List of mayors of Columbus, Georgia facts for kids
Have you ever wondered who leads a city? In Columbus, Georgia, important leaders called 'intendants' and later 'mayors' have guided the city since it was founded in 1828. These leaders help make decisions about everything from roads and parks to schools and safety. This list shows all the people who have held these important jobs in Columbus.
Early Leaders: Intendants
When Columbus was first starting out, its leaders were called 'intendants'. This was a common title for city managers in the early 1800s. They helped set up the city and make sure things ran smoothly.
- Ulysess S. Lewis (1828)
- James Van Ness (1829)
- Sowell Woolfork (1830)
- Samuel Lawhorn (1831)
- Allen Lawhon (1832–1834)
- James C. Watson (1835)
City Leaders: Mayors
Later, the city's top leader became known as the 'mayor'. A mayor is like the chief executive of a city. They work with the city council to create laws, manage city services, and represent the people of Columbus.
- John Fontaine (1836–1837)
- James S. Calhoun (1838–1839)
- George D. McDougal (1840)
- W.H. Harper (1841)
- John L. Lewis (1842–1843)
- Jacob I. Moses (1844)
- L.B. Moody (1845)
- Hohn G. Winters (1846–1847)
- Wiley Williams (1848)
- S.W. Flournoy (1849–1850)
- Willis S. Holstead (1851–1852)
- J.L. Morton (1853)
- John E. Bacon (1854)
- Wiley Williams (1855)
- F.G. Wilkins (1856–1860)
- W.S. Holstead (1861)
- D.B. Thompson (1862)
- John F. Bozeman (1864)
- F.G. Wilkins (1864 – May 1868)
- Capt. William Mills, 16th U.S. Infantry (May 1868-April 1869), during a time of rebuilding after the Civil War
- John McIlhenny (April 1869 – 1870)
- S.B. Cleghorn (1871)
- John McIlhenny (1872)
- S.B. Cleghorn (1873)
- John McIlhenny (1874–1876)
- S.G. Cleghorn (1877)
- F.G. Wilkins (1878–1881)
- Cliff B. Grimes (1882–1889)
- D.P. Dozier (1890–1891)
- J.J. Slade (1892–1895)
- Cliff B. Grimes (1896–1897)
- L.H. Chappell (1898–1907)
- Rhodes Browne (1908–1911)
- L.H. Chappell (1912–1913)
- John C. Cook (1914–1916)
- D.L. Parmer (1917–1919)
- Joe L. Couch (1920–1921)
- J. Homer Dimon (1922–1931)
- H.C. Smith (1932–1934)
- J. Homer Dimon (1935)
- Luther Clinton Wilson (1936–1938)
- James Barton Knight, Jr. (1939)
- Edward Murrah (1940–1942)
- W.G. Bridges (1943)
- Sterling Albrecht (1944–1946)
- Walter A. Richards (1947–1949)
- Ralph A. Sayers (1950)
- B.F. Register (1951–1952)
- Lawrence Shields (1953)
- Ralph A. Sayers (1954)
- C. Ed Berry (1955)
- Robert T. Davis (1956)
- B.F. Register (1957–1959)
- B. Ed Johnson (1960–1961)
- Steve Knight (1962)
- Harold E. Hughes (1963–1965)
- B. Ed Johnson (1965–1969), the first full-time Mayor elected by voters
- J.R. Allen (1969 – February 1973)
- A.J. McClung (February–April 1973)
- Bob D. Hydrick (April 1973 – 1975)
- Jack P. Mickle (1975–1979)
- Harry C. Jackson (1979–1983)
- J.W. Feighner (1983–1987)
- James E. Jernigan (1987–1991)
- Frank K. Martin (1991–1995)
- Bobby G. Peters (1995–2003)
- Robert Poydasheff (2003–2007)
- Jim Wetherington (2007–2011)
- Teresa Tomlinson (2011–2019), the first female mayor of Columbus
- Berry “Skip” Henderson (2019-present)
See also
