William Minshall served two years in the Ohio Legislature prior to World War II. He enlisted in 1940, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and received a Bronze Star and four battle stars for his service in Europe. After graduating from returning from the war, the Cleveland Law School graduate began practicing law in Cleveland. He was an assistant state attorney general and general counsel for the Federal Maritime Administration before being elected to the U.S. Congress as a representative of the former 23rd District. After serving 20 years in Congress, Minshall maintained a law office in Cleveland and operated a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C.