Bill Luckett (businessman)
American politician and attorney (1948–2021)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Oliver Luckett Jr.[3][4] (March 17, 1948[5] – October 28, 2021)[6] was an American politician, attorney, actor and businessman.[7][8][9][10]
March 17, 1948
Bill Luckett | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mayor of Clarksdale | |
| In office 2013–2017 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Espy |
| Succeeded by | Chuck Espy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Oliver Luckett Jr. March 17, 1948 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | October 28, 2021 (aged 73) Oxford, Mississippi, U.S.[1] |
| Party | Democratic[2] |
| Spouse | Francine Luckett |
| Children | 4, including Oliver |
| Education | University of Virginia University of Mississippi |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | Mississippi National Guard |
Early life
Luckett was born in Fort Worth, Texas and grew up in Clarksdale, Mississippi.[11] He had lived in Mississippi since he was six weeks old.[12] His father was a lawyer.[5] Luckett was also the great-nephew of Semmes Luckett, who in 1954 argued in favor of segregation against Thurgood Marshall in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas case.[4]
Education and military service
Luckett graduated from Clarksdale High School in 1966.[11] Luckett also graduated from the University of Virginia and earned a Juris Doctor degree at the University of Mississippi.[13] He graduated from the latter university in 1973.[14] He also served in the Mississippi National Guard from 1971 to 1979.[5][11] He received an honorary degree from Coahoma Community College in May 2002.[1] He was also inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation in 2009.[1]
Career
Film career
He has acted in the films Texas Heart (2016), Battlecreek (2017), The Poison Rose (2019), Vanquish (2021) and Paradise Highway (2022).[1][15]
According to Luckett, he and actor Morgan Freeman had been best friends for “25 years.”[16]
Businesses
Luckett co-owned the Madidi Restaurant with Freeman from 2001 to 2012.[17][18] From May 2001 till his death, Luckett also co-owned with Freeman the Ground Zero Blues Club.[6][19]
Political career
He unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Mississippi in 2011 and served as Mayor of Clarksdale, Mississippi from 2013 to 2017.[20][12][21][22]
Luckett was also considered a mentor to consultant Burns Strider, who worked on Luckett’s gubernatorial campaign.[23]
Legal career
Luckett practiced law with Luckett Tyner Law Firm, P.A. as a member of The Mississippi Bar and the Tennessee Bar Association.[1]
Other work
Luckett was a founder and board member of the Pinetop Perkins Foundation.[24] He was also a member of the NAACP.[4]
Personal life
Luckett was married to Francine Luckett from 1984 until his death and was the father of four children.[12][25] One of his sons is Oliver Luckett.[26][27] Luckett attended St. George's Episcopal Church in Clarksdale.[28]
Death
Luckett died on October 28, 2021 in Oxford, Mississippi, one year after being diagnosed with cancer.[1][29]