Ollie Mohamed (February 7, 1925 - April 6, 2008) was an American store owner and politician. He was a Democratic member of the Mississippi Senate in the mid-to-late 20th century and its President pro tempore in 1992.
Ollie Mohamed | |
|---|---|
| President pro tempore of the Mississippi Senate | |
| In office 1992 | |
| Member of the Mississippi Senate from the 21st district 19th (1968-1972) 30th (1964-1968) | |
| In office January 1980 – January 1993 | |
| In office January 1964 – January 1972 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 7, 1925 Shaw, Mississippi |
| Died | April 6, 2008 (aged 83) Belzoni, Mississippi |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Parent(s) | Hassan Mohamed Ethel Wright Mohamed |
Early life edit
Ollie Mohamed was born on February 7, 1925, in Shaw, Mississippi.[1] He was the oldest child and son of ethnically Syrian Lebanese-born Muslim merchant Hassan Mohamed and Ethel (Wright) Mohamed.[2][3][4][5] Hassan's original name was Hassan Mohamed Shouman; his last name became his middle name due to a transcription error when he immigrated to the United States.[4][6] Ollie and his siblings were raised as Baptists, their mother's faith.[4][7] Mohamed attended Belzoni High School in Belzoni, Mississippi.[1] In 1942, he was the first 18-year-old draft into World War II.[8][9] Mohamed was a merchant and a farmer, and by 1994 was running a department store in Belzoni.[1][8][10]
Political career edit
In 1957, Mohamed's political career began when he ran for the office of alderman of Belzoni.[10] He was elected to two terms in that office, ending in 1963 when he was elected to represent Mississippi's 30th state senate district.[10] He served the term from 1964 to 1968.[7] After the districts were re-districted, he then represented the 19th district in the Senate from 1968 to 1972.[11] In 1971, he sponsored legislation to create the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.[9] Mohamed ran for re-election in 1971 after terms were redistricted, but lost by 32 votes to Buddy Grisham.[10] Mohamed ran for the Senate in 1975 as an Independent, but was not elected.[12][10] He ran in 1979 and won election.[10] He represented the state's 21st district in the Senate from 1980 to 1993.[1][13][14][9] In 1992, he was the President pro tempore of the Mississippi Senate.[14][8][9] When the districts were changed again in 1992, Mohamed lost for re-election in the new district to Barbara Blackmon.[10][6] Immediately after losing the election Governor Kirk Fordice made Mohamed a legislative lobbyist.[15] He died in his home in Belzoni, Mississippi, on April 6, 2008.[8][6]
Personal life edit
Mohamed was married to Annelle Horne.[11][8] They had six children, and 10 grandchildren by 1994.[16][10]
References edit
- ^ a b c d Mississippi. Legislature (1980-01-01). "Hand book : biographical data of members of Senate and House, personnel of standing committees [1980]". Mississippi Legislature Hand Books: 10.
- ^ Howell, Elmo (May 1998). Mississippi Back Roads: Notes on Literature and History. Roscoe Langford. ISBN 978-0-9622026-6-7.
- ^ Dunbar, Tony; Dunbar, Anthony P. (1990). Delta Time: A Journey Through Mississippi. Pantheon Books. ISBN 978-0-394-57163-8.
- ^ a b c "Hassan Mohamed - The Self Made Man". www.mamasdreamworld.com. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
- ^ Jennings, the Descendants and Ancestors of Robert B. Jennings, Senior and His Wife, Tabitha (Lockhart) Jennings. Hennington Publishing Company. 1988. p. 150.
- ^ a b c "Former Mississippi State Sen. Mohamed Dead at 83". Arab America. 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
- ^ a b Mississippi. Legislature (1964-01-01). "Hand book : biographical data of members of Senate and House, personnel of standing committees [1964]". Mississippi Legislature Hand Books: 7.
- ^ a b c d e "Ollie Mohamed Obituary (2008) - Jackson, MS - Clarion Ledger". www.legacy.com. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
- ^ a b c d "SC 666 (As Adopted by Senate) - 2008 Regular Session". billstatus.ls.state.ms.us. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Mohamed enjoys his role as liaison". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ a b Mississippi. Legislature (1968-01-01). "Hand book : biographical data of members of Senate and House, personnel of standing committees [1968]". Mississippi Legislature Hand Books.
- ^ "Mohamed seeks Senate post". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ "senate/1988-92Senate - Senate (1980-2016)". MS Digital Archives. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
- ^ a b "2016-2020 MISSISSIPPI BLUE BOOK". www.sos.ms.gov. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
- ^ Taggart 2019, p. 142.
- ^ "The Delta Democrat-Times from Greenville, Mississippi on August 22, 1971 · Page 2". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
Works cited edit
- Taggart, Andy (2019). "Kirk Fordice (1992-2000): Cutting Against the Grain" (PDF). The Journal of Mississippi History. LXXXI (1–2): 133–143. ISSN 0022-2771.