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'''Ronald John Thompson, Sr.''', known as '''Ronnie Thompson''' or ''''Machine Gun Ronnie' Thompson''' (July 21, 1934 – March 22, 2020), was a former [[Georgia]] [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[politician]] who was the first member of his party to have been elected [[mayor]] of Macon. Thompson served two controversial terms from 1967 to 1975. He was also a former [[gospel]] and [[Country music]] [[singer]] known for his highly [[conservative]] views on issues.

'''Ronald John Thompson, Sr.''', known as '''Ronnie Thompson''' or ''''Machine Gun Ronnie' Thompson''' (July 21, 1934 – March 22, 2020), was a former [[Georgia]] [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[politician]] who was the first member of his party to have been elected [[mayor]] of Macon. Thompson served two controversial terms from 1967 to 1975. He was also a former [[gospel]] and [[Country music]] [[singer]] known for his highly [[conservative]] views on issues.

In 1972, Thompson was a [[Republican Party|GOP]] candidate for the [[United States House of Representatives]], but he was defeated by the [[Democratic Party |Democratic]] [[incumbent]] W. S. Stuckey, Jr., scion of a wealthy Georgia family. In 1974, as his party's [[Governor|gubernatorial]] nominee, Thompson was trounced by Democrat [[George Busbee]]. A [[populist]] in political philosophy, Thompson was often at odds with his state and national moderate Republican leadership. However, during [[Watergate]] he was a staunch defender of embattled [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]], no particular favorite of many conservative Republicans.

In 1972, Thompson was a [[Republican Party|GOP]] candidate for the [[United States House of Representatives]], but he was defeated by the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[incumbent]] W. S. Stuckey, Jr., scion of a wealthy Georgia family. In 1974, as his party's [[Governor|gubernatorial]] nominee, Thompson was trounced by Democrat [[George Busbee]]. A [[populist]] in political philosophy, Thompson was often at odds with his state and national moderate Republican leadership. However, during [[Watergate]] he was a staunch defender of embattled [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]], no particular favorite of many conservative Republicans.

Buddy Kelly Moore (1951-1998), who completed a [[Master of Arts]] thesis on Thompson's career in 1976 at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, determined that the Maconite "shocked and fascinated observers with hard-line approaches to law-and-order, municipal [[organized labor|unionism]], and race relations." Moore defined Thompson's career in terms of a "predilection for the flamboyant."<ref>Buddy Kelly Moore, '''Machine Gun Ronnie' Thompson" A Political Biography'', Georgia College at Milledgeville, Master's thesis, August 1976, p. vi</ref>  

Buddy Kelly Moore (1951–1998), who completed a [[Master of Arts]] thesis on Thompson's career in 1976 at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, determined that the Maconite "shocked and fascinated observers with hard-line approaches to law-and-order, municipal [[organized labor|unionism]], and race relations." Moore defined Thompson's career in terms of a "predilection for the flamboyant."<ref>Buddy Kelly Moore, '''Machine Gun Ronnie' Thompson" A Political Biography'', Georgia College at Milledgeville, Master's thesis, August 1976, p. vi</ref>  

Unconventional [[author]] Will D. Campbell called Thompson "a harbinger of the [[New Right]]", a movement which emerged in the late [[1970s]] to help to elect Republican [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]] as [[U.S. President]].<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA191&lpg=RA1-PA191&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=5ttPFo0eCj&sig=JwKBOrK4ZnE27_NX2uOT9IjfSjw&hl=en#PRA1-PA140,M1</ref>

Unconventional [[author]] Will D. Campbell called Thompson "a harbinger of the [[New Right]]", a movement which emerged in the late [[1970s]] to help to elect Republican [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]] as [[U.S. President]].<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA191&lpg=RA1-PA191&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=5ttPFo0eCj&sig=JwKBOrK4ZnE27_NX2uOT9IjfSjw&hl=en#PRA1-PA140,M1</ref>

==Early years, family, education, business==

==Early years, family, education, business==

Thompson was born in Augusta in eastern Georgia near the [[South Carolina]] state line to Remus Warren Thompson and the former Mattie Lou Watkins (1910-1997), a southern working-class couple. The family included two older brothers, Kenneth and William Thompson, and a younger sister, Janice. Remus Thompson worked (1) in a cotton mill, (2) for Friedman's Jewelers in Augusta, having risen to the rank of credit manager, and (3) as a [[firefighter]] at the Daniel Field air base in Augusta. Mrs. Thompson and Ronnie, while he was still in elementary school, operated a [[restaurant]] near the military base.<ref>Moore, Thesis, pp. 1-2.</ref>

Thompson was born in Augusta in eastern Georgia near the [[South Carolina]] state line to Remus Warren Thompson and the former Mattie Lou Watkins (1910–1997), a southern working-class couple. The family included two older brothers, Kenneth and William Thompson, and a younger sister, Janice. Remus Thompson worked (1) in a cotton mill, (2) for Friedman's Jewelers in Augusta, having risen to the rank of credit manager, and (3) as a [[firefighter]] at the Daniel Field air base in Augusta. Mrs. Thompson and Ronnie, while he was still in elementary school, operated a [[restaurant]] near the military base.<ref>Moore, Thesis, pp. 1-2.</ref>

Originally a [[Segregation|segregationist]], Thompson said that he had been reared to "believe in separation of the races."<ref>Roger Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run", ''Atlanta Magazine,'' January 1971, p. 94.</ref> He also developed a resentment of the dominant wealth and the power elite. He once said that he could not fully evaluate the overall status of Macon because "I'm from the other side of the [[railroad]] tracks."<ref>Margaret Shannon, "Can a Gospel Singer Find Happiness as the First Republican Mayor of Macon?" ''Atlanta Journal and Constitution Magazine,'' May 25, 1969, p. 16.</ref>

Originally a [[segregation]]ist, Thompson said that he had been reared to "believe in separation of the races."<ref>Roger Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run", ''Atlanta Magazine,'' January 1971, p. 94.</ref> He also developed a resentment of the dominant wealth and the power elite. He once said that he could not fully evaluate the overall status of Macon because "I'm from the other side of the [[railroad]] tracks."<ref>Margaret Shannon, "Can a Gospel Singer Find Happiness as the First Republican Mayor of Macon?" ''Atlanta Journal and Constitution Magazine,'' May 25, 1969, p. 16.</ref>

Situated near the geographic center of Georgia, Macon was chartered in 1823 and named for the [[North Carolina]] statesman, [[Nathaniel Macon]]. The city contributed volunteers to the [[Texas Revolution]]. It was a temporary capital of Georgia after the sacking of Milledgeville in 1864 by the army of [[General]] [[William Tecumseh Sherman]].<ref>Ida Young, Julius Gholson, and Clara Nell Hargrove, ''History of Macon, Georgia'' (Macon: Lyon, Marshall, & Brooks, 1950), pp. 43, 48, 62, 88, 278.</ref>

Situated near the geographic center of Georgia, Macon was chartered in 1823 and named for the [[North Carolina]] statesman, [[Nathaniel Macon]]. The city contributed volunteers to the [[Texas Revolution]]. It was a temporary capital of Georgia after the sacking of Milledgeville in 1864 by the army of [[General]] [[William Tecumseh Sherman]].<ref>Ida Young, Julius Gholson, and Clara Nell Hargrove, ''History of Macon, Georgia'' (Macon: Lyon, Marshall, & Brooks, 1950), pp. 43, 48, 62, 88, 278.</ref>

Thompson's first political venture was an unsuccessful race on September 27, 1961, to fill a vacancy on the Bibb County Commission. Earlier, he had left Friedman's and opened his own jewelry business in Macon. Thompson reasoned, correctly as it turned out, that publicity from a campaign would generate new customers to his fledgling business. He finished fourth in a field of six but had been bitten by the political bug. The winner of the race, Andy Watson, polled nearly twice as many votes as Thompson.<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, p. 11</ref>

Thompson's first political venture was an unsuccessful race on September 27, 1961, to fill a vacancy on the Bibb County Commission. Earlier, he had left Friedman's and opened his own jewelry business in Macon. Thompson reasoned, correctly as it turned out, that publicity from a campaign would generate new customers to his fledgling business. He finished fourth in a field of six but had been bitten by the political bug. The winner of the race, Andy Watson, polled nearly twice as many votes as Thompson.<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, p. 11</ref>

Acting on the advice of his then friend, former Mayor Benjamin Franklin Merritt (1906-1985), a commander of the Georgia [[National Guard]], Thompson in 1963 ran for alderman on the then nonpartisan ballot and unseated the incumbent Bert Hamilton, a Mercer University professor. Merritt, meanwhile, was elected mayor, having previously served from 1953-1959. On the council, Thompson took a particular interest in [[aviation]], used his aldermanic pay to finance flying lessons, and soon earned his [[pilot]]'s license.<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, pp. 11-12.</ref>

Acting on the advice of his then friend, former Mayor Benjamin Franklin Merritt (1906–1985), a commander of the Georgia [[National Guard]], Thompson in 1963 ran for alderman on the then nonpartisan ballot and unseated the incumbent Bert Hamilton, a Mercer University professor. Merritt, meanwhile, was elected mayor, having previously served from 1953 to 1959. On the council, Thompson took a particular interest in [[aviation]], used his aldermanic pay to finance flying lessons, and soon earned his [[pilot]]'s license.<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, pp. 11-12.</ref>

On the council, Thompson differed with Mayor Merritt on many issues. The crime rate in Macon soared; municipal finance problems were so severe that the city had to borrow regularly; there were still 150 miles of dirt streets; city services were needed for newly annexed areas.<ref>''Macon Telegraph'', September 1, 1964, p. A14; February 16, 1966, p. A13; June 29, 1966, p. A1.</ref>

On the council, Thompson differed with Mayor Merritt on many issues. The crime rate in Macon soared; municipal finance problems were so severe that the city had to borrow regularly; there were still 150 miles of dirt streets; city services were needed for newly annexed areas.<ref>''Macon Telegraph'', September 1, 1964, p. A14; February 16, 1966, p. A13; June 29, 1966, p. A1.</ref>

Thompson was in a line of southern politicians who had been musicians: Governor and [[U.S. Senator]] [[Theodore Bilbo]] of [[Mississippi]], Governor [[W. Lee O'Daniel]] of [[Texas]], and Governor [[Jimmie Davis]] of [[Louisiana]]. Davis, immortalized for his song "You Are My Sunshine"<ref>Robert Sherill, ''Gothic Politics in the Deep South'' (New York: Grossman Publishers, 1968), p. 31.</ref> once told Thompson, "If you want to have any success in politics, sing softly and carry a big [[guitar]]," a play on an old [[Theodore Roosevelt]] adage.<ref>Eric Welch, "Gospel-singing Jeweler Is 'Country' Candidate,",''Macon Telegraph,'' August 26, 1967, p. A1.</ref>

Thompson was in a line of southern politicians who had been musicians: Governor and [[U.S. Senator]] [[Theodore Bilbo]] of [[Mississippi]], Governor [[W. Lee O'Daniel]] of [[Texas]], and Governor [[Jimmie Davis]] of [[Louisiana]]. Davis, immortalized for his song "You Are My Sunshine"<ref>Robert Sherill, ''Gothic Politics in the Deep South'' (New York: Grossman Publishers, 1968), p. 31.</ref> once told Thompson, "If you want to have any success in politics, sing softly and carry a big [[guitar]]," a play on an old [[Theodore Roosevelt]] adage.<ref>Eric Welch, "Gospel-singing Jeweler Is 'Country' Candidate,",''Macon Telegraph,'' August 26, 1967, p. A1.</ref>

In Thompson's last year in office, he commissioned a portrait of the African American [[singer]] Otis Redding (1941-1967), best known for "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay." He offered the portrait to Governor Busbee for use in the state capitol, but it remained in Macon until late in 2007, when it went missing in the transition between Mayor C. Jack Ellis, Macon's first black chief executive, and current Mayor Robert Reichert, a Democrat former member of the Georgia House. Thompson, through his career in gospel singing, had been personally friendly with Macon's well-known musicians, including Redding, [[James Brown]], [[Little Richard]], Wayne Cochran, and the Allman Brothers.<ref>Williams, What Makes Ronnie Run?, p. 92.</ref>

In Thompson's last year in office, he commissioned a portrait of the African American [[singer]] Otis Redding (1941–1967), best known for "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay." He offered the portrait to Governor Busbee for use in the state capitol, but it remained in Macon until late in 2007, when it went missing in the transition between Mayor C. Jack Ellis, Macon's first black chief executive, and current Mayor Robert Reichert, a Democrat former member of the Georgia House. Thompson, through his career in gospel singing, had been personally friendly with Macon's well-known musicians, including Redding, [[James Brown]], [[Little Richard]], Wayne Cochran, and the Allman Brothers.<ref>Williams, What Makes Ronnie Run?, p. 92.</ref>

==Mental depression==

==Mental depression==