Jesse L. Webb Jr.

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Jesse Lynn Webb Jr. (December 8, 1923 – April 28, 1956) was Mayor of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He died in office in an airplane crash in 1956.

Early life[edit]

Webb was born on December 8, 1923, to Jesse Lynn Webb and Maude (Borskey) Webb. His father, Jesse L Webb Sr., served as assessor for East Baton Rouge Parish.

Political career[edit]

Webb was elected Mayor of Baton Rouge in 1952 and served from 1953 until his death on April 28, 1956, at Lansing, Michigan. Webb was considered a moderate on the issue of racial segregation and under his leadership segregation in public buses was rolled back.

Webb was to attend a meeting in Lansing, Michigan when the aircraft he was flying in, owned by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's office, crashed while carrying him to a meeting in the Michigan capital.[1] Webb was succeeded in office by his wife, Mary Estus Jones Webb, who served out the remainder of his term.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Webb v. Zurich Insurance Co., 194 So.2d 436 (1966)