Comptroller Emeritus

Born September 15, 1922, White County, TN. Married to the former Faye Birdwell of Gallatin; three children, Emily Faye, Sarah Elizabeth and William Ramsey, Jr; Christian Church; graduate of David Lipscomb College, Nashville, 1942; attended University of Pennsylvania; B.S. in Accounting, University of Tennessee 1947; graduate work at University of Tennessee; served in U.S. military forces 1943-46; appointed research assistant, Bureau of Business Research, University of Tennessee 1947; consultant on municipal accounting and finance, Municipal Technical Advisory Service, University of Tennessee 1951; appointed director of Budget and director of Local Finance for state of Tennessee, 1953; elected comptroller of the treasury January 1955 and reelected by each successive General Assembly; member of Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council, the Association of Government Accountants, National Conference of State Legislatures, Council of State Governments, Government Finance Officers Association, National Association of State Auditors, Comptroller and Treasurers; served on executive committee of National Legislative Conference 1970-74, and held position as staff chairman 1993-94; served on Executive Committee of National Conference of State Legislatures 1974-75; served on executive committee of National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers, 1975-80 and as president 1978-79; served on executive board of Municipal Finance Officers Association 1980-83, member of the board of trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation 1990-95; recipient of Outstanding Municipal Performance Audit Award from Council on Municipal Performance 1980, Donald L. Scantlebury Memorial Award for Distinguished Leadership in Financial Management from Joint Financial Improvement Program 1988, Distinguished Leadership Award from Association of Government Accountants 1988, Award for Excellence in Governmental Auditor Training Seminars for Government Finance Officers Association 1988. Retired as Comptroller of the Treasury on January 13, 1999.