Martin Sennet Conner

Martin Sennett Conner
44th Governor of Mississippi
In office
January 19, 1932 – January 21, 1936
Lieutenant Dennis Murphree
Preceded by Theodore G. Bilbo
Succeeded by Hugh L. White
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
In office
1916-1924
Personal details
Born (1891-08-31)August 31, 1891
Seminary, Mississippi, USA
Died September 16, 1950(1950-09-16) (aged 59)
Jackson, Mississippi
Resting place Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson, Mississippi
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Alma Lucille Graham
Profession Lawyer

Martin Sennett Conner, known as Mike Conner (August 31, 1891 – September 16, 1950), was an American lawyer, Democratic politician, and college sports administrator who served as the governor of Mississippi from 1932 to 1936.

Biography

A native of rural Seminary in Covington County near Hattiesburg in southern Mississippi, Conner obtained his education at the University of Mississippi in Oxford and at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. He later began a legal career in Seminary and served as a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1916 to 1924, including a stint as Speaker. His term as a governor corresponded with the Great Depression, but he maintained a state treasury surplus during his tenure. He was noted for going to the state penitentiary to preside over "mercy courts" that resulted in executive clemency for prisoners.[1]

Conner was allied with Huey Pierce Long, Jr., the governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932 and the U.S. senator from 1932 to 1935. Long struck up an alliance with Conner to support "good roods" connecting the neighboring states. From the sidelines, Long helped Conner win the Mississippi governorship though Conner had twice lost previous bid for the office. Conner's runoff election opponent and gubernatorial successor, Hugh L. White, tried to make an issue of Long's involvement in an out-of-state race.[2]

Following his term as governor, Conner was the first commissioner of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) from August 21, 1940 through the fall of 1946.[3]

Conner died in the capital city of Jackson and is interred there at Lakewood Memorial Park.

References

  1. ↑ Madar, Chase (21 December 2015). "The Case for Clemency". The American Conservative. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  2. ↑ Huey Pierce Long, Jr., Every Man a King: The Autobiography of Huey P. Long (New Orleans: National Book Club, Inc., 1933), pp. 275-276.
  3. ↑ Stories of Character :: Celebrating 75 Years Archived October 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
Political offices
Preceded by
Theodore G. Bilbo		 Governor of Mississippi
1932–1936		 Succeeded by
Hugh L. White
Sporting positions


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