Background
West, Ben was born on March 31, 1911 in Columbia, Tennessee, United States. Son of J. Watt and Martha Melissa (Wilson) W.
West, Ben was born on March 31, 1911 in Columbia, Tennessee, United States. Son of J. Watt and Martha Melissa (Wilson) W.
Bachelor of Laws, Cumberland University, 1930. Bachelor of Arts, Vanderbilt University, 1934.
Reporter Nashville Banner, 1928-1934. Admitted to Tennessee bar, 1932, practiced in Nashville, 1932-1951. Assistant attorney general 10th Judicial District Tennessee, 1934-1943.
Attorney-general pro tem.
Jackson, Tennessee, 1942. Vice mayor, Nashville, 1947-1951, mayor, 1951-1963.
State senator 16th Senatorial District 1949-1951. Lecturer 6th Annual Institute Race Relations, Fisk University, Nashville, 1949.
Vice president National Safety Council, Chicago, from 1964.
Chairman National Committee Urban Transportation, 1958, 59. Joint Chairman of Commission hwys, American Municipal Association and American Association State Highway Officials, 1958, 59, 60. Panel member President's Commission National Goals, 1960.
Director National Conference Traffic, 1960.
Member President's Committee on Traffic Safety, 1962. Board directors American council to Improve Our Neighborhoods, Incorporated.
State chairman National Foundation Infantile Paralysis, 1942.
Member President's Committee on Traffic Safety, 1962. Member State Democratic Executive Committee, 1944-1948, 55-56, vice chairman, 1946-1948. Member Nashville Bar Association (board directors 1942-1945, 1st vice president 1945), Tennessee Municipal League (vice president 1951-1953, president 1955), American Municipal Association (president 1957), Davidson Company Association.
Masonic Lodges (president 1942), American Public Works Association (director) 1960), Pan-American Association Tennessee (president 1964-1965).
Member Church of Christ. Mason (Shriner, Knight of the Order of the Thistle).
Married Mary Humes Meadors, August 31, 1935. Children: Ben, John Meadors.