| William Matt Lowe | |
Mayor of Minden, Louisiana
| |
| In office June 1916 – June 1920 | |
| Preceded by | Abner Drake Turner |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | J. Berry Sandefur |
| In office 1940–1954 | |
| Born | January 1, 1872 |
| Died | March 4, 1955 (age 83) Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, USA |
| Nationality | US |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Clara Hodges Lowe |
| Children | Mrs. G.B. Spencer Rubye Lowe Mims |
| Occupation | Merchant |
| Religion | Methodist Church |
William Matt Lowe, known as W. Matt Lowe (January 1, 1872 – March 4, 1955), was a merchant and public official in the city of Minden, the seat of government of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana. During World War I and its aftermath, Lowe served two terms from 1916 to 1920 as mayor of Minden. Prior to his death of a lengthy illness in a Shreveport hospital, he served on the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing commission, from 1940 to 1954.[1]
In June 1916, Lowe succeeded the three-term Abner Drake Turner as mayor.[2] During Lowe's first term as mayor, the city in 1917 acquired its municipal generating station after a fire swept through the former Minden Lumber Company, the prior owner of the facility.[3] Minden is one of twenty municipalities in Louisiana in which residences and businesses still purchase their electricity from the city, with profits diverted to finance the costs of government.[4]
His son-in-law, Leland G. Mims, also a Minden businessman, served on the police jury from 1953 to 1976, including a long stint as jury president from 1956–1973 and as president of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana from 1965 to 1967.[5]
Grave of W. Matt Lowe at Minden Cemetery
Lowe was a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge and the First Methodist Church of Minden. His wife, the former Clara Hodges (1880–1954), preceded her husband in death by fewer than three months. The couple had a son, Fred M. Lowe of Shreveport and two daughters, Mrs. G. B. Spencer of Star City in southern Arkansas, and Rubye Lowe Mims (1904–1975) of Minden. The Lowes and Mimses are interred at Minden Cemetery.[6]
References[]
- ^ Respect for the Past; Confidence in the Future: Webster Parish Centennial, 1871-1971, Webster Parish Police Jury, 1971, pp. 16-17
- ^ City of Minden, List of Minden Mayors Since 1888
- ^ "Connell Fort Dies Saturday Night at His Residence Here: Was Great Civic Worker and Builder of This City," Webster Signal-Tribune, March 5, 1937, pp. 1, 6
- ^ "Government-Owned electric Utilities: Municipal Power Authorities and Electric Utilities54". dnr.louisiana.gov. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/sec/execdiv/techasmt/electricity/electric_vol1_1994/005.htm. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
- ^ Shreveport Journal, October 6, 1976
- ^ "Ex-Mayor of Minden Dies at 83", The Shreveport Times, March 5, 1955, p. 8-B
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Abner Drake Turner |
Mayor of Minden, Louisiana
William Matt Lowe |
Succeeded by J. Berry Sandefur |
| |||||
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Lowe, W. Matt |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | American mayor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 1, 1872 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 4, 1955 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, USA |