Billy Carter

William Alton Carter was born on March 29, 1937, in Plains, Georgia, and died on September 25, 1988, in Plains, Georgia. He was the youngest child of Lillian and James Earl Carter Sr., and the younger brother of James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, the 39th President of the United States.

Carter attended Emory University and served in the United States Marine Corps. After his military service, he worked in the Carter family’s peanut business. By 1970, he was managing partner and held a 15% ownership stake in the company. Under his management, the company's revenues increased to approximately $5 million annually by 1976.

In 1972, Carter purchased a gas and service station in Plains, Georgia. He owned and operated this station for most of the 1970s. At its peak, the station sold around 2,000 cases of beer each month and more than 40,000 gallons of gasoline. In 2009, the station was converted into the Billy Carter Service Station Museum by the University of Georgia.

Carter ran for mayor of Plains in 1976 but was not elected; he obtained 97 votes compared to 71 for his opponent, A.L. Blanton. During the 1970s, he served as the official spokesperson for Peanut Lolita liqueur. In the same period, he became known for his promotion of Billy Beer, which was introduced by the Falls City Brewing Company, aiming to leverage his public image as a Southern beer-drinking personality. He was sometimes referenced in popular culture, such as on the television show "Match Game."

Carter was known for his unconventional behavior. In one incident, he urinated on an airport runway in view of the press and dignitaries. He was a heavy drinker, reportedly consuming about half a gallon of vodka and whiskey daily by 1979. That year, he entered a seven-week rehabilitation program at the Navy Hospital in Long Beach, California, for alcohol dependence. Following treatment, he reportedly supported others in their recovery.

In 1981, Carter sold his properties in Plains to settle outstanding taxes and debts and relocated to Haleyville, Alabama, where he took a sales position with Tidwell Industries. By 1985, he became Vice President of Scott Housing Systems.

Between late 1978 and early 1979, Carter made three visits to Libya with a contingent from Georgia. He subsequently registered as a foreign agent for the Libyan government and received a loan of $220,000, the details of which have been scrutinized and contested. Allegations of influence peddling led to a Senate investigation known as "Billygate," examining Carter’s dealings with Libya. The Senate observed concerns regarding Carter’s receipt of funds from Libya and his obligations.

Carter was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in fall 1987. He received treatment but did not recover, passing away in 1988 at age 51. His family experienced multiple instances of pancreatic cancer; his sister Ruth Carter Stapleton died of the disease at age 54 in 1986, and his sister Gloria Carter Spann died at age 63 from pancreatic cancer in 1989. Their father, James Earl Carter Sr., also died of pancreatic cancer at age 58, and his mother, Bessie Lillian Gordy Carter, died of breast cancer at age 85. His elder brother, Jimmy Carter, lived to 100 years old and died in 2024.

Following Billy Carter’s death, his wife Sybil opened a cafe. William Carter authored a biography titled "Billy Carter: A Journey Through the Shadows," published in 1999, and he was also featured in collections such as "Redneck Power: The Wit and Wisdom of Billy Carter" (1977).