to positions in state government.

After leaving office, Waller ran unsuccessfully for the [[ United States Senate]] in 1978, when the [[Moderate Republican]] [[Thad Cochran]] was elected to the upper legislative chamber. Waller also ran for governor again in 1987, when another Democrat, Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus (born 1948), was elected. Waller continued his law practice in Jackson.

After leaving office, Waller ran unsuccessfully for the [[United States Senate]] in 1978, when the [[Moderate Republican]] [[Thad Cochran]] was elected to the upper legislative chamber. Waller also ran for governor again in 1987, when another Democrat, Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus (born 1948), was elected. Waller continued his law practice in Jackson.

His son, Bill Waller, Jr., a Republican, is the chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court.

His son, Bill Waller, Jr., a Republican, is the chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court.