Representative William Shields Goodwin

William Shields Goodwin (May 2, 1866 – August 9, 1937) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician who served five terms as a United States Representative from Arkansas from 1911 to 1921. Over the course of a decade in the House of Representatives, he contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history, representing the interests of his Arkansas constituents during the Progressive Era and the First World War.

Goodwin was born on May 2, 1866, in Warren, Bradley County, Arkansas. He was educated in the public schools of his hometown before pursuing further studies outside the state. Seeking broader academic preparation, he attended the Farmers’ Academy near Duluth, Georgia, and then continued his education at Cooledge’s Preparatory School and Moore’s College in Atlanta, Georgia. He later undertook higher education at the University of Arkansas and the University of Mississippi, reflecting a sustained commitment to formal study as a foundation for his professional life.

After completing his studies, Goodwin turned to the law. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1894. That same year he commenced the practice of law in Warren, Arkansas, establishing himself as an attorney in the community where he had been born and raised. His legal practice provided the basis for his entry into public life and helped build the local reputation that would support his subsequent political career.

Goodwin’s formal political career began at the state level. He served as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1895, entering public office relatively soon after beginning his legal practice. A decade later, he advanced to the upper chamber of the state legislature, serving in the Arkansas Senate from 1905 to 1909. During this period he also played a role in higher education governance in the state, serving as a member of the board of trustees of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville from 1907 to 1911. His legislative experience and service on the university’s board positioned him as a prominent Democratic figure in Arkansas politics.

In 1910, Goodwin was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-second Congress and subsequently won reelection to the four succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1911, to March 3, 1921. As a member of the House of Representatives, he participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his Arkansas constituents during a transformative era that included major Progressive reforms and the United States’ involvement in World War I. Over his five consecutive terms in office, he was part of the Democratic majority that supported the legislative programs of Presidents Woodrow Wilson and, earlier, William Howard Taft’s final years in office, contributing to national debates over economic regulation, agriculture, and wartime policy.

Goodwin’s congressional service came to an end when he sought renomination in 1920. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the Democratic primary, losing to Tilman Parks, who went on to succeed him in representing Arkansas in Congress. With the conclusion of his decade-long tenure in the House on March 3, 1921, Goodwin returned to private life.

After leaving Congress, Goodwin resumed the practice of law in Warren, Arkansas, returning to the profession with which he had begun his public career. He continued to reside and work in his hometown until his death. William Shields Goodwin died in Warren on August 9, 1937. He was interred in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Warren, Arkansas, closing a life marked by long service to his state in both legislative and educational capacities and by a decade of representation in the United States Congress.