William Gaston Caperton III

Compiled by the West Virginia State Archives

February 21, 1940 -
(D) Kanawha County
Elected governor in 1988 & 1992

William Gaston Caperton III was born in Charleston, Kanawha County. After attending Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, and the University of North Carolina, he returned to Charleston to manage a family-owned insurance firm. Caperton was elected governor in his first attempt to seek public office in 1988.

As governor, Caperton reorganized state government to reduce a large debt incurred during the 1980s. To combat this public debt, he secured legislation to raise taxes and supported a constitutional amendment to adopt a state lottery. Caperton advocated placing computers in all schools. He chaired the Southern Regional Education Board, the Southern Governors' Association's Corporate Coalition to Improve Maternal and Child Health, the Southern Growth Policies Board, the National Governors' Association Work Force Development Task Force, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, and the Democratic Governors' Association.

After leaving office, Caperton taught a public policies seminar for Harvard University's John F. Kennedy's School of Government.

West Virginia's Governors

West Virginia History Center