LAIRD, William Ramsey, III, a Senator from West Virginia; born in Keswick, Shasta County, Calif., June 2, 1916; educated in the public schools; graduated from Greenbrier Military School, Kings College, Bristol, Tenn., and from West Virginia University in 1944; during the Second World War served in the United States Navy; admitted to the bar in 1944 and commenced the practice of law in West Virginia; member of West Virginia Board of Education in 1955; member of the board of directors of Merchants National Bank, Montgomery, W.Va., and the Upper Kanawha Valley Development Association; member of board of trustees of Laird Foundation, Montgomery, W.Va.; State tax commissioner 1955-1956, when he resigned, having been appointed to the Senate; appointed on March 13, 1956, as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Harley M. Kilgore and served from March 13, 1956, to November 6, 1956; was not a candidate for election to fill the vacancy; resumed the practice of law in Fayetteville and Montgomery, W.Va.; died in Montgomery, W.Va., January 7, 1974; interment in Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville, W.Va.