As Researched by Stephen D. Bowling
Originally founded as Breathitt Town in 1839, the name was changed by the Kentucky General Assembly to Jackson in 1845. Jackson became an incorporated town in 1854. Governed by an elected town council and administered by the Chairman of the Council, the community did not transition to a city until 1913. The following individuals have served as Mayor after the incorporation of the City of Jackson:
Lewis Hays, Jr.
January 1, 1913 - June 30, 1916
Son of James and Matilda (McDaniel) Hays
Born August 6, 1879, in Knott County, Kentucky
Married Lena R. Peyton (1885 - 1947) and Katherine __________
Prominent timber businessman
President of the Jackson Real Estate and Insurance Agency
Was a real estate agent and builder
Died February 6, 1958, in the Good Samaritan Hospital, Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Buried in the Memorial Gardens, Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas
Lewis Hays, Jr.
January 1, 1916 - December 31, 1919
Lewis Hays, Jr.
January 1, 1920 - June 30, 1923 (Resigned)
General Marion "Sol" Center
June 30, 1923 - December 31, 1923 (appointed by City Council)
Son of Daniel Boone and Mary Ann (Creech) Center
Born on November 2, 1889 at Hazel Green in Wolfe County, Kentucky
Businessman
Operated coal mines in the area
Served in the United States Army during World War I
Active member of the American Red Cross
Agent for the Standard Life Insurance Company
Member of the Northwood Baptist Church
Member of the Masonic Lodge
Married to Mattie Lee Rose (1895 - 1977) about 1918 in Wolfe County, Kentucky
Died on March 9, 1955 in Indianapolis, Indianaoplis County, Indiana
Buried in the Hazel Green Cemetery at Hazel Green in Wolfe County, Kentucky
General Marion "Sol" Center
January 1, 1924 - December 31, 1927
Arthur Wilfred "A. W." Brown
January 1, 1928 - December 30, 1931
Son of Thomas C. and Mary Ann (Rippetoe) Brown
Born February 11, 1887, in Nicholas County, West Virginia
Married Nellie Treadway on May 1, 1918
Owner of Brown's Hardware at Quicksand and later Jackson
Died March 6, 1951 at the St. Joseph Hospital in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky
Buried in the Winchester Cemetery, Winchester, Clark County, Kentucky.
Henry Price Sewell, Sr.
before July 2, 1934 - December 31, 1937
Son of George W. and Elizabeth (Spencer) Sewell
Born March 9, 1874 in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Married to Margaret Ann Kash (1881 - 1950) on December 25, 1901 at Kasley Jackson's in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Member of the Jackson Methodist Church
Died February 7, 1955, at Mary Chiles Hospital in Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County, Kentucky
Buried on February 9, 1955 in the Sewell Cemetery, Marcum Heights, Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
William Mason Bailey
January 1, 1938
Son of William M. and Matilda Ann (Tudd) Bailey
Born on September 28, 1876
Married Margaret Lee Basket and Jessie (Stacy) Hogg
Served in the United States Army in the Spanish-American War
Worked of the L&N Railroad for 45 years
Died on August 15, 1971, at the Veterans' Hospital in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio
Buried in the Sewell Cemetery on Marcum Heights in Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky.
William Mason Bailey
January 1, 1939 - December 31, 1942
William Mason Bailey
January 1, 1943 - December 31, 1946
William Mason Bailey
January 1, 1947 - December 31, 1950
Charles Hendrie Davis
January 1, 1951 - Decemebr 31, 1954
Son of Robert T. and Ellen (Jones) Davis
Born February 14, 1897 in Magoffin County, Kentucky
Graduated from the University of Louisville School of Pharmacy
Married Corelia B. Miller
Served in World War I
Served in the Kentucky House of Representatives
Served in the Kentucky State Senate
President of the R. T. Davis Coal Company
President of the Miller and Davis Coal Company
Served several terms as a member of the Jackson City Council
Died April 19, 1973, at the Saint Joseph Hospital, Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Buried on April 21, 1973 in the Paris Cemetery, Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky
William Herbert "Red" Reynolds
January 1, 1954 - December 31, 1957
Son of Charles and Katherine (Cox) Reynolds
Born on November 23, 1908
Businessman and owner of Reynold's Ford Garage
Chief of the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department
Married Eunice Griffith (1913 - 1994)
Died on August 20, 1994, at the Kentucky River Medical Center at Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Buried in the Evans Cemetery, Campton, Wolfe County, Kentucky.
John Philip "Phil" Smith
January 1, 1958 - May 2, 1960 (resigned)
Son of Hillard H. and Leodicie (Francis) Smith
Born August 13, 1924, in Hindman, Knott County, Kentucky
Married Barbara A. Hogge (1927 - 1965), Sarah Lee Bach (1933 - 1988), and Donna Snell (1929 - 2008)
President of the First National Bank of Jackson
President of Lees Junior College
Served as a member of the Jackson City School Board of Education
Member of the Board of Trustees of Lees College
Member of the Board of Directors of the Kentucky River Medical Center
Chairman of the Board of Riverside Christian School
Chairman of the Dessie Scott Children's Home Board
Chairman of the Methodist Mountain Mission
Died April 8, 2016, at his home on Main Street in Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky.
Buried in the Jackson Cemetery, Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky.
Braxton Cox Short
May 2, 1960 - December 1, 1961 (appointed by City Council)
Son of Abraham H. and Ann Eliza (Cardwell) Short
Born April 26, 1894
Married Willa Mae Godwin (1900 - 1991) on July 13, 1917 in Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Served in the United States Army during World War I
Served as a Sergeant for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Police
Served as a Deputy United States Marshal
Was a member of the Jackson Lions Club and the American Legion.
Died October 13, 1971, at the St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Buried in the Marcum Heights Cemetery, Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky.
Braxton Cox Short
January 1, 1962 - December 31, 1965
Eric Clyde Pelfrey
January 1, 1966 - March 31, 1969 (resigned)
Son of William H. and Sarah A. (Back) Pelfrey
Born March 13, 1905
Married Evalee Johnson ( - 1985) and Margaret Carpenter (1920 - 1994)
Businessman and owner of several businesses, including a Buick and Chevrolet dealerships, Standard Oil Company, the Jaxon Theatre, and the Magic Wand Car Wash.
Served at Breathitt County Deputy Sheriff for 15 years
Worked for the Kentucky Department of Transportation
Died February 28, 1983, at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Buried in the Jackson Cemetery in Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky.
John Thomas "Jay" Staton
April 1, 1969 - December 31, 1969 (appointed)
Son of Willie C. and Lela M. (Kissick) Staton
Born October 7, 1920, in Bath County, Kentucky
Married Ella Loredith Baker
Businessman and owner of Home Grocery for 43 years
Served in the United States Army during World War II
Died on April 22, 2006, at the Kentucky River Medical Center in Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Buried in the Stanton Cemetery in Stanton, Powell County, Kentucky.
Samuel Caesar McCoun
January 1, 1970 - December 31, 1973
Son of Robert P. and Syrene A. (Cockerham) McCoun
Born April 6, 1898, on Devil's Creek in Wolfe County, Kentucky
Married Emma (Swango) McCoun (1906 - 1986)
Businessman and oil man
Founder and owner of Panbowl Gas Company (1933-1947)
Owner of a Jackson car dealership selling Ford, Dodge, and Plymouth
Served on the Board of Directors for the Hazel Green Academy
Died January 25, 1989, at Bourbon Heights Nursing Home in Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky
Buried Evans Cemetery, Campton, Wolfe County, Kentucky.
Leonard Noble
January 1, 1974 - December 31, 1977
Son of Vincent and Ada (Haddix) Noble
Born on March 20, 1932 in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Married Janet Watts (1934 - 1970) on August 17, 1951 in Lee County, Kentucky
Died on March 14, 2012
Buried in the Jackson Cemetery, Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky.
Leonard Noble
January 1, 1978 - December 31, 1981
Franklin Eugene "Frankie" Noble
1981 - December 31, 1989
Son of harles B. and Laure E. (New) Noble
Born on November 29, 1953
Married Gail Ann Campbell (1955 - ) on July 15, 1972 in Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Served as Deputy County Judge Executive
Member of the Jackson Fire Department
Died on May 15, 2017, at the Kentucky River Medical Center in Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Buried in the Haddix Cemetery, Inc. at Haddix, Breathitt County, Kentucky.
Lester Hogge Smith
January 1, 1990 - May 1992 (resigned)
Son of J. Phil and Barabra A. (Hogge) Smith
Born July 30, 1950
Married Donna J. Slone
Served as Executive Vice-President of First National Bank of Jackson
Member of the Jackson City School Board
Member of the Breathitt County Industrial Foundation
Member of the Kentucky River Area Development District Board
Died on August 12, 1995
Buried in the Jackson Cemetery, Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Michael Douglas "Mike" Rose
May 1992 - November 1992 (resigned)
Son of Earl Douglas and Phyllis Ann (Sallee) Rose
Born on January 31, 1966 in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Part-owner and Manager of Rose Brothers Department Store.
Franklin Eugene "Frankie" Noble
November 1992 - December 31, 1993 (appointed)
Son of Charles B. and Laure E. (New) Noble
Born on November 29, 1953 in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Married Gail Ann Campbell (1955 - ) on July 15, 1972 in Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Served as Deputy Breathitt County Judge Executive
Died on May 15, 2017, at the Kentucky River Medical Center in Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Buried in the Haddix Cemetery, Inc. at Haddix, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Franklin Eugene "Frankie" Noble
January 1, 1994 - December 31, 1997
Michael Douglas Miller
January 1, 1998 - December 31, 2001
Son of Isaiah K. and Virginia (Ward) Miller
Born February 15, 1953 in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Married Paula C. Turner
Worked for Jackson Insurance Agency
President of the Kentucky League of Cities (2009-2010)
Served as Director of the Kentucky River Area Development District
Served on the Kentucky River Authority
Worked for the Kentucky League of Cities.
Michael Douglas Miller January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2005
Michael Douglas Miller
January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2009
Michael Douglas Miller
January 1, 2010 - July 15, 2010 (resigned)
Rosetta Louise "Rose" Wolfe
July 16, 2010 - December 31, 2010 (Appointed by City Council)
Daughter of Truman and Eudora (Rutherford) Caldwell
Born August 24, 1954 in Garden City in Wayne County, Michigan
Former Breathitt County Supervisor
Served as American Red Cross Chapter President
Founder of the Breathitt County Junior Red Cross
Elected to four terms on the Jackson City Council from 2003-2010
Married Arthur Robert Wolfe (1945 - 2015)
Died on August 16, 2024, at Wells Hospice Center in Hazard, Perry County, Kentucky
Buried on August 18, 2024, in the Jackson Cemetery in Jackson, breathitt County, Kentucky
Rosetta Louise "Rose" Wolfe
January 1, 2011 - December 31,2014
Rosetta Louise "Rose" Wolfe
January 1, 2015 - December 31,2018
Laura Jan Thomas
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2022
Daughter of Ward B. and Particia D. (Elam) Wireman
Born May 18, 1964
Married Stephen T. Thomas (1965 - ) on April 4, 1987 in Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Laura Jan Thomas
January 1, 2023 -
Special thanks to the City of Jackson and Laura Thomas for the use of images of the Mayors of Jackson.
© 2023 by Stephen D. Bowling.
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