Mayors of Henderson:
William B. Vanzandt (Vansant) 1854
Martin S. Hancock 1854-1859
Ed G. Hall 1860-1862
David Banks 1862-1865
P. B. Matthews 1866-1868
E. L. Starling 1868-1874
Jacob Held 1874-1875
John C. Atkinson 1875-1879
Frances M. English 1879-1881
Jacob Peter 1881-1883
Charles C. Ball 1883-1887
Phelps Sassen as of 1888-1889
Charles C. Ball 1890-1893
J. W. Moore 1893
John C. Atkinson 1893-1895
J. B. Johnston 1895
A. J. Worsham 1895-1897
W. I. Thompson 1897-1901
J. H. Powell 1901-1905
Sam Harris 1905-1909
W. I. Thompson 1909-1913
J. W. Johnson 1913-1917
James B. Johnson 1917-1921
Clay Hall 1922-1925
Marvin D. Eblen 1926-1930
James B. Johnson 1926
William Barret 1930-1934
Lee L. Hurley 1934-1938
Robert B. Posey 1938-1942
J. Alvis Clore 1942-1946
Robert B. Posey 1946-1950
Otis A. Benton 1950-1954
Hecht S. Lackey 1954-1962
Robert B. Posey 1962-1966
Maurice Galloway 1966-1970
William L. Newman 1970-1993
Glenn L. Johnson 1994 – 1998
Joan Hoffman 1999-2003
Henry G. Lackey 2003-2006
Tom Davis 2006-2010
Steve Austin 2010-2022
Brad Staton 2022-Current
On the 18th day of February 1854, an act of the General Assembly investing Henderson with all the general powers of a municipal corporation was approved.
An election was held on May 1st of that year and William B. Vansant elected Mayor.
Vansant resigned, and Martin S. Hancock succeeded him on October 19th, 1854. Ed. G. Hall was elected mayor on the 6th of March, 1860, and on April 1st, 1862, resigned and joined the Confederate Army. The council called an election and David Banks was elected. In 1866 P. B. Matthews was elected. In 1868, Col. E. L. Starling was elected mayor. In 1874 Jacob Held succeeded Col. Starling as mayor. During his administration a volunteer fire company was organized. The term of Mayor John C. Atkinson, 1875-1879, was mainly devoted to straightening the city out financially. During the term of Mayor F. M. English, 1879-1881, an ordinance was adopted funding $496,800 of the city’s bonds. Jacob Peter was elected in 1881 to succeed English. Charles C. Ball, a well known criminal lawyer, served two terms as mayor, skipping one term which was held by Phelps Sasseen. His first term of service began in 1883, lasting four years. Phelps Sasseen succeeded Charles C. Ball as mayor, serving until 1889. Mayor Charles Ball died in office on May 16th, 1893. J. William Moore, then served as mayor pro-tem until May 17th, 1893, when he was succeeded by John C. Atkinson, a son of Former Mayor Atkinson. He served until May 9th, 1895, when he resigned. In his written resignation he gave notice of a donation what is now known as Atkinson Park to the city in memory of his father. Joseph B. Johnston, who was prominent in city affairs for many years served as Mayor pro-tem until November 19th, 1895. Andrew J. Worsham was elected to fill out the unexpired term of Atkinson, from 1895 to 1897. Dr. W. I. Thompson served from 1897 to 1901. Col. J. Henry Powell served from 1901 to 1905. Samuel D. Harris served from 1905 to 1909. Audubon was taken into city during this administration. Dr. W. I. Thompson came back for a second time and served from 1909 to 1913. J. W. Johnson, was elected mayor and served 1913 to 1917. James B. Johnson served from 1917 to 1921. Then the commission form of government was voted in, and in November 1921 Clay F. Hall was elected mayor.
Photos of Mayors
