Cravens was born on February 15, 1899, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the son of Arkansas Congressman William B. Cravens and Carolyn (Dyal) Cravens. He attended the University of Arkansas and the University of Pittsburgh; he also attended Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, from which he received a law degree. He was married on February 16, 1926, to Elizabeth B. Echols and they had two children, Katherine Elizabeth Cravens and William Fadjo Cravens.^[1]

Cravens served in World War I in the United States Navy as a seaman. He passed the bar in 1920 and began a law practice in Fort Smith. He took the position of City Attorney in Fort Smith.^[2]

Elected to the 76th United States Congress in a special election, Cravens filled the term of his father, William Ben Cravens, who had died in office, Cravens was re-elected, and served in Congress from September 12, 1939, to January 3, 1949.^[3]

Cravens died in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, on April 16, 1974 (age 75 years, 60 days). He is interred at Forest Park Cemetery, Fort Smith, Arkansas.^[4]

• William Fadjo Cravens at Find a Grave

• United States Congress. "William Fadjo Cravens (id: C000887)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.