Beverly Briley
Encyclopedia
Clifton Beverly Briley was the first mayor
of the newly consolidated metropolitan government of Nashville
and Davidson County
. A Democrat, he served from 1963 to 1975.
as a boy and became famous in the area for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout
at age 12. He attended Vanderbilt University
and Cumberland Law School. In 1932, at the age of eighteen he became the youngest Tennessean ever admitted to the bar
. He began practicing later that year and quickly made a name for himself as a successful lawyer. In 1934, Briley married Dorothy Gordon and in subsequent years they had two children together, Cliff and Diane. Briley served in the US Navy
during World War II
as a quartermaster aboard the USS David Taylor
. After the war, he ran a successful campaign for county judge (chief executive) of Davidson County in 1950, serving until 1963.
Briley was a champion of metropolitan government and in 1963 won election against Davidson County tax assessor Clifford Allen
, another longtime Nashville politician
, and became the first mayor of what is known as Metro Nashville. In 1966, his main opponent was the final mayor of the former City of Nashville municipal government, Ben West
. Briley won the election in a runoff
. Briley was again reelected in 1971, also in a runoff. He was prevented by term limits from running again in 1975, but remained active in Nashville politics until his death five years later. Altogether, he served as chief executive of Davidson County and of Nashville for almost 30 years.
Briley took a fairly progressive
position on the Civil Rights Movement
, an important question for mayors of Southern cities at the time. He readily cooperated with black
leaders and is generally credited with helping smooth the transition away from racial segregation
in Nashville, although it had begun before he assumed office. Otherwise, however, he was a conservative
Democrat and in 1972 was the area leader of "Democrats for Nixon
." That year, Nixon
became the first (and as of the 2008 election cycle, only) Republican presidential candidate to carry Davidson County since the reconstruction era.
Briley died on September 14, 1980 at the age of 66. He is buried at Spring Hill Cemetery
in Nashville.
His name is honored today in Briley Parkway, a major beltway thoroughfare which runs by the Grand Ole Opry
house and around much of the city, and the city-owned Beverly Briley Building, a major component of Nashville's redesigned Public Square. His grandson, Rob Briley, formerly represented the 52nd House District, a Nashville district, in the state legislature
. He also served as the Democratic Majority Floor Leader; another grandson, David Briley
, served as a city council
representative in Nashville.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the newly consolidated metropolitan government of Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and Davidson County
Davidson County, Tennessee
Davidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 626,681. Its county seat is Nashville.In 1963, the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged, so the county government is now known as the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and...
. A Democrat, he served from 1963 to 1975.
Biography
Briley was born in West Nashville. He was involved in ScoutingScouting in Tennessee
Scouting in Tennessee has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.-Early history :...
as a boy and became famous in the area for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
at age 12. He attended Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
and Cumberland Law School. In 1932, at the age of eighteen he became the youngest Tennessean ever admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
. He began practicing later that year and quickly made a name for himself as a successful lawyer. In 1934, Briley married Dorothy Gordon and in subsequent years they had two children together, Cliff and Diane. Briley served in the US Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a quartermaster aboard the USS David Taylor
USS David W. Taylor (DD-551)
USS David W. Taylor , a Fletcher-class destroyer, was a ship of the United States Navy named for Rear Admiral David W. Taylor ....
. After the war, he ran a successful campaign for county judge (chief executive) of Davidson County in 1950, serving until 1963.
Briley was a champion of metropolitan government and in 1963 won election against Davidson County tax assessor Clifford Allen
Clifford Allen
Clifford Robertson Allen was a Tennessee attorney and Democratic politician.-Early life and career:Allen was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and graduated from Friends High School in Washington, D.C.. He graduated from the Cumberland School of Law in Lebanon, Tennessee in 1931 and was admitted to...
, another longtime Nashville politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and became the first mayor of what is known as Metro Nashville. In 1966, his main opponent was the final mayor of the former City of Nashville municipal government, Ben West
Ben West
Raphael Benjamin West was mayor of Nashville, Tennessee from 1951-1963. West was born on March 31, 1911, in Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee the son of Martha Melissa and her husband James Watt West....
. Briley won the election in a runoff
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
. Briley was again reelected in 1971, also in a runoff. He was prevented by term limits from running again in 1975, but remained active in Nashville politics until his death five years later. Altogether, he served as chief executive of Davidson County and of Nashville for almost 30 years.
Briley took a fairly progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
position on the Civil Rights Movement
African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights to them. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1955 and 1968, particularly in the South...
, an important question for mayors of Southern cities at the time. He readily cooperated with black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
leaders and is generally credited with helping smooth the transition away from racial segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
in Nashville, although it had begun before he assumed office. Otherwise, however, he was a conservative
American conservatism
Conservatism in the United States has played an important role in American politics since the 1950s. Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, preservation of "the rule of law and the Christian religion", and...
Democrat and in 1972 was the area leader of "Democrats for Nixon
Democrats for Nixon
Democrats for Nixon was a campaign to promote Democratic support for the then-incumbent Republican President Richard Nixon in the 1972 presidential election...
." That year, Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
became the first (and as of the 2008 election cycle, only) Republican presidential candidate to carry Davidson County since the reconstruction era.
Briley died on September 14, 1980 at the age of 66. He is buried at Spring Hill Cemetery
Spring Hill Cemetery
Spring Hill Cemetery on Gallatin Pike in the Nashville, Tennessee suburb of Madison is the final resting place for some of country music’s legendary performers including:*Roy Acuff, singer, songwriter, music publisher*Floyd Cramer, piano legend...
in Nashville.
His name is honored today in Briley Parkway, a major beltway thoroughfare which runs by the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
house and around much of the city, and the city-owned Beverly Briley Building, a major component of Nashville's redesigned Public Square. His grandson, Rob Briley, formerly represented the 52nd House District, a Nashville district, in the state legislature
Tennessee General Assembly
The Tennessee General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional structure:According to the Tennessee State Constitution of 1870, the General Assembly is a bicameral legislature and consists of a Senate of thirty-three members and a House of Representatives of...
. He also served as the Democratic Majority Floor Leader; another grandson, David Briley
David Briley
C. David Briley was a council member of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. He served from 1999 to 2007. David Briley was the Vice-Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and held seats on the Personnel, Public Information, Human Relations and Housing Committee, the...
, served as a city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
representative in Nashville.