Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Use Restrictions

No physical characteristics affect use of this material.

Preferred Citation

William W. Nickels, Jr. Photograph(VC 0086), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

Margaret Larsen, Waterford VA

Alternative Form Available

None

Accruals

2016.0128

Processing Information

Processed by Laura Christiansen, 8 December 2016

Historical Information

William Washington Nickels Jr. (1924-2001), served as mayor of Leesburg from 1953 to 1954. A native of Tennessee, he was educated at Davidson College, Duke University, and the University of Virginia. During World War II, he served in the U.S Navy in the Pacific theater, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. He moved to Leesburg in 1950 and began practicing law.

During Mr. Nickels' term as mayor, he worked with the town council to separate the duties of mayor from those of chief magistrate, justice of the peace, and police chief. In July 1953, when the town's water tank was very low, Mr. Nickels sought the help of General George Marshall to obtain purifying pumps from the Army at Fort Belvoir for use in the old limestone quarry, and thereby averted the water crisis. He also served as Municipal Judge for the Town of Leesburg. He was president   of the Loudoun Bar Association and was ordained as a deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church. He served as president   of the Waterford Foundation and was on the Board of Directors of the Loudoun Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He was a Mason, former president of the Waterford Foundation, and a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of one digital copy of a photograph of William W. Nickels Jr. taken during or just before his time in office as Mayor of Leesburg. This digital image and accompanying biography were provided by Nickel's daughter, Margaret Larsen, for inclusion in an online exhibit of past Mayors of Leesburg.

Related Material

Town of Leesburg, Virginia Records, 1813-present, (VC RG 1) Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA; Raflo, Frank. 1988. Within the Iron gates: a Collection of Stories About Loudoun as Remembered After Rereading the Loudoun Times-Mirror for the Years 1925-1975. [Leesburg, VA]: [Printed by Loudoun Times-Mirror].

Adjunct Descriptive Data

Bibliography

Larsen, Margaret. "Biography of William W. Nickels, Jr." Received by email, 19 September 2016.

Obituary, "William W. Nickels Jr." Loudoun-Times Mirror. 7 February 2001.

Other Finding Aid

PastPerfect Record

Technical Requirements

None