William D. Kenerly

William D. Kenerly was educated in Salisbury public schools and graduated from Duke University in 1967. He received a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1973. He has served as the District Attorney for District 19C, Rowan County from 1991 through 2010. He is now retired.

Mr. Kenerly served with the Third Marine Division as a Marine infantry officer in Vietnam from 1967 until 1970. He earned the Vietnamese Campaign Ribbon (three stars), Vietnamese Service Ribbon, Combat Action Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Citation, and Purple Heart.

After law school, Mr. Kenerly initially served as a research assistant to Associate Justice Susie Sharpe of the North Carolina Supreme Court, briefly entered private practice and then was chosen as an Assistant District Attorney for the 19th Judicial District. He re-entered private practice three years later and in 1991, was chosen to be the District Attorney for Rowan County.

Mr. Kenerly is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Salisbury. He is married to Toni (Cline) Kenerly of Salisbury. They have three sons; Bill Jr., Jay, and Scott, and three grandchildren.