Ollie Mohamed (February 7, 1925 - April 6, 2008) was an American store owner and politician. He was a Democratic member of the Mississippi Senate in the mid-to-late 20th century and its President pro tempore in 1992.

Early life

Ollie Mohamed was born on February 7, 1925, in Shaw, Mississippi. ^[1] He was the oldest child and son of ethnically Syrian Lebanese-born Muslim merchant Hassan Mohamed and Ethel (Wright) Mohamed. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} Hassan's original name was Hassan Mohamed Shouman; his last name became his middle name due to a transcription error when he immigrated to the United States. ^{[4] [6]} Ollie and his siblings were raised as Baptists, their mother's faith. ^{[4] [7]} Mohamed attended Belzoni High School in Belzoni, Mississippi. ^[1] In 1942, he was the first 18-year-old draft into World War II. ^{[8] [9]} Mohamed was a merchant and a farmer, and by 1994 was running a department store in Belzoni. ^{[1] [8] [10]}

Political career

In 1957, Mohamed's political career began when he ran for the office of alderman of Belzoni. ^[10] He was elected to two terms in that office, ending in 1963 when he was elected to represent Mississippi's 30th state senate district. ^[10] He served the term from 1964 to 1968. ^[7] After the districts were re-districted, he then represented the 19th district in the Senate from 1968 to 1972. ^[11] In 1971, he sponsored legislation to create the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. ^[9] Mohamed ran for re-election in 1971 after terms were redistricted, but lost by 32 votes to Buddy Grisham. ^[10] Mohamed ran for the Senate in 1975 as an Independent, but was not elected. ^{[12] [10]} He ran in 1979 and won election. ^[10] He represented the state's 21st district in the Senate from 1980 to 1993. ^{[1] [13] [14] [9]} In 1992, he was the President pro tempore of the Mississippi Senate. ^{[14] [8] [9]} When the districts were changed again in 1992, Mohamed lost for re-election in the new district to Barbara Blackmon. ^{[10] [6]} Immediately after losing the election Governor Kirk Fordice made Mohamed a legislative lobbyist. ^[15] He died in his home in Belzoni, Mississippi, on April 6, 2008. ^{[8] [6]}

Personal life

Mohamed was married to Annelle Horne. ^{[11] [8]} They had six children, and 10 grandchildren by 1994. ^{[16] [10]}

References

Works cited

• Taggart, Andy (2019). "Kirk Fordice (1992-2000): Cutting Against the Grain" (PDF). The Journal of Mississippi History. LXXXI (1–2): 133–143. ISSN  0022-2771.