Background
III, William Paxson Purcell was born on October 25, 1953 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of William Paxson Junior and Mary (Hamilton) P.
University policy center administrator
III, William Paxson Purcell was born on October 25, 1953 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of William Paxson Junior and Mary (Hamilton) P.
AB, Hamilton College, 1976; Juris Doctor, Vanderbilt University, 1979.
Staff attorney, West Tennessee Legal Superior vena cava syndrome, Jackson, Tennessee, 1979-1981;
assistant public defender, Metro Public Defender, Nashville, Tennessee, 1981-1984;
senior assistant public defender, Metro Public Defender, Nashville, Tennessee, 1984-1985;
associate, Lionel R. Barrett, Professional Corporation, Nashville, 1985-1986;
partner, Farmer, Berry & Purcell, Nashville, 1986-1990;
member, Tennessee House of Representatives, Nashville, 1986-1996;
also majority leader, Tennessee House of Representatives, Nashville, 1990-1996;
director child and family policy center, Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, since 1996. Chairman select commission on children and youth Tennessee General Assembly, 1989-1996;executive director Vanderbilt Legal Aid Society, 1978-1979. Chairman NCSL Assembly of State Issues, 1995.
Chairman policy makers' program advisory board Danforth Foundation.
Member of Executive Committee Executive Committee 6th district Democrats, Nashville, 1986-1988, member Tennessee State General Assembly, Nashville, 1986-1996, Majority leader, 1990-1996, chairman human Superior vena cava syndrome.com. National Conference State Legislatures, Washington, 1993. Member Democratic National Committee Executive Committee, 1994-1997.
Chairman Democratic LegislativeCampaign Committee, 1994-1996. Member American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville Bar Association.
Married Deborah Lee Miller, August 9, 1986. 1 child, Jesse Miller.