First Black Alderman in Franklin, TN

This year, the race to elect a new Mayor and four at-large aldermen for the City of Franklin has been a heated one. Mayor Ken Moore is being challenged by Alderman Gabrielle Hanson, and the contest has received national attention - particularly because of Hanson's involvement with white supremacists. 

More than 60 years ago, in October 1961, Franklin was also receiving attention for its local election.  The city was selecting a new mayor, and the race was the first contested election for the position in 35 years. However, unlike the current election, local media was reporting that there had been "no public campaigning for the position by either of the candidates"- Earl Beasley and Asa Jewell. Estimates for the number of votes to be cast were "as high as 1,500." The newspaper reported that of a population of about 7,000 people, more than 4,000 were registered to vote, "including 667 Negroes."  By contrast, there are currently about 85,000 citizens in Franklin, of which 60,950 are registered voters. About 76% of the population identifies as white. 

As I have written before, the Fall of 1961 was a significant time for the Civil Rights movement in Williamson County. In August 1961, the Williamson County Committee of Christian Men (WCCCM) urged city and county leaders for greater representation on jury duty and in leadership positions in city and county government. They also were successful in pushing for desegregation of City schools. The Franklin Special School Board agreed to desegregate the schools in the City for elementary and middle school students beginning the following school year. It is important to note that this was seven years after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision.

1961 The all white, all male Williamson County Court
(precursor to the Williamson County Commission)
Photo courtesy of Rick Warwick

In addition to the 1961 mayoral race, the four Ward Alderman positions were up for election. Four candidates were vying to represent the 4th Ward - including a Black man and a woman - the first of each category to run for Alderman. Henry T. Moore was a 53-year-old World War II veteran and a successful brick and stone mason. Moore and his wife Annie lived at 254 Natchez Street in Franklin. Additionally, Helen Hawes Hudgins was also running to be 4th Ward Alderman. She was a songwriter, newspaper columnist, and historian.

Nashville Banner
Tuesday, October 17, 1961

The_Tennessean_Tue__Oct_24__1961

The winner, W.L. Henry, received 518 votes, while the third candidate, Jimmy Lanier Jr, received 336 votes. Moore received 290 votes, and Hudgins came in last with 149 votes. 

Nashville Banner

25 Oct 1961, Wed · Page 2

Asa Jewell was elected mayor and served until 1969, when he announced that he would not seek re-election. That October, the election was held to choose a new mayor and four aldermen. Rev. William Scruggs unsuccessfully ran for 2nd Ward Alderman. Scruggs was a leader in the AME Church and ran for political office several times in Franklin.

The_Tennessean_Wed__Oct_14__1987

At the same time, Fourth Ward Alderman Ed Woodard ran for and won the position of Mayor, leaving his Alderman seat vacant. After taking office, Mayor Woodard and the other Aldermen were tasked with filling the position. Mayor Woodard advocated for the appointment of 43-year-old Edward J. Parrish Sr., a Black man, to fill the vacancy. In a secret 4-3 vote, Parrish was narrowly appointed to the seat over the other nominee, Reedy Edgmon, a local fabric store owner. Parrish worked in a research department at the VA hospital in Nashville. He had grown up on Lewisburg Pike in Franklin and was a US Army veteran of World War II. Parrish served on the Board’s public relations committee.

The_Tennessean_Wed__Dec_10__1969

Ed Parrish Sr.
1926-2006
Photo courtesy of Rick Warwick

The following October, Parrish campaigned for the seat outright but was defeated.  He lost to Reedy Edgmon, who had been the alternative candidate to his appointment a year earlier.

Political advertisement for Edward J. Parrish, Sr
The Review-Appeal, Franklin, TN October 22, 1970
Image courtesy of Rick Warwick

It was not until 1985 that a Black person was elected to serve on Franklin's Board of Mayor and Alderman. Bradley Baugh III was a banker in Franklin and served from 1985-1989. He had previously served on the Franklin Special School District Board.

Although not successful in their bids for Alderman, both Moore and Hudgins began to crack at the glass ceiling. In 1972, two Black men, Charles Miller and Sam Steele were elected to the Williamson County Court to represent District 11. A year later, when Steele moved out of the District, Emily Brown, a Black woman, was appointed to fill his term. Brown retained the seat in the 1973 special election and maintained the three-person representation for the Black community. In 1976, Gordy Campbell was elected to be the first female alderman in Franklin. Eleven years later, her daughter Lillian Stewart was the first woman elected to be Mayor of Franklin. 

For more information about Black leaders in local politics, please see this excellent compilation by the Wiliamson Herald.