William W. Gullett

Who is William W. Gullett?

William Waitman Gullett served as the first County Executive of Prince George's County, Maryland from 1971 to 1974. He had previously served three terms as the Mayor of College Park from 1963 to 1969, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of Maryland, 1967–68 and a Presidential Elector for Maryland in 1972.

Gullett was born in Springfield, Illinois to parents Noah and Clara Virgin Gullett. He married Helen Jaunita Hammons in Springfield on March 20, 1943. Their first son, William Jr., was born in St. Louis, Missouri, followed by Christopher and twin daughters, Michele and Nicole, in Washington, D.C. Gullett's son, William, was shot and killed on February 16, 1969, as a young Prince George's County police officer.

Gullett served in the US Army Air Corps in World War II as a B17 pilot based in England. On his return to civilian life he became a chemical engineer and was interested in metallurgy. Gullett holds 21 US patents in the area.

Gullett was elected as County Executive in a 1971 special election to choose the county's first executive under the new home rule charter, defeating one Republican and five Democratic candidates.