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'''Minden will have another mayor [but] Bill Robertson will be 'the mayor.' That’s just the way it will be."- [[Tommy Davis]], Minden city council member and Robertson's elected successor as mayor in the [[special election]] held on October 19, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lasos.blob.core.windows.net/graphical-prod/rss/10192013_Parish.xml|title=Webster: Mayor City of Minden, October 19, 2013|publisher=lasos.blob.core.windows.net|accessdate=October 19, 2013}}</ref></blockquote>​

'''Minden will have another mayor [but] Bill Robertson will be 'the mayor.' That’s just the way it will be." --[[mmy Davis]], Minden city council member and Robertson's elected successor as mayor in the [[special election]] held on October 19, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lasos.blob.core.windows.net/graphical-prod/rss/10192013_Parish.xml|title=Webster: Mayor City of Minden, October 19, 2013|publisher=lasos.blob.core.windows.net|accessdate=October 19, 2013}}</ref></blockquote>​

==Background==

==Background==

Bill and Barbara Robertson have three children, Beverly Jane Waller and husband, Mike; Brenda R. Weeks (1962-2017), a sales manager and counselor for Centuries and Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home and Cemeteries in Haughton who was married to Billy Weeks of Minden,​<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=brenda-weeks&pid=185619786|title=Brenda Weeks obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=May 26, 2017|accessdate=May 26, 2017}}</ref> and Kyle Kimmer Robertson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13170238|title=Dale Edgar Kimmer|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=February 5, 2013}}</ref>  

Bill and Barbara Robertson have three children, Beverly Jane Waller and husband, Mike; Brenda R. Weeks (1962-2017), a sales manager and counselor for Centuries and Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home and Cemeteries in Haughton who was married to Billy Weeks of Minden,​<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=brenda-weeks&pid=185619786|title=Brenda Weeks obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=May 26, 2017|accessdate=May 26, 2017}}</ref> and Kyle Kimmer Robertson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13170238|title=Dale Edgar Kimmer|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=February 5, 2013}}</ref>  

In 2016, the Minden community raised $18,000 to assist Brenda Weeks, a lung cancer patient who lost the lower portion of her left leg a year before her death.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/more-than-18k-raised-during-fundraiser-for-brenda-weeks/|title=More than $18K raised during fundraiser for Brenda Weeks|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|author=Bruce Franklin|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}</ref>​

In 2016, the Minden community raised $18,000 to assist Brenda Weeks, a lung cancer patient who lost the lower portion of her left leg a year before her death.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/more-than-18k-raised-during-fundraiser-for-brenda-weeks/|title=More than $18K raised during fundraiser for Brenda Weeks|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|author=Bruce Franklin|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}</ref>

 

Robertson was working at Talbot's Shoe Store in Magnolia, Arkansas, when he was sent to Minden to operate a Talbot's outlet. Thereafter, he  purchased the store from Ben Talbot and his father, D. O. Talbot, having renamed it "Robertson's Shoes", which he operated until 1979.<ref name=death/><ref name="ReferenceA">''Minden Press-Herald'', September 19, 1966.</ref>​

Robertson was working at Talbot's Shoe Store in Magnolia, Arkansas, when he was sent to Minden to operate a Talbot's outlet. Thereafter, he  purchased the store from Ben Talbot and his father, D. O. Talbot, having renamed it "Robertson's Shoes", which he operated until 1979.<ref name=death/><ref name="ReferenceA">''Minden Press-Herald'', September 19, 1966.</ref>​

 

For a time, Bill and Barbara Robertson had another outlet in Minden, along with Robertson's Shoes, called the Purple Hippopotamus, which opened in 1972.<ref>"Candidate: Robertson seeks reelection", ''Minden Press-Herald'', August 18, 1983, p. 1.</ref> The Robertsons had another store in Homer in neighboring Claiborne Parish, which opened in 1973, and a fourth outlet in [[Shreveport]], which was launched in 1976. He opened the Shoe Box in Minden in 1978.<ref name=death/>​

For a time, Bill and Barbara Robertson had another outlet in Minden, along with Robertson's Shoes, called the Purple Hippopotamus, which opened in 1972.<ref>"Candidate: Robertson seeks reelection", ''Minden Press-Herald'', August 18, 1983, p. 1.</ref> The Robertsons had another store in Homer in neighboring Claiborne Parish, which opened in 1973, and a fourth outlet in [[Shreveport]], which was launched in 1976. He opened the Shoe Box in Minden in 1978.<ref name=death/>​

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==Early political activities==

==Early political activities==

​In 1967, Robertson filed to run for one of four positions in the former Ward 4 on the Webster Parish Police Jury,<ref>"Bill Robertson Announces Candidacy for Police Jury", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 12, 1967, p. 1.</ref> the parish governing body usually known as the county commission in other states. In this race, the incumbent police juror, John T. David, a former Minden mayor, was defeated for reelection but veteran jurors [[Leland Mims]] and W. Nick Love retained their seats. The newcomer elected to the jury to succeed David was not Robertson, who ran last among six candidates, but James Tenney "Jim" Branch, Jr.,<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 6, 1967, p. 1</ref> who subsequently lost a bid for mayor in 1982 to [[Noel Byars]].​

​In 1967, Robertson filed to run for one of four positions in the former Ward 4 on the Webster Parish Police Jury,<ref>"Bill Robertson Announces Candidacy for Police Jury", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 12, 1967, p. 1.</ref> the parish governing body usually known as the county commission in other states. In this race, the incumbent police juror, [[John T. David]], a former Minden mayor, was defeated for reelection but veteran jurors [[Leland Mims]] and W. Nick Love retained their seats. The newcomer elected to the jury to succeed David was not Robertson, who ran last among six candidates, but James Tenney "Jim" Branch, Jr.,<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 6, 1967, p. 1</ref> who subsequently lost a bid for mayor in 1982 to [[Noel Byars]].​

In September 1974, Robertson was elected to the Minden City Council. He defeated fellow Democrat Patrick Cary Nation (1918–2005), a retired educator, coach, and school principal, for the specific position of sanitation commissioner. Robertson was the last person to serve in that capacity. Nation's father, Abraham Brisco Nation, Sr. (1886–1933), had served as a city councilman from 1932 until he was shot to death on Armistice Day 1933, during a heated political argument, by John L. Fort (1906–1992), a son of then Mayor [[Connell Fort]], with whom the senior Nation had quarreled.<ref>"Fort Will Be Held in Caddo Parish On Murder Charges," ''Webster Signal-Tribune,'' November 14, 1933, p. 1.</ref>​

In September 1974, Robertson was elected to the Minden City Council. He defeated fellow Democrat Patrick Cary Nation (1918–2005), a retired educator, coach, and school principal, for the specific position of sanitation commissioner. Robertson was the last person to serve in that capacity. Nation's father, Abraham Brisco Nation, Sr. (1886–1933), had served as a city councilman from 1932 until he was shot to death on Armistice Day 1933, during a heated political argument, by John L. Fort (1906–1992), a son of then Mayor [[Connell Fort]], with whom the senior Nation had quarreled.<ref>"Fort Will Be Held in Caddo Parish On Murder Charges," ''Webster Signal-Tribune,'' November 14, 1933, p. 1.</ref>​

Robertson ran unsuccessfully for mayor in the 1989 [[special election]] called to fill the remaining months of the term of Democrat, Noel "Gene" Byars, who had been recalled from the position in a "Yes" or "No" vote after a citizens' audit revealed that he had charged personal expenses to his municipal credit card. Robertson and two preceding Democratic mayors, [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] and [[Jack Batton]], contributed money to the recall. Byars hence left Minden and took a job in educational administration in [[Beaumont]], [[Texas]].​

Robertson ran unsuccessfully for mayor in the 1989 [[special election]] called to fill the remaining months of the term of Democrat, Noel "Gene" Byars, who had been recalled from the position in a "Yes" or "No" vote after a citizens' audit revealed that he had charged personal expenses to his municipal credit card. Robertson and two preceding Democratic mayors, [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] and [[Jack Batton]], contributed money to the recall. Byars hence left Minden and took a job in educational administration in [[Beaumont]], [[Texas]].​

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[[African American]] City Councilman [[Robert T. Tobin]] filled in temporarily after Byars vacated the mayoral office. Tobin hence became Minden's first black mayor since [[Reconstruction]]. Tobin was unseated, however, in the November 7, 1989 [[special election]] by the Republican  newcomer [[Paul A. Brown]] for the year remaining in Byars' term. Brown had been the executive director of the Minden Chamber of Commerce after relocating to the city to take a position as a counselor to [[alcoholics]]. Robertson, still on the police jury, ran unsuccessfully against both Brown and Tobin in the fall of 1989.​

City Councilman [[Robert T. Tobin]], a retired [[African-American]] educator, filled in temporarily after Byars vacated the mayoral office. Tobin hence became Minden's first black mayor since [[Reconstruction]]. Tobin was unseated, however, in the November 7, 1989 [[special election]] by the Republican  newcomer [[Paul A. Brown]] for the year remaining in Byars' term. Brown had been the executive director of the Minden Chamber of Commerce after relocating to the city to take a position as a counselor to [[alcoholics]]. Robertson, still on the police jury, ran unsuccessfully against both Brown and Tobin in the fall of 1989.​

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Though defeated for mayor in his first bid for the office, Robertson in January 1990, was elected to a seventh one-year term as president of the police jury.<ref>"Robertson elected to 7th term as president of police jury", ''Minden Press-Herald'', January 5, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​

Though defeated for mayor in his first bid for the office, Robertson in January 1990, was elected to a seventh one-year term as president of the police jury.<ref>"Robertson elected to 7th term as president of police jury", ''Minden Press-Herald'', January 5, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​

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In the 2010 [[census]], Minden was 51.7 percent African-American.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/2250885.html|title=Minden (city), Louisiana|publisher=quickfacts.census.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref> Based on the application of the 2000 census, in which African Americans were 52.1 percent of the Minden population, blacks constitute the majority in three of the five city council districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/sec_5/ltr/l_070202.php|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130703015714/http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/sec_5/ltr/l_070202.php|dead-url=yes|archive-date=July 3, 2013|title=Letter to Mayor Bill Robertson|date=July 2, 2002|publisher=Justice.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref>​

In the 2010 [[census]], Minden was 51.7 percent African-American.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/2250885.html|title=Minden (city), Louisiana|publisher=quickfacts.census.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref> Based on the application of the 2000 census, in which African Americans were 52.1 percent of the Minden population, blacks constitute the majority in three of the five city council districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/sec_5/ltr/l_070202.php|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130703015714/http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/sec_5/ltr/l_070202.php|dead-url=yes|archive-date=July 3, 2013|title=Letter to Mayor Bill Robertson|date=July 2, 2002|publisher=Justice.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref>

==Toppling Paul Brown, 1990==​

==Toppling Paul Brown, 1990==

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Robertson entered the race for a full term as mayor in 1990. He and Minden businessman Billy Sherman Cost (born 1948) challenged Brown, who was seeking his first full term in the position. Cost and Thomas L. Hathorn (born 1951), another Minden businessman, had led the citizens' panel advocating the recall of Byars. Brown nearly won in the first round: 2,630 ballots (48 percent) to Robertson's 1,729 (32 percent), and Cost's 1,064 votes (20 percent). Robertson and Brown therefore advanced to the general election.<ref>"Bloxom elected police chief, Runoffs in mayor, council, school races", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 7, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​

Robertson entered the race for a full term as mayor in 1990. Robertson and Minden businessman Billy Sherman Cost (born 1948) challenged Brown, who was seeking his first full term in the position. Cost and Thomas L. Hathorn (born 1951), another Minden businessman, had led the citizens' panel advocating the recall of Byars. Brown nearly won in the first round: 2,630 ballots (48 percent) to Robertson's 1,729 (32 percent), and Cost's 1,064 votes (20 percent). Robertson and Brown therefore advanced to the general election.<ref>"Bloxom elected police chief, Runoffs in mayor, council, school races", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 7, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​

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Before the primary, Brown was seriously injured on September 28, 1990, in an accident on the Minden High School [[football]] field while he was moving the yardage chains. Having no memory of the accident, Brown remained hospitalized throughout the campaign. Minden physician John Hill declared Brown's condition as "conscious and hopeful ... an answer to prayer".<ref>"Brown conscious, doctors hopeful", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 5, 1990, p. 1.</ref> As concern persisted that the still disabled Brown could not discharge his duties in a full term, voters handily elected Robertson, 2,529 votes (59 percent) to 1,758 (41 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, ElectionReturns: Webster Parish,  November 6, 1990.</ref> Brown hence polled 872 fewer votes in the second round of balloting than he had in the first. The 1990 general election  launched Robertson into a long career as his city's chief municipal official.​

Before the primary, Brown was seriously injured on September 28, 1990, in an accident on the Minden High School [[football]] field while he was moving the yardage chains. Having no memory of the accident, Brown remained hospitalized throughout the campaign. Minden physician John Hill declared Brown's condition as "conscious and hopeful ... an answer to prayer".<ref>"Brown conscious, doctors hopeful", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 5, 1990, p. 1.</ref> As concern persisted that the still disabled Brown could not discharge his duties in a full term, voters handily elected Robertson, 2,529 votes (59 percent) to 1,758 (41 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, ElectionReturns: Webster Parish,  November 6, 1990.</ref> Brown hence polled 872 fewer votes in the second round of balloting than he had in the first. The 1990 general election  launched Robertson into a long career as his city's chief municipal official.​

In 1994, Robertson ran for reelection citing the upgrading of utilities and development of the Interstate 20 service road as his campaign tenets.<ref>"Minden Mayor to run for reelection", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 5, 1994, p. 1.</ref> Robertson won his second term over fellow Democrat Douglas "Doug" Frye and the [[Independent voter|Independent]] Lydianne Vulliamy Scallorn Hammons (born 1936), the wife of Minden businessman Orville Hammons (1915–2011).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.press-herald.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=482:orville-hammons&catid=65:obituaries&Itemid=115|title=Orville Hammons|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|accessdate=June 7, 2011}}</ref> Robertson received 2,019 (55 percent) to Frye's 1,285 ballots (35 percent), and 369 votes (10 percent) for Mrs. Hammons,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10011994/10011994_60.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 1, 1994|publisher=sos.louisiana.gov|accessdate=May 23, 2010}}</ref> a former city clerk who had certified the recall petition signatures against former Mayor Byars.

In 1994, Robertson ran for reelection citing the upgrading of utilities and development of the Interstate 20 service road as his campaign tenets.<ref>"Minden Mayor to run for reelection", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 5, 1994, p. 1.</ref> Robertson won his second term over fellow Democrat Douglas "Doug" Frye and the [[Independent voter|Independent]] Lydianne Vulliamy Scallorn Hammons (born 1936), the wife of Minden businessman Orville Hammons (1915–2011).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.press-herald.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=482:orville-hammons&catid=65:obituaries&Itemid=115|title=Orville Hammons|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|accessdate=June 7, 2011}}</ref> Robertson received 2,019 (55 percent) to Frye's 1,285 ballots (35 percent), and 369 votes (10 percent) for Mrs. Hammons,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10011994/10011994_60.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 1, 1994|publisher=sos.louisiana.gov|accessdate=May 23, 2010}}</ref> a former city clerk who had certified the recall petition signatures against former Mayor Byars.

==Reelection in 1998==​

==Reelection n 1998==​

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In 1998, to secure his third term in office, Robertson overwhelmed the Minden businessman Benjamin Franklin Wright, Jr. (born 1959), a Claiborne Parish native who ran as an Independent. Robertson polled 2,697 votes (89 percent) to 331 votes (11 percent) in a low-turnout contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10031998/10031998_60.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 3, 1998|publisher=sos.louisiana.gov|accessdate=May 23, 2010}}</ref>​

In 1998, to secure his third term in office, Robertson overwhelmed the Minden businessman Benjamin Franklin Wright, Jr. (born 1959), a Claiborne Parish native who ran as an Independent. Robertson polled 2,697 votes (89 percent) to 331 votes (11 percent) in a low-turnout contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10031998/10031998_60.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 3, 1998|publisher=sos.louisiana.gov|accessdate=May 23, 2010}}</ref>​