Biographical Sketch

            William J. “Bill” Boner is a Tennessee educator and former Democratic politician.  He served as a member of both the Tennessee and the United States House of Representatives (1979-1987).  Boner was also the third mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, serving from 1987 to 1991. 

A native of Nashville, he received his higher education at Middle Tennessee State University (’67) and Peabody College (MA, ’69).  Boner served as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and both taught and coached at the Nashville’s Trevecca Nazarene College.  He also enrolled in the former YMCA Night Law School (now Nashville School of Law), graduating in 1978.  Boner served in the State House in 1974 and then decided to run in the Democratic primary against Fifth District Congressman Clifford Allen in 1978.  He was successful in the election and was subsequently reelected four times.

In 1987, Boner ran for Nashville mayor, beating opponent Phil Bredesen in a runoff election.  He did not seek reelection in 1991, seeking rather to take a brief hiatus from politics.  Boner later resumed his former seat in the State House.

The former Congressman and mayor returned to education, serving as the last principal of the former Tennessee Preparatory School and in various secondary education positions throughout the greater Nashville area.

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