Benny Keister
Walter Benjamin Keister Sr. | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait | |
| State Delegate from Virginia's 6th and 7th District | |
| In office 2000–2005 | |
| Succeeded by | Anne B. Crockett-Stark |
| Mayor of Dublin, Virginia | |
| In office 1989–1997 | |
| Member of Dublin City Council | |
| In office 1986–1989 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 13, 1941 Radford, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | March 23, 2024 (aged 83) Dublin, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Children | Bo Keister |
| Parent(s) | Walter H. Keister Mary Bain |
| Residence(s) | Dublin, Virginia |
| Occupation | Politician, schoolteacher |
Walter Benjamin Keister Sr. (March 13, 1941 – March 23, 2024) was an American politician who served as the mayor of Dublin, Virginia, from 1989 to 1997 and as a Virginia Delegate from 2000 to 2005.
Early life and career
[edit]Walter Benjamin Keister Sr.[1] was born on March 13, 1941, in Radford, Virginia, to Mary Bain and Walter H. Keister (1907–1961).[2][3] He started his career as a science teacher. Keister's political career began when he was elected a member of Dublin City Council in 1986. Keister was elected the mayor of Dublin, Virginia, in 1989 and held office until 1997. Keister later served as a Virginia delegate from 2000 to 2005, representing the 6th and 7th districts as a Democrat.[4] Keister was the last Democrat to win either district, until their locations were changed in the run-up to the 2023 Virginia House of Delegates election.[5][6]
Personal life and death
[edit]Keister's son Bo Keister is an actor who had a small role in Remember the Titans.[7]
Keister died in Dublin, Virginia, on March 23, 2024, at age 83.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Walter Keister Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "BIRTHDAY OF DUBLIN MAYOR SAME AS RADFORD HOSPITAL'S". scholar.lib.vt.edu. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "News Journal 22 November 1961". virginiachronicle.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ Dillon, Kaitlyn (March 24, 2024). "WDBJ7 Archive: Remembering former State Delegate and Dublin Mayor Benny Keister". www.wdbj7.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ Williamson, Jeff (June 7, 2021). "Virginia House of Delegates District 7 Democratic Primary results on June 8, 2021". WSLS. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "Redistricting in Virginia after the 2020 census". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- ^ Jr., Ralph Berrier (October 27, 2008). "Bright lights in Craig". Roanoke Times. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "Walter Benjamin "Benny" Keister Sr. Obituary (1941–2024)". echovita.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "Former State Delegate and Mayor of Dublin Benny Keister dies at 83". WFXRtv. March 24, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.