 | This article possibly contains original research. (August 2020) |
Thomas Jefferson Huddleston Sr. (June 1, 1876 – October 1959) was a prominent African American entrepreneur and community leader in Mississippi. He owned dozens of funeral homes in Mississippi.[1] He was the grandfather of former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, former Mayor Henry Espy of Clarksdale, Mississippi, and great-grandfather of current Clarksdale, Mississippi, mayor and former Mississippi representative Chuck Espy (D - Clarksdale).
Huddleston was also the father of Leon Finney Sr. (1916–2008), the founder of the popular Leon's Bar-B-Q chain in Chicago, who in turn was the father of Leon Finney Jr. (1938–2020), a prominent Chicago minister and president and CEO of the Woodlawn Organization. The Chicago and Mississippi branches of the family retain political ties.[2]
- ^ "Founded Leon's Bar-B-Q - Employees, Mississippi, Woodlawn Organization - chicagotribune.com". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ "NEWSMEAT ▷ LEON FINNEY's federal campaign contribution search results". Retrieved 26 November 2018.