35 Facts About Frank Melton

Frank Ervin Melton was the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, United States, from 4 July 2005 until his death on 7 May 2009.

Frank Melton won 63 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary against Johnson, who had served two terms.

Frank Melton quickly swept into action to rid Jackson of drug-related crime, improve economic development, and improve city infrastructure.

Frank Melton was embroiled in several controversies during his tenure, including questionable power breaches and criminal misdemeanor activity.

Frank Melton moved to Nacogdoches, Texas to earn a BA at Stephen F Austin State University.

Frank Melton entered broadcasting after graduation, first as a sports anchor for KTRE in Lufkin, Texas and then, in 1977, as general manager of KLTV.

Frank Melton climbed the ranks at KLTV before becoming president of parent company Buford Television, Inc In 1984, he became chairman and CEO of WLBT in Jackson, Mississippi, in which position he remained until 2002.

Frank Melton served as the head of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics for 14 months, appointed by former Mississippi governor Ronnie Musgrove in December 2002.

Frank Melton served in numerous other fields, including serving as the director of the Governor's Criminal Justice Task Force, after being appointed by former governor Kirk Fordice.

Frank Melton served on the national board of directors for the Broadcast Music Incorporated, the Liberty Broadcasting board of directors, and the NBC Affiliates board of directors.

Frank Melton served on the Liberty Broadcasting board of directors; the Wave board of directors, the Community Broadcast Group, and the NBC Affiliates board of directors.

Frank Melton worked as a member of the board of directors for United Way and the Jackson Chamber of Commerce.

Frank Melton gave numerous speeches in the inner-city high schools and city universities.

Frank Melton wore a Jackson Police Department badge and carried a gun.

Frank Melton had given Walker a copy of his credit card, a car, cash and other assistance.

Frank Melton told the Jackson Free Press that he did not have to heed Hood's warning, and continued to carry weapons wherever he wanted.

Witnesses say that Frank Melton attacked much of the rental duplex with a large stick.

Frank Melton cut his hand during the incident and had to go to the hospital for stitches.

Frank Melton reportedly returned with the young men, with sledgehammers to finish destroying that side of the duplex.

Later in the year, Frank Melton took a guilty plea on the gun misdemeanors and pleaded no-contest on the felony.

Some civil-rights leaders defended Frank Melton, including Charles Evers, older brother of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, and Stephanie Parker-Weaver, daughter of the first openly known interracial couple in Jackson.

Frank Melton told some conservatives that he would take the city past race politics, and explained why he ran as a Democrat.

Frank Melton was a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas Menino.

On November 16,2007, Mayor Frank Melton appointed Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin as Jackson's new police chief, after reassigning the police chief Shirlene Anderson to a new post within his administration.

Frank Melton said that it effectively amounts to a modern Jim Crow law.

The warrant was issued on the basis of probation violation because Frank Melton resumed going on midnight club raids, while wearing an unofficial badge, among other possible violations.

Frank Melton filed to run for re-election for the 2009 election.

Frank Melton did not file homestead exemption on his home in Jackson but on his home in Tyler, Texas, where his wife Ellen lives.

Frank Melton filed a lawsuit against the Jackson Democratic Municipal Executive Committee to have his name returned to the ballot.

On March 26,2009, Jones County Circuit Court Judge Billy Joe Landrum ordered Frank Melton restored as a Democratic mayoral candidate.

Landrum said Frank Melton "overwhelmingly rebutted" the charge by showing documents with his Jackson home address, including his Mississippi driver's license, utility bills and voting records.

On May 5,2009, Frank Melton lost his bid for re-election, coming in third in the vote totals.

Frank Melton had suffered a cardiac arrest at his Jackson home.

Frank Melton died shortly after midnight on Thursday, May 7,2009, less than two days after losing the election.

Frank Melton died at St Dominic Jackson Memorial Hospital in Jackson, MS.