Benjamin B. Blackburn
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Bentley Blackburn (born February 14, 1927) was a U.S. Representative
from Georgia
for eight years.
, Blackburn attended public school in Atlanta, Georgia
.
He graduated from the University of North Carolina
in 1947, and from the Emory University School of Law
in 1954.
During the Second World War, Blackburn served in the United States Navy
from 1944 to 1946 and again during the Korean War
from 1950 to 1952. He was retired as a lieutenant commander
in the United States Naval Reserve.
He served in the State attorney general
's office from 1955 to 1957. He was admitted to the bar
in 1954 and commenced private practice in Atlanta, Georgia
, after service with the State attorney general.
In 1966, Blackburn was elected as a Republican
to the Ninetieth Congress
, narrowly defeating freshman incumbent James Mackay. He was reelected to the three succeeding terms but was unsuccessful in a campaign for reelection in 1974. Democratic
state Representative Elliott H. Levitas
defeated him by a 55% to 45% margin. Most of the present territory in the district is now predominantly African-American and highly Democratic.
Blackburn served as president of the Southeastern Legal Foundation
from 1976 until 1985. In 1982, he ran for Governor of Georgia, but was defeated in the Republican primary by state Senator Bob Bell
. He later served as regional representative for the United States Department of Transportation
from 1985 to 1989.
Blackburn has been married to Mary A. Pandora since 1952. They have four children: Michael, Robert, Kathryn and David.
He is a resident of Jasper, Georgia
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
for eight years.
Biography
Born in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Blackburn attended public school in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
He graduated from the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in 1947, and from the Emory University School of Law
Emory University School of Law
Emory University School of Law is a first-tier US law school that is part of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. It is ranked #30 among ABA-approved law schools by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report...
in 1954.
During the Second World War, Blackburn served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
from 1944 to 1946 and again during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
from 1950 to 1952. He was retired as a lieutenant commander
Lieutenant commander (United States)
Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...
in the United States Naval Reserve.
He served in the State attorney general
State Attorney General
The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states and territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney general serves as the head of a state department of justice, with responsibilities similar to those...
's office from 1955 to 1957. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1954 and commenced private practice in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, after service with the State attorney general.
In 1966, Blackburn was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Ninetieth Congress
90th United States Congress
The Ninetieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1967 to January 3, 1969, during the last two years of...
, narrowly defeating freshman incumbent James Mackay. He was reelected to the three succeeding terms but was unsuccessful in a campaign for reelection in 1974. Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
state Representative Elliott H. Levitas
Elliott H. Levitas
Elliott Harris Levitas is a former U.S. Representative from Georgia's 4th Congressional District.Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Levitas graduated from Grady High School in 1948. He attended Emory University, where he was a member of the secret honor society D.V.S.He earned a J.D. from the Emory...
defeated him by a 55% to 45% margin. Most of the present territory in the district is now predominantly African-American and highly Democratic.
Blackburn served as president of the Southeastern Legal Foundation
Southeastern Legal Foundation
The Southeastern Legal Foundation is a political advocacy group founded in 1976, as a constitutional public interest law firm and policy center.-Organization:...
from 1976 until 1985. In 1982, he ran for Governor of Georgia, but was defeated in the Republican primary by state Senator Bob Bell
Bob Bell
Bob or Bobby Bell may refer to:*Bob Bell , former team principal and technical director of the Renault Formula One team and current Mercedes GP technical director....
. He later served as regional representative for the United States Department of Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
from 1985 to 1989.
Blackburn has been married to Mary A. Pandora since 1952. They have four children: Michael, Robert, Kathryn and David.
He is a resident of Jasper, Georgia
Jasper, Georgia
Jasper is a city in Pickens County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,684 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Pickens County...
.