Buckner Franklin "Buck" Melton Sr. (October 24, 1923 – March 5, 2014) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the mayor of Macon, Georgia, from 1975 until 1979.
[3] He met his future wife, Tommie Beck, while both were attending a play at the Macon Little Theatre.
As city attorney, Melton is credited with spearheading the abolition of Macon's segregation ordinances during Mayor Wilson's tenure.
[3] He helped establish the Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Commission in 1974 and provided pro bono legal work to the organization.
"[2] Melton successful proposed a $7 million bond issue, which was used to construct the Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon.
At the time of his retirement, the Mayor of Macon received very little pay or benefits, which may have contributed his decision not to seek another term.
Incumbent Mayor Jim Marshall had decided to run for the United States House of Representatives.
Senator Sam Nunn (D-Georgia) contributed a tribute to his career on the book's back cover, writing, "Buck is an unsung hero of Middle Georgia's prosperity and growth," further saying that Melton "had a hand in the most successful and significant undertakings" in the region throughout the previous three decades.
[2] Buck Melton remained very involved with his law firm until he suffered a major stroke in April 2007.
[3] The McKenna National Guard Armory underwent a major, six million dollar renovation and was rededicated as the Buck Melton Community Center during the summer of 2009.
[2] He died at the Carlyle Place nursing center in Macon, Georgia, on March 5, 2014, at the age of 90.