Lieutenant Dennis Murphree Profession Lawyer Party Democratic Party Spouse(s) Alma Lucille Graham Role American Politician | Political party Democratic Name Martin Conner Preceded by Theodore G. Bilbo Religion Methodist Succeeded by Hugh L. White | |
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Born August 31, 1891
Hattiesburg, Mississippi ( 1891-08-31 ) Died September 16, 1950, Jackson, Mississippi, United States Education University of Mississippi, Yale University | ||
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.
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.
Following his term as governor, Conner was the first commissioner of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) from August 21, 1940 through the fall of 1946.
Conner died in the capital city of Jackson and is interred there at Lakewood Memorial Park.