Buck Melton

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Buck Melton
Mayor of Macon, Georgia
In office
1975–1979
Preceded byRonnie Thompson
Succeeded byGeorge Israel
Personal details
BornOctober 24, 1923
Arlington, Georgia
DiedMarch 5, 2014 (aged 90)
Macon, Georgia
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseTommie Melton (1954-2014) (His Death)

Buckner Franklin "Buck" Melton, Sr. (October 24, 1923 – March 5, 2014) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the mayor of Macon, Georgia, from 1975 until 1979.[1][2][3]

Biography

Early life

Melton was born in

Baptist minister, and Mary Marguerite (née Layman) Melton. He was raised in Moultrie, Georgia, and graduated from Moultrie High School in 1941.[4] He first visited Macon, Georgia, when he was six years old.[2]

Melton attended

U.S. Navy Reserve as a lieutenant commander.[3]

He met his future wife, Tommie Beck, while both were attending a play at the Macon Little Theatre.[2] The couple married in October 1954.[2]

Law practice

He practiced as a

Middle Georgia State College, has credited Melton with both the city's desegregation and the improvement of opportunities for the African-American community during the era, "In some ways, Buck Melton was Macon's finest hour when it comes to race relations...Black leadership developed a quiet confidence in Buck Melton as a person."[2]

Melton became the President of the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce in 1971 and president of the Macon Bar Association in 1973.[3] He helped establish the Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Commission in 1974 and provided pro bono legal work to the organization.[3] He also served on the board of directors for several organizations, including the Georgia Board of Industry and Trade, the Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority, the Macon State College Foundation, and the Macon Civic Club.[3]

Political career

In 1975, Melton was elected mayor of Macon by defeating his opponent,

African-American mayoral candidate.[2] Melton succeeded outgoing Mayor Ronnie Thompson, who had served as Macon's first elected Republican mayor for two consecutive terms.[2]

Under Mayor Melton, seventy miles of streets were paved in Macon.[2] He also introduced the rollaway garbage carts to facilitate curbside garbage collection, a service which was introduced for the first time under Melton's administration. The garbage cans became known as "Buck’s Buckets."[2] Melton successful proposed a $7 million bond issue, which was used to construct the Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon.[2][3] (He later served on the School of Medicine's board of directors as well).[3] He also introduced several spending initiatives. He instituted a penny tax, which was used to alleviate the city's property taxes.[2]

By his own admission, then-city councilman George Israel, who had been elected to the council in 1975, was one of Mayor Melton's most prominent critics, "I was probably his biggest critic on City Council...I spent my eight years (as mayor) apologizing to him for not understanding."[2] Israel, who succeeded Melton in 1979 as the city's second elected Republican mayor, later credited Melton for much of the progress achieved during Israel's own two mayoral terms, saying Melton "had a vision for the city and changed a lot of things."[2]

Melton declined to seek re-election for a second term in 1979. At the time of his retirement, the Mayor of Macon received very little pay or benefits, which may have contributed his decision not to seek another term. (The Mayor received an annual salary of just $30,000, with no

retirement plan).[2] He was succeeded by George Israel, who became Macon's second Republican mayor.[2]

Melton returned to his law practice after leaving office. He co-founded the Sell & Melton

merger of his own firm, McKenna, House, Lancaster & Green, with a second firm, Sell, Comer & Popper.[2]

In 1982, Melton ran as an unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate for

Atlanta Constitution praised his credentials, Melton's campaign lacked the funding to run an effective campaign against opponents with deeper pockets.[2] He lost the Democratic primary election to Joe Frank Harris, who was elected Governor in the general election.[3]

Buck Melton made one more foray into elected politics in 1999 when he sought election as Mayor of Macon again. Incumbent Mayor Jim Marshall had decided to run for the United States House of Representatives. Melton entered the race for Mayor of Macon, but was defeated in the Democratic mayoral primary election by C. Jack Ellis.[2] Ellis went on to win the 1999 mayoral general election, becoming the city's first African-American mayor.

Later life

In 2004, Melton published his

Middle Georgia's prosperity and growth," further saying that Melton "had a hand in the most successful and significant undertakings" in the region throughout the previous three decades.[2]

Buck Melton remained very involved with his law firm until he suffered a major stroke in April 2007.[3] The McKenna National Guard Armory underwent a major, six million dollar renovation and was rededicated as the Buck Melton Community Center during the summer of 2009.[2] Melton and his wife, Tommie, attended the dedication. Melton thanked the community in a speech at the dedication ceremony, "This building is a shining star...This community’s going to be a whole new world because of this."[2]

Melton's health had further declined following heart complications suffered in January 2014.

military honors.[2] He was survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Tommie Melton, and their two children, Leigh Singleton and Buckner F. Melton Jr.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Fleming, Leah (2014-03-06). "Buck Melton, Former Macon Mayor, Dies At Age 90". Georgia Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  2. ^
    The Telegraph (Macon). Archived from the original
    on 2014-03-09. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  3. ^
    The Telegraph (Macon). Archived from the original
    on 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  4. ^
    The Telegraph (Macon)
    . 2014-03-07. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
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