| William Richard Sharpe Jr. | |
| State Senate: | West Virginia |
| District: | 12th |
| Term Start: | December 1, 1992 |
| Term End: | December 1, 2008 |
| Preceded: | Jae Spears |
| Succeeded: | Doug Facemire |
| State Senate2: | West Virginia |
| District2: | 13th |
| Term Start2: | December 1, 1984 |
| Term End2: | December 1, 1992 |
| Preceded2: | Jean Scott Chace |
| Succeeded2: | Joe Manchin |
| Term Start3: | December 1, 1960 |
| Term End3: | December 1, 1980 |
| Preceded3: | Raymond J. Vassar |
| Succeeded3: | Jean Scott Chace |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Birth Name: | William Richard Sharpe Jr. |
| Birth Date: | 28 October 1928 |
| Birth Place: | Clarksburg, West Virginia |
| Death Place: | Weston, West Virginia |
| Alma Mater: | Victory High School, West Virginia University |
| Spouse: | Mary Pauline Lester |
| Residence: | Weston, West Virginia |
William Richard Sharpe Jr. (October 28, 1928 - February 16, 2009) was a Democratic member of the West Virginia Senate, representing the 12th district. He was first elected in 1960 and served until 1980. From 1972 to 1980 he served as Majority Whip. He was elected again in 1984 and in 1990 was appointed Senate President Pro Tempore. He is the longest-serving State Senator in West Virginia history, with a career of over 44 years.
In 1994, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources opened a new 150 bed acute care psychiatric facility to replace the old Weston State Hospital. The new facility was named William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital. In 2000 a new Civil Air Patrol facility was built at Charleston's Yeager Airport and it too was named in Sharpe's honor.
In January 2007, Sharpe underwent a 10-hour surgery to treat what doctors called a giant aneurysm. In 2008, Sharpe opted not to seek another term as State Senator. His term expired at the end of December 2008. Sharpe died February 16, 2009.