Bill Hitchens

{{short description|American politician from Georgia}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Bill Hitchens | honorific_suffix = | image = File:Official headshot of Bill Hitchens.jpg | alt = | office = Director of Georgia Office Homeland Security | term_start = 2003 | term_end = 2005 | predecessor = | successor = | state_house2 = Georgia | district2 = 161st | term_start2 = January 14, 2013 | term_end2 = | predecessor2 = Mickey Stephens | successor2 = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|4|26}} | birth_place = United States | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = Norma Hitchens | occupation = Politician | party = Republican | module = {{Infobox person |embed = yes |other_names = William W. Hitchens, William W. "Bill" Hitchens, Jr. |relatives = William W. Hitchens, III (son) }} | module2 = {{Infobox military person |embed = yes |allegiance =  |branch = United States Marine Corps |service_years = 1965-1969 |rank = |battles = Vietnam War }} | caption = Official headshot }}

'''William W. Hitchens Jr.''' (born April 26, 1947) is an American former police officer, former Director of Homeland Security and current politician from Georgia. Hitchens is a Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 161st District, serving since 2012.

== Education == In 1975, Hitchens earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice/political science from Georgia Southern University. Hitchens graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA.<ref name="georgia_hitchens2002"/><ref name="votesmart_hitchens"/>

== Career == In 1965, Hitchens served in the United States Marines Corps, until 1969. Hitchens is a Vietnam veteran.<ref name="wsav_hitchens2019"/><ref name="votesmart_hitchens"/>

In 1969, Hitchens became a Trooper with Georgia State Patrol, until 1997.<ref name="wsav_hitchens2019"/><ref name="votesmart_hitchens"/>

In 1976, Hitchens served in the United States Coast Guard Reserve Unit Air Station Savannah, until 2001.<ref name="votesmart_hitchens"/>

In 2002, Hitchens was appointed by Governor-Elect Sonny Perdue as the Director of Georgia Office Homeland Security. Hitchens served as Director from 2003 to 2005.<ref name="georgia_hitchens2002">{{cite web |url=https://sonnyperdue.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0%2C2668%2C78006749_91290006_91291638%2C00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205114340/https://sonnyperdue.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0%2C2668%2C78006749_91290006_91291638%2C00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 5, 2020 |title=Governor-Elect Perdue Appoints Bill Hitchens Director of Homeland Security |website=georgia.gov |date=January 9, 2002 |accessdate=March 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name="votesmart_hitchens"/>

On November 6, 2012, Hitchens won the election unopposed and became a Republican member of Georgia House of Representatives for District 161.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=767228 |title=GA House 161 |website=ourcampaigns.com |date=November 6, 2012 |accessdate=March 17, 2021}}</ref> On November 4, 2014, as an incumbent, Hitchens won the election unopposed and continued serving District 161.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=794603 |title=GA House 161 |website=ourcampaigns.com |date=November 4, 2014 |accessdate=March 17, 2021}}</ref> On November 8, 2016, as an incumbent, Hitchens won the election unopposed and continued serving District 161.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=817868 |title=GA House 161 |website=ourcampaigns.com |date=November 8, 2016 |accessdate=March 18, 2021}}</ref> On November 6, 2018, as an incumbent, Hitchens won the election and continued serving District 161. Hitchens defeated Adam Bridges with 63.45% of the votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=841233 |title=GA House 161 |website=ourcampaigns.com |date=November 6, 2018 |accessdate=March 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name="wsav_hitchens2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.wsav.com/news/local-news/georgia-news/bridges-hitchens-running-for-district-161-state-house/amp/ |title=Bridges, Hitchens running for District 161 State House |website=wsav.com |date=2019 |accessdate=March 18, 2021}}</ref> On November 3, 2020, as an incumbent, Hitchens won the election unopposed and continued serving District 161.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=895444 |title=GA House 161 |website=ourcampaigns.com |date=November 3, 2020 |accessdate=March 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/house/823?session=25 |title=Representative Bill Hitchens |website=legis.ga.gov |accessdate=March 17, 2021}}</ref><ref name="votesmart_hitchens">{{cite web |url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/142235/bill-hitchens |title=Bill Hitchens' Biography |publisher= Vote Smart |accessdate=March 17, 2021}}</ref>

== Personal life == Hitchens' wife is Norma Hitchens. They have 4 children. Hitchens and his family live in Rincon, Georgia.<ref name="wsav_hitchens2019"/><ref name="votesmart_hitchens"/>

Hitchens' son William W. Hitchens, III, is also a law enforcement officer. In 2020, Hitchens' son William W. Hitchens, III, became the Lieutenant Colonel of the Georgia State Patrol and Deputy Commissioner of Georgia Department of Public Safety.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://allongeorgia.com/bulloch-local-spotlight/new-georgia-dps-commissioner-means-big-promotions-for-3-with-south-georgia-roots/ |title=New Georgia DPS Commissioner Means Big Promotions for 3 with South Georgia Roots |website=allongeorgia.com |date=September 30, 2020 |accessdate=March 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2020/10/07/public-safety-board-promotes-hitchens/114781988/ |title=Public Safety Board promotes Hitchens |website=savannahnow.com |date=October 7, 2020 |accessdate=March 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://dps.georgia.gov/organization/about-dps/dps-leadership |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611010439/https://dps.georgia.gov/organization/about-dps/dps-leadership |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 11, 2020 |title=DPS Leadership |website=georgia.gov |accessdate=March 19, 2020}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://ballotpedia.org/Bill_Hitchens Bill Hitchens at ballotpedia.org] * [https://www.wsav.com/news/local-news/georgia-news/bridges-hitchens-running-for-district-161-state-house/amp/ Bill Hitchens at wsav.com]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hitchens, Bill}} Category:1947 births Category:FBI National Academy graduates Category:Georgia Southern University alumni Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the Georgia House of Representatives Category:Military personnel from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:United States Department of Homeland Security officials Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Vietnam War Category:21st-century members of the Georgia General Assembly