William Draffman

**William Henderson Addams Draffman** (April 5 or 15, 1878 - September 20, 1932) was an American politician, attorney, and printer. Draffman served as Governor of Florida from 1931 until his death in 1932.

## Early life

William Henderson Addams Draffman was born on April 5 or 15, 1878, in Jasper, Florida. His father, George Draffman, was wealthy dealer in imported textiles. His mother, Helena Dzialzsky, a Jewish immigrant from Ukraine, who's father owned land in Mississippi. Draffman was an only child.

## Career

William Draffman got a job working as an assistant to Nels Ackerman, a wealthy book printer, in 1897, he stayed at this job until 1900, when he left to attend Florida State University, he graduated with a degree in accounting in 1904.

Draffman returned to Jasper after graduating, where he founded his own printing shop, Draffman and Company. Draffman and Company expanded quickly after Ackerman's shop was closed due to his death. The company expanded into photographs in 1907.

Draffman was elected a Jasper City Councillor in 1908. He was chosen as the President of the City Council in 1912. He was not a candidate for reelection that same year.

Draffman closed Draffman and Company in 1914, and sold off the company's three locations and stores. Draffman then purchased two convenience stores, which were successful, however he closed them and sold them to a local businessman, after he had suffered a heart attack. With the money from the sale of his stores, Draffman purchased the controlling share in Jasper Municipal Hospital, which renovated, and then sold his share for a profit in 1918.

In 1915, Draffman purchased three convenience stores in Tallahassee, Florida, and rebranded them as Draffman Goods and Such, by 1922, the company had expanded to twenty-five stores, in Tallahassee, Jasper, and five other towns.

On August 6, 1918, Draffman was appointed to the Florida State House of Representatives, by the Governor, Joseph Baumer, after the death of the incumbent, Rodman Hampke. Draffman was reelected in 1918, 1920, 1924, 1926, and 1928. Draffman served as President Pro Tempore (1918-1921; 1922; 1926-1928), Majority Whip (1921-1922; 1928-1929), and Speaker (1923-1925; 1929-1930; 1931) of the Florida House of Representative over the length of his tenure.

Draffman declared his candidacy as a Republican for Governor of Florida in the 1930 Gubernatorial Election in 1929, and was the favourite to be the nominee. Draffman won the primary, defeating six other candidates, including millionaire Michael Bellingturn, Senator Lovingly Sanker, former Governor Jorge Williamson, and other notable people. Draffman won the general election, 42%-to-41%-to-9%-to-7%. After his election, Draffman announced he would only served one term. Draffman died a year into his term.

## Personal life

William Draffman married Linda Woenk, a wealthy widow from Massachusetts in 1898, however she died later that same year. They had no children.

Draffman married a second time, in 1917, to Georgette Walbott, a British-American heiress and businesswoman, they remained married until his death. They had no children, though Georgette adopted a child after William's death.