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'''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>​

'''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<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==

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Robertson was born to Homer Floyd Robertson (1910-1981) and the late Marie Robertson, a clerk in a shoe store, in Batesville in Independence County in northern [[Arkansas]].<ref>"Robertson New Owner of Talbot's Shoe Center", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 19, 1966, p. 1.</ref> After a divorce, the senior Robertson married Imogene Kimmer Stanfield (1925–2008), who was formerly wed to Robert Stanfield, Sr. The couple had a son, Eddie Robertson (born 1962) of Minden, the half-brother of Bill Robertson and his brother, Bobby Gerald Robertson (born c. 1945) and wife, Lana, subsequently of Branson, [[Missouri]].

Robertson was born to Homer Floyd Robertson (1910-1981) and the late Marie Robertson, a clerk in a shoe store, in Batesville in Independence County in northern [[Arkansas]].<ref>"Robertson New Owner of Talbot's Shoe Center", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 19, 1966, p. 1.</ref> After a divorce, the senior Robertson married Imogene Kimmer Stanfield (1925–2008), who was formerly wed to Robert Stanfield, Sr. The couple had a son, Eddie Robertson (born 1962) of Minden. Robertson also has a his brother, Bobby Gerald Robertson (born c. 1945) and wife, Lana, subsequently of Branson, [[Missouri]].

Robertson's wife, the former Barbara Kimmer, is the daughter of Dale Edgar Kimmer (1920-2006) and Virginia Martin Kimmer (1922-2013),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Kimmer&GSfn=Virginia&GSiman=1&GScid=67595&GRid=104625112&|title=Virginia Martin Kimmer|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=February 5, 2013}}</ref> also natives of Independence County, Arkansas. Dale Kimmer, a farmer in Batesville, raised cattle and chickens until he and Virginia retired and relocated to Minden in 1995. Robertson's stepmother, Imogene, and his father-in-law, Dale, were siblings.  

Robertson's wife, the former Barbara Kimmer, is the daughter of Dale Edgar Kimmer (1920-2006) and Virginia Martin Kimmer (1922-2013),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Kimmer&GSfn=Virginia&GSiman=1&GScid=67595&GRid=104625112&|title=Virginia Martin Kimmer|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=February 5, 2013}}</ref> also natives of Independence County, Arkansas. Dale Kimmer, a farmer in Batesville, raised cattle and chickens until he and Virginia retired and relocated to Minden in 1995. Robertson's stepmother, Imogene, and his father-in-law, Dale, were siblings.  

The city partnered with the Minden/South Webster Chamber of Commerce to establish an office to conduct economic development services. A new director was hired to work on the expansion of local businesses and to attract new employers. Robertson said that the city sought to attract new industry and entice such new businesses as a movie theatre, skating rink, bowling alley, and additional restaurants. At one time, Minden had two sit-down theaters and a drive-in theater. The last theater closed in the late 1970s. ​

The city partnered with the Minden/South Webster Chamber of Commerce to establish an office to conduct economic development services. A new director was hired to work on the expansion of local businesses and to attract new employers. Robertson said that the city sought to attract new industry and entice such new businesses as a movie theatre, skating rink, bowling alley, and additional restaurants. At one time, Minden had two sit-down theaters and a drive-in theater. The last theater closed in the late 1970s. ​

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Robertson was elected by his fellow mayors as first vice-president at the 2007 LMA convention in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]]. A year later, he was elected president of the association. He was also a former second vice-president and a district vice-president of the LMA. As mayor, Robertson was an ''ex officio'' board member of the Louisiana Energy and Power Authority. LEPA was established by the Louisiana legislature in 1979 as an action agency for the eighteen Louisiana cities and towns which maintain their own independent municipal power system. He was a member of the [[Chamber of Commerce]],<ref name="ReferenceA"/> the Masonic lodge and the Shriners.<ref name=robobit/>​

Robertson was elected by his fellow mayors as first vice-president at the 2007 LMA convention in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]]. A year later, he was elected president of the association. He was also a former second vice-president and a district vice-president of the LMA. As mayor, Robertson was an ''ex officio'' board member of the Louisiana Energy and Power Authority. LEPA was established by the Louisiana legislature in 1979 as an action agency for the eighteen Louisiana cities and towns which maintain their own independent municipal power system. He was a member of the [[Chamber of Commerce]],<ref name="ReferenceA"/> the Masonic lodge, and the Shriners.<ref name=robobit/>​

==Death in office===​

==Death in office===​

Robertson had back surgery in April 2013 and underwent rehabilitation. He died some two months later at the age of seventy-five in the Promise Hospital in [[Bossier City]].<ref name=death/> His services were held on June 30, 2013 at the First [[Baptist]] Church of Minden, where he was an active member. Officiating were pastors Leland Crawford of First Baptist and  Richard D. Methvin, then of Eastside Missionary Baptist Church in Minden and later of Bistineau Baptist Church.<ref name=robobit/>​

Robertson had back surgery in April 2013 and underwent rehabilitation. He died some two months later at the age of seventy-five in the Promise Hospital in [[Bossier City]].<ref name=death/> His services were held on June 30, 2013 at the First [[Baptist]] Church of Minden, where he was an active member. Officiating were pastors Leland Crawford of First Baptist and  Richard D. Methvin, then of Eastside Missionary Baptist Church in Minden and later of Bistineau Baptist Church.<ref name=robobit/>​

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At the funeral, city council member [[Tommy Davis]] described Robertson as "bigger than life. He was respected across the state by everybody. ... Minden will have another mayor [but] Bill Robertson will be 'the mayor.' That’s just the way it will be."<ref name=funeral>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130701/NEWS01/307010009/Family--friends-remember-Minden-mayor?source=nletter-news|author=Vickie Welborn|title="Family, friends remember Minden mayor: Celebration of Mayor Bill Robertson's life took place Sunday in city he loved and led," June 30, 2013|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref>​

At the funeral, city council member [[Tommy Davis]] described Robertson as "bigger than life. He was respected across the state by everybody. ... Minden will have another mayor [but] Bill Robertson will be 'the mayor.' That’s just the way it will be."<ref name=funeral>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130701/NEWS01/307010009/Family--friends-remember-Minden-mayor?source=nletter-news|author=Vickie Welborn|title="Family, friends remember Minden mayor: Celebration of Mayor Bill Robertson's life took place Sunday in city he loved and led," June 30, 2013|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref>​

==Recommending Tommy Davis as his successor==

==Recommending Tommy Davis as his successor==

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The day after Robertson's funeral, a letter written by Robertson earlier in 2013 was released by Wanda Pittman, Robertson's executive assistant. It reveals that Robertson and his wife recommend that the city council choose Marvin Thomas "Tommy" Davis] the District D member, as the next mayor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130702/NEWS01/307020015/Minden-mayor-picks-successor-before-his-death|title=Minden mayor picks successor before his death: Bill Robertson wants Tommy Davis as interim|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', July 1, 2013|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref> First elected in 2006, Davis was until his election as mayor the only Republican on the current city council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/09302006/09302006_60.html|title=Webster Parish primary election returns, September 30, 2006|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref> A businessman, Davis is a native of Stephens, Arkansas.​

The day after Robertson's funeral, a letter written by Robertson earlier in 2013 was released by Wanda Pittman, Robertson's executive assistant. It reveals that Robertson and his wife recommend that the city council choose Marvin Thomas "Tommy" Davis the District D member, as the next mayor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130702/NEWS01/307020015/Minden-mayor-picks-successor-before-his-death|title=Minden mayor picks successor before his death: Bill Robertson wants Tommy Davis as interim|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', July 1, 2013|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref> First elected in 2006, Davis was until his election as mayor the only Republican on the current city council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/09302006/09302006_60.html|title=Webster Parish primary election returns, September 30, 2006|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref> A businessman, Davis is a native of Stephens, Arkansas.​

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On July 11, 2013, the Minden City Council ignored Robertson's request and instead named one of the three African-American council members, Mayor Pro Tem Joseph Burgess Cornelius, Sr. (born 1942), as the interim mayor. Cornelius was elected in District A in 2010. The vote to appoint Cornelius was three-to-two along racial lines.<ref name=keel>KEEL Radio, Shreveport, Louisiana, July 11, 2013.</ref> Joe Cornelius, Sr., as he is known, formerly resided in [[New York City]] and in Shreveport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&qf=Joe&qmi=&qn=Cornelius&qcs=Minden%2C+LA&focusfirst=0|title=Joe Cornelius in Minden, LA|publisher=intelius.com|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref> On July 15, 2013, the council named Wayne Edwards, the runner-up to Cornelius in the 2010 primary election,<ref name=octelection/> to succeed Cornelius. Edwards then won the seat in the October 19 special election which brought Davis to the mayor's office for a term of just over one year.<ref>"Edwards named to city council", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 15, 2013, p. 1.</ref>

On July 11, 2013, the Minden City Council ignored Robertson's request and instead named one of the three African-American council members, Mayor Pro Tem Joseph Burgess Cornelius, Sr. (born 1942), as the interim mayor. Cornelius was elected in District A in 2010. The vote to appoint Cornelius was three-to-two along racial lines.<ref name=keel>KEEL Radio, Shreveport, Louisiana, July 11, 2013.</ref> Joe Cornelius, Sr., as he is known, formerly resided in [[New York City]] and in Shreveport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&qf=Joe&qmi=&qn=Cornelius&qcs=Minden%2C+LA&focusfirst=0|title=Joe Cornelius in Minden, LA|publisher=intelius.com|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref> On July 15, 2013, the council named Wayne Edwards, the runner-up to Cornelius in the 2010 primary election,<ref name=octelection/> to succeed Cornelius. Edwards then won the seat in the October 19 special election which brought Davis to the mayor's office for a term of just over one year.<ref>"Edwards named to city council", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 15, 2013, p. 1.</ref>