W. Laird Stabler Jr.

Winder Laird Stabler Jr. (May 2, 1930 – February 24, 2008) was an American attorney and politician from the state of Delaware.^[1]

W. Laird Stabler Jr.
United States Attorney for the District of Delaware
In office 1975–1977
President	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	Ralph F. Keil
Succeeded by	James W. Garvin Jr.
Attorney General of Delaware
In office 1971–1975
Governor	Russell W. Peterson Sherman W. Tribbitt
Preceded by	David P. Buckson
Succeeded by	Richard R. Wier Jr.
Member of the Delaware House of Representatives from the 13th district
In office 1965–1971
Preceded by	Robert N. Downs, III
Succeeded by	Andrew G. Knox
Personal details
Born	Winder Laird Stabler Jr. (1930-05-02)May 2, 1930 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	February 24, 2008(2008-02-24) (aged 77) Montchanin, Delaware, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Peg
Children	3
Alma mater	Princeton University (BA) University of Virginia (LLB)

Early life

Stabler was born in 1930 in Nashville, Tennessee. He moved with his family to Seaford at the age of nine.^[2] He attended school there until 1944. He then attended the Cranbrook School, a private school in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.^[1]

Stabler graduated from Princeton University in 1952 and the University of Virginia Law School in 1954.^[3] He then returned to Delaware to practice law.^[1]

Political career

Stabler was appointed as a deputy attorney general in 1961. In 1965, he was elected to the Delaware House of Representatives. He was re-elected in 1966 and 1968 and served as majority leader during his second term of office.^[1]

In 1970, Stabler was elected as the Attorney General of Delaware.^[4] He served a single term from 1971 until 1975. Following his tenure as Attorney General, Stabler was appointed as the U.S. Attorney for Delaware by President Gerald Ford in 1975. He served in that capacity until 1977.^[1]

Stabler served as the Republican National Committeeman for Delaware from 1985 until 2005.^[1]

Illness and death

Stabler was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2005. He underwent two surgeries and the cancer went into remission. However, the cancer returned in 2007. He died on February 24, 2008, at the age of 77 in Montchanin, Delaware.^[5] He was survived by his wife, Peg and three children.^[1][6]