William Proxmire (born 1915) was a Democratic senator for Wisconsin for three decades. He was committed to careful government spending, budgetary restraint, and consumer protection.

William Proxmire was born on November 11, 1915, in Lake Forest, Illinois, a wealthy suburb of Chicago. His father was a surgeon and served as chief of staff of Lake Forest Hospital. William spent his high school years in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, at the Hill Preparatory School where he was at the head of his class academically and considered to be the "biggest grind" by his fellow students. His success there paved the way for his undergraduate years at Yale University, where, in addition to graduating with a B.A. in English in 1938, he boxed and played football.

Proxmire went on to Harvard Business School where he took his M.B.A. in 1940. Afterwards, he joined the investment firm of J. P. Morgan & Co. but left six...