Gerald Washington facts for kids
Gerald "Wash" Washington (born around 1949 – died December 30, 2006) was a local politician in Westlake, Louisiana. He was elected in 2006 as the first African-American mayor of Westlake. He had served three terms on the city council before his election as mayor. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly on December 30, 2006, just before he was scheduled to take office on January 2, 2007.
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About Gerald Washington
Gerald Washington was a well-known and respected person in his community. He had a long history of public service. Before becoming mayor-elect, he served three terms on the city council. This showed his dedication to Westlake.
Washington was also a veteran who served in Vietnam. After his military service, he worked for a company called Conoco. He retired from Conoco as a supervisor at their refinery.
His Election as Mayor
In the fall of 2006, Gerald Washington was elected as the first African-American mayor in Westlake's history. This was a very important moment for the city. Even though Westlake is mostly white, more than 80% of the people who voted for him were white. This showed how popular he was across the community. He was set to start his term as mayor on January 2, 2007.
His Passing and Investigation
Sadly, Gerald Washington passed away on December 30, 2006. He was found at a school parking lot. His passing attracted attention from across the country. The National Conference of Black Mayors called for a full investigation into his death.
His family felt that the initial investigation by the Sheriff's office was not thorough enough. They asked the state police to take over for a more complete investigation.
A funeral was held for Gerald Washington on January 13, 2007. Many of his friends and supporters from the city came to honor him. He was buried at Perkins Cemetery. His son, Geroski Washington, described his father as a "joyful man." He was looking forward to celebrating his 58th birthday and his mother's 93rd birthday on January 6.
Investigation Findings
The state police conducted a detailed investigation into Gerald Washington's death. Their report was over 800 pages long. It included new physical evidence. The investigation also looked into possible reasons for his death. The family had arranged for a third examination of Washington's body. They also found it unusual that the fire department had washed his truck the night his body was found.
