William Bacon Oliver served as dean of the Law School of the University of Alabama, moderator of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Alabama, and a member of the Congress of the United States from Alabama's Sixth District. He advocated equality of opportunity regardless of sex, race, or creed, and was associated with the biblical exhortation, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" in 2 Tim. 2:15.