Ronnie Thompson (Georgia politician)
| Ronnie Thompson | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Mayor of Macon, Georgia | |
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In office 1967–1975 |
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| Preceded by | Benjamin Franklin Merritt, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Buck Melton |
| Alderman in Macon, Georgia | |
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In office 1963–1967 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ronald John Thompson July 21, 1934 Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican Party nominee for governor of Georgia, 1974 election; nominee for Congress, 1972 election |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Nita Thompson (1952–1972) (2) Linda Duffey Thompson (1975) (3) Gloria Milligan Thompson (1976- ?) |
| Children | From first marriage: Ronita John (born ca. 1958) |
| Residence | Macon, Georgia |
| Occupation | Businessman Gospel singer Newspaper columnist Radio talk show host Counselor |
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(1) Thesis author Buddy Kelly Moore said that Thompson "shocked and fascinated observers with hard-line approaches to law-and-order, municipal unionism, and race relations." (2) Thompson was known nationally during his mayoral tenure for "his predilection for the flamboyan," including his opposition to school busing. (3) Like Theodore Bilbo of Mississippi, W. Lee O'Daniel of Texas, and Jimmie Davis of Louisiana, Thompson effectively used gospel and country music in his political campaigns. (4) When Thompson ran for governor of Georgia in 1974, he found himself as opposed as much by many of his fellow Republicans as the Democrats, who had coalesced behind George D. Busbee. (5) Though he was called "Machine Gun" Ronnie and did not object to the epithet, there is no evidence that Thompson actually ever handled a machine gun. |
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(1) Thesis author Buddy Kelly Moore said that Thompson "shocked and fascinated observers with hard-line approaches to law-and-order, municipal unionism, and race relations."
(2) Thompson was known nationally during his mayoral tenure for "his predilection for the flamboyan," including his opposition to school busing.
(3) Like Theodore Bilbo of Mississippi, W. Lee O'Daniel of Texas, and Jimmie Davis of Louisiana, Thompson effectively used gospel and country music in his political campaigns.
(4) When Thompson ran for governor of Georgia in 1974, he found himself as opposed as much by many of his fellow Republicans as the Democrats, who had coalesced behind George D. Busbee.
Ronald John Thompson, known as Ronnie Thompson or 'Machine Gun Ronnie' Thompson (born July 21, 1934), is a former Georgia Republican politician who was the first member of his party to have been elected mayor of Macon, the seat of Bibb County in central Georgia. Thompson served two controversial terms from 1967 to 1975. He is also a former gospel and country music singer known for his highly conservative views on issues.
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