Ben West | |
---|---|
62nd Mayor of Nashville | |
In office 1951–1963 | |
Preceded by | Thomas L. Cummings, Sr. |
Succeeded by | Beverly Briley (1st Mayor of Metropolitan Nashville) |
Member of the Tennessee Senate | |
In office 1949–1951 | |
Vice Mayor of Nashville | |
In office 1946–1949 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Raphael Benjamin West 31 March 1911 Columbia, Tennessee, U.S. |
Died | 20 November 1974 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | (aged 63)
Resting place | Nashville City Cemetery |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Mary Humes Meadors |
Children | Ben West Jr. (son) Jay West (son) |
Alma mater | Cumberland Law School, Vanderbilt University |
Raphael Benjamin West (March 31, 1911 – November 20, 1974) was an American attorney and politician who served as mayor of Nashville from 1951 to 1963, and as a Tennessee state senator from 1949 to 1951. While a state senator, he supported a change from at-large to single-member district voting to the Nashville City Council. This broadened representation on the council, enabling the African-American minority to elect candidates of their choice; women also gained seats on the council.