J. Palmer Gaillard, Jr.
| J. Palmer Gaillard, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| 58th Mayor of Charleston | |
|
In office 1959–1975 | |
| Preceded by | William McG. Morrison |
| Succeeded by | Arthur B. Schirmer, Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 20, 1920 Charleston, South Carolina |
| Died |
July 29, 2006 (aged 86) Charleston, South Carolina |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
J. Palmer Gaillard, Jr. was born on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1920, in Charleston, South Carolina to J. Palmer Gaillard and Eleanor Lucas Gaillard.[1] After a local education, he enlisted in the United States Navy two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served as a pilot for four years and was discharged as a lieutenant in November 1945. Upon his return to Charleston, he founded the Seaboard Lumber & Supply Co. in 1946. In 1951 and 1955 he was elected to Charleston City Council.
In 1959, he was elected Mayor of Charleston, was re-elected three times, and served until 1975. During his administration, the city expanded its boundaries for the first time since 1849, more than doubling in size during his time in office.[2]
In 1975, he was named Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs by President Gerald Ford. He announced his resignation as mayor on April 24, 1975, upon his nomination to the federal post by Sen. Strom Thurmond;[3] at his final City Council meeting, the civic auditorium was renamed in his honor as the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium.[4] In 1977, he returned to Charleston and assumed the vice presidency of contracting firm Ruscon Corporation, a position he retained until retiring in 1985.
He died on July 29, 2006, in Charleston, South Carolina, when he pulled in front of an on-coming truck; the truck driver was not charged.[5] He is buried at St. Philips Episcopal Church in Charleston.[6]
References
- ↑ "Gaillard, J. Palmer, Jr. (Obituary)". Charleston Post & Courier. July 30, 2006. pp. 4B. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
- ↑ Spell, Norman (May 9, 1960). "Voters Decide On Expansion Of City Today". Charleston News & Courier. pp. A1. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
- ↑ McKinney, Joan; Counts, Henry O. (April 25, 1975). "Gaillard To Resign For U.S. Post". Charleston News & Courier. pp. A1. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
- ↑ Counts, Henry O. (May 15, 1975). "Mayor Gaillard: 'I'm Not Dead'". Charleston News & Courier. pp. B1. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
- ↑ "Ex-Charleston mayor killed in car accident". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. July 31, 2006. pp. B2. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
- ↑ "John Palmer Gaillard (1920-2006)". Find a Grave. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
| Preceded by William McG. Morrison |
Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina 1959–1975 |
Succeeded by Arthur B. Schirmer, Jr. |