William Stanley West

William Stanley West (August 23, 1849 – December 22, 1914) was a United States senator from the state of Georgia. He was a Democrat. West served until Thomas W. Hardwick was elected to fill Bacon's seat.

Only one month after leaving his senatorial position, West died on December 22, 1914, in Valdosta, Georgia. He was buried in Sunset Hill Cemetery in that same city.

Establishing Valdosta State University West was instrumental as a State Senator in establishing the South Georgia State Normal College (now Valdosta State University). In 1906, West and State Representative C.R. Ashley presented bills proposing the establishment of a college in Valdosta to the Georgia Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively. By an act of the Georgia State Legislature that year the establishment of an agricultural, industrial, or normal college in South Georgia was approved. Despite the legislation, no funding was granted until the summer of 1911. West donated fifty acres of land for the campus.

West Hall, built in 1917, is named in his honor.