Ben West
Ben West | |
|---|---|
| 62nd Mayor of Nashville | |
| In office 1951–1963 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas L. Cummings, Sr. |
| Succeeded by | Beverly Briley (1st Mayor of Metropolitan Nashville) |
| 29th President of the National League of Cities | |
| In office 1957 | |
| Preceded by | Robert F. Wagner Jr. |
| Succeeded by | George Christopher |
| Member of the Tennessee Senate | |
| In office 1949–1951 | |
| Vice Mayor of Nashville | |
| In office 1946–1949 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Raphael Benjamin West 31 March 1911 Columbia, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | 20 November 1974 (aged 63) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Resting place | Nashville City Cemetery |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary Humes Meadors |
| Children | Ben West Jr. (son) Jay West (son) |
| Alma mater | Cumberland Law School, Vanderbilt University |
Raphael Benjamin West (March 31, 1911 – November 20, 1974) was an American attorney and politician who served as mayor of Nashville from 1951 to 1963, and as a Tennessee state senator from 1949 to 1951. While a state senator, he supported a change from at-large to single-member district voting to the Nashville City Council. This broadened representation on the council, enabling the African-American minority to elect candidates of their choice; women also gained seats on the council.