12 Facts About Karl Wiesenburg

Otto Karl Wiesenburg was an American legislator, lawyer, and public servant.

Karl Wiesenburg was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1956 to 1964 and held various other roles in public service for Pascagoula and Jackson County, Mississippi.

Karl Wiesenburg was born in Rosedale, New York on August 1,1911 to Adolph Otto Johann and Martha Mary Karl Wiesenburg.

Karl Wiesenburg attended Public School 74 and was later admitted to Townsend Harris Hall, before dropping out at the age of 16, following the death of his father, to support his mother.

Karl Wiesenburg served in the Coast Guard from December 3,1929 to December 2,1934 advancing from apprentice seaman to Radioman 2nd Class.

Karl Wiesenburg arrived in Pascagoula, Mississippi in 1931 as a radio operator on a Coast Guard vessel.

Karl Wiesenburg served as city attorney to both Pascagoula and Ocean Springs and as attorney for the Pascagoula Port Authority and attorney for the Jackson County Board of Supervisors.

Karl Wiesenburg served for one term on the Pascagoula City Council.

Karl Wiesenburg was voted the Outstanding Freshman Legislator in 1956.

Karl Wiesenburg authored the landmark Jackson County Port Authority Act that created the port of Pascagoula, including the industrial area of Bayou Casotte.

Karl Wiesenburg's family has established the Karl Wiesenburg Scholarship at the University of Southern Mississippi to honor his commitment to education and public service.

Karl Wiesenburg died on June 18,1990, from cardiac arrest, at Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula.