J. Wyeth Chandler
Encyclopedia
Wyeth Chandler served as mayor of Memphis, Tennessee
from 1972 to 1982. Chandler succeeded the controversial Henry Loeb
, who battled local sanitation workers during a strike that brought Martin Luther King, Jr.
to Memphis in April 1968. (See Memphis Sanitation Strike
). This violence-ridden episode in the city's history resulted in King's death by assassin James Earl Ray
on April 4. Chandler spent much of his tenure dealing with the economic and social fallout from the strike and the killing, as the incidents gave the city a bad name among business and charitable interests for some years.
Chandler was mayor at the time of Elvis Presley's death in 1977, and during the police and firemen's strike the following year. Some Memphians criticized his administration as too "status quo", but he was undeniably popular, winning three consecutive elections.
After resigning from office to accept a judgeship, Chandler was succeeded by two interims (including the first-ever African-American, J. O. Patterson, Jr.) and then finally by Richard Hackett
, who served from 1983 until 1991.
Chandler died of a heart attack at his home. The late arrival of the ambulance, which was due to confusion about city limits, may have contributed to his death. This incident sparked widespread criticisms about the existing city/county government system.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
from 1972 to 1982. Chandler succeeded the controversial Henry Loeb
Henry Loeb
Henry Loeb III was the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee for two separate terms in the 1960s, from 1960 through 1963, and 1968 through 1971. He gained national notoriety in his second term for his role in opposing the demands of striking sanitation workers in February 1968...
, who battled local sanitation workers during a strike that brought Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
to Memphis in April 1968. (See Memphis Sanitation Strike
Memphis Sanitation Strike
The Memphis Sanitation Strike began on February 11, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. Citing years of poor treatment, discrimination, dangerous working conditions, and the recent work-related deaths of Echol Cole and Robert Walker, some 1300 black sanitation workers walked off the job in protest...
). This violence-ridden episode in the city's history resulted in King's death by assassin James Earl Ray
James Earl Ray
James Earl Ray was an American criminal convicted of the assassination of civil rights and anti-war activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr....
on April 4. Chandler spent much of his tenure dealing with the economic and social fallout from the strike and the killing, as the incidents gave the city a bad name among business and charitable interests for some years.
Chandler was mayor at the time of Elvis Presley's death in 1977, and during the police and firemen's strike the following year. Some Memphians criticized his administration as too "status quo", but he was undeniably popular, winning three consecutive elections.
After resigning from office to accept a judgeship, Chandler was succeeded by two interims (including the first-ever African-American, J. O. Patterson, Jr.) and then finally by Richard Hackett
Richard Hackett
For the North Carolina congressman, see Richard N. Hackett.Richard Cecil "Dick" Hackett was mayor of the city of Memphis, Tennessee from 1982 to 1991. He also served as Shelby County Clerk from 1978 to 1982. At the time that he took office as mayor, he was 33 years old and was the youngest...
, who served from 1983 until 1991.
Chandler died of a heart attack at his home. The late arrival of the ambulance, which was due to confusion about city limits, may have contributed to his death. This incident sparked widespread criticisms about the existing city/county government system.