15 Facts About Billy Carter

William Alton Carter was an American farmer, businessman, brewer, and politician.

William Alton "Billy" Carter was the fourth and youngest child of Lillian and James Earl Carter Sr.

Billy Carter attended Emory University, served in the United States Marine Corps, and later worked in the Carter family's peanut business.

In 1972, Billy Carter purchased a gas and service station in Plains.

Billy Carter owned and operated it for most of the decade.

In 1977, although a Pabst Blue Ribbon drinker, he endorsed Billy Carter Beer, introduced by the Falls City Brewing Company, who wished to capitalize upon his colorful image as a beer-drinking Southern good ol' boy.

Billy Carter's name was occasionally used as a gag answer for a Washington, DC trouble-maker on 1970s episodes of Match Game.

Billy Carter was known for his outlandish public behavior; he once urinated on an airport runway in full view of the press and dignitaries.

In February 1979, Billy Carter was admitted to seven weeks of rehabilitation at the Long Beach, California Navy Hospital alcohol treatment facility.

Billy Carter later became sober and reportedly extended support to other addicts in their own recovery.

In late 1978 and early 1979, Billy Carter visited Libya three times with a contingent from Georgia.

Billy Carter eventually registered as a foreign agent of the Libyan government and received a $220,000 loan of which, The New York Times speculated, only $1,000 was repaid.

Billy Carter has had no influence on US policy or actions concerning Libya in the past, and he will have no influence in the future.

Billy Carter was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the fall of 1987 and received unsuccessful treatments for the disease.

Billy Carter died in Plains the following year at age 51, five years after the death of his sister, Ruth Carter Stapleton, who died of pancreatic cancer at age 54.