Jackson Jambalaya

Dale had character and he was a character. Will always remember him during the Easter flood of 1979. He set a high bar of leadership that none have reached since. I remember he gave orders to shoot or severely punish any looters. That would not fly nowadays, but it worked! Many of the changes he initiated were beneficial to all Jacksonians. The city's lessening abilities may not have happened had he remained Mayor. May his family find peace and know many respected him and his abilities.

Mayor Danks had his own style of leadership, and not everyone liked (much less) understood his methods.

But it worked.

Someone mentioned in the first post yesterday that he never put one section of Jackson over the other.

That is so true !

Dale Danks wanted to see all parts of Jackson thrive.

(Eastover, Lake Hico, McDowell Road, Westland Plaza,ect.)

Sure ... Leland Speed, Walter Scott, Allen Thompson,
and Russell Davis were all great Jackson Mayors during their era.
but Dale was the very last Jackson Mayor accepted into that Fraternity.

Dale had enough common sense to surround himself with the best Economic,Legal,Law Enforcement,and Engineering experts in Central Mississippi ... from 1977 until 1989.

Rest in piece Mayor Danks.

" Dale had character and he was a character."

Indeed !

Lawd have mercy ... he did know how to play it up when a local news station was filming him.

LOL !

I will never forget back in the mid 1980's when a WLBT crew showed-up unexpected.

Danks had just lit one of his cigarettes.
He had to hide it behind his back (as not to be seen smoking) on TV.

Long story short, the cigarette burned down to his fingers.

BUT ... Bert Case was there to save the day ... and gave Dale one of his own packs of Marlboro Reds.

You can't make this stuff up.

Those that knew Danks can easily relate !

RIP, Mr.Mayor !

Dale was the last decent Mayor of Jackson.