William Herbert Hudnut III (October 17, 1932 – December 18, 2016) was an American author and politician who served as the 45th mayor of Indianapolis from 1976 to 1992.

[3] As part of his undergraduate degree, Hudnut completed a senior thesis titled "Samuel Stanhope Smith: Enlightened Conservative.

He led the congregation with a moderate but active stance through the social issues of the 1960s, including the Vietnam War and race relations.

In the 1972 Republican primary for Indiana's 11th congressional district, Hudnut defeated future Congressman Dan Burton.

[6] After winning the general election against four-term Congressman Andrew Jacobs, Jr., he served only one term in the 93rd United States Congress.

[citation needed] Hudnut's policies were entrepreneurial, and he hoped to attract economic development by taking risks with raising taxes and issuing bonds.

The city spent large amounts on tax incentives, infrastructure improvements, and development projects to attract business to the downtown area.

Many office buildings were constructed, and companies such as Eli Lilly and American United Life committed to staying in Indianapolis.

[9] Indianapolis became known as the Amateur Sports Capital of the World, due in part to Hudnut's efforts at marketing the city.

On March 29, 1984 he organized the team's middle-of-the-night departure to Indianapolis with Mayflower moving vans, and he called it "one of the greatest days in the history of this city".

[9] In 2015, Hudnut was among five current and former mayors to oppose Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, arguing that it would undo the efforts of making Indianapolis an "inclusive, caring, and hospitable city".

He then taught at the School of Continuing Studies at Georgetown University in the MPS Real Estate Program, of which he became executive director.