Blass, William Joel, 1917-

As a lawyer in 1952, William Joel Blass successfully prosecuted the Boyce Holleman case by proving that voter fraud had kept Holleman from winning. Beginning in 1953, he served two terms in Stone County's legislative seat, retiring from that position in 1960. While in office, most considered him an extreme liberal on racial issues. He favored putting truth to the policy of "separate but equal". Because he opposed the "red meat" bills proposed by the legislature's segregationists, he endured vigorous, hostile attacks on his reputation by both private citizens and state legislators.