William Fountain Maupins, Jr.
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
MAUPINS, William Fountain Jr.
William Fountain Maupins Jr. was born in Duluth on July 21st 1921 and was abandoned as a baby. He was taken in by a young woman, who died a short time later. Maupins was then adopted from an orphanage by a married couple. His adopted father was an elevator operator and shoe shiner at the Hotel Duluth.
Mr. Maupins went on to attend Central High School. After graduation, he served in the United States Navy during WWII. He enlisted on March 27th 1939 and was a crewman on the storied USS Paducah stationed at the Duluth Naval Reserve.
He served aboard several other vessels during World War II including the USS Mattole (AO-17), USS Black (DD-666), USS Pastores (AF-16), USS Sangay (AE-10), and the USS LCI(L)-612. He was also assigned to Naval Air Stations in Bermuda and Norfolk. He rose to the rank of Stewarts Mate 1st Class (STM1/c).
After the war he returned to the US and married Dimples L. [Ellison] in 1947. He later went to UMD and got his degree in political science in 1961. He became president of the Duluth chapter of the NAACP.
When an African American family (Matthew Carter) was prevented from moving into Duluth's Lakeside neighborhood, he launched a campaign that led to a city fair-housing ordinance.
He also organized a food drive for poor African Americans in Mississippi; when white truckers in the South tried to block the shipments, he persuaded Duluth teamsters to deliver the food
Mr. Maupins passed away on March 28th 1992, but he left a legacy of positive change. His influence is still felt by people in the city of Duluth and at UMD.
Source(s):
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Bringing Civil Rights to Duluth and UMD | UMD News Center (umn.edu).
Page 3 WWII Navy Muster Rolls - Fold3
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 - Ancestry.com
