William Wallace Blackney (August 28, 1876-March 14, 1963) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. Blackney was born in Clio, Michigan, and attended the public schools there. He went to Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan, and Ferris School, Big Rapids, Michigan. He moved to Flint, Michigan, in 1904 and served as county clerk of Genesee County 1905-1912. He was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1912, was admitted to the bar the same year, and commenced practice in Flint. He served as assistant prosecuting attorney of Genesee County 1913-1917, member of the Flint School Board 1924-1934, member of the Republican State central committee 1925-1930, and instructor in the General Motors Company technical night school for sixteen years.
In 1934, Blackney defeated incumbent Claude E. Cady to be elected as a Republican from Michigan's 6th District to the United States House of Representatives for the Seventy-fourth Congress, serving from January 3, 1935 to January 3, 1937. He lost to Democrat Andrew J. Transue in 1936, but defeated him for reelection in 1938 to the Seventy-sixth and to the six succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1939 to January 3, 1953. He was not a candidate for re-election in 1952 and retired to Flint, where he resided until his death.
He is interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in Clio, Michigan.
This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
