John Fulmer Bright | |
|---|---|
| 55th Mayor of Richmond, Virginia | |
| In office 1924–1940 | |
| Preceded by | George Ainslie |
| Succeeded by | Gordon Barbour Ambler |
| Member of theVirginia House of Delegates fromRichmond City | |
| In office January 11, 1922 – January 9, 1924 | |
| Preceded by | Albert O. Boschen |
| Succeeded by | Albert O. Boschen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1877-11-17)November 17, 1877 Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | December 29, 1953(1953-12-29) (aged 76) Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Hollywood Cemetery |
| Party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Medical College of Virginia (MD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1907–1941 |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
John Fulmer Bright (November 17, 1877 – December 29, 1953) was an American politician and physician from Virginia. He served as a member of theVirginia House of Delegates. He served as mayor ofRichmond, Virginia, from 1924 to 1940.
J. Fulmer Bright was born inRichmond, Virginia, to Mary Samuel (née Davis) and George Hilliard Bright. He attended public schools in Richmond and graduated from theMedical College of Virginia with aDoctor of Medicine in 1898.[1][2]
Bright practiced medicine for 24 years. He was a professor of anatomy at the Medical College of Virginia. He was professor emeritus of anatomy at the time of his death.[1][3] In 1907, Bright entered theNational Guard. He was commanding officer of the 1st Virginia Infantry from 1921 to 1940. He retired in 1941 as abrigadier general.[1]
Bright was aDemocrat. He was elected to theVirginia House of Delegates in 1922.[1][4] In 1924, he ran for mayor of Richmond on the platform of "good government for less money or better government for the same money".[1] He served as mayor of Richmond from 1924 to 1940. He ran again in 1940, but lost toGordon Barbour Ambler.[1][4] During theGreat Depression, he initially rejected state and federal grants to support Richmond. In 1939, he opposed a proposal to set up a federal housing authority after a resolution that city council had passed to include a slum clearance project. He called the project "unsound, unbusinesslike, undemocratic, unAmerican and wrong in principle". He also opposed proposals to change the city's two chamber legislative body to a unicameral council by the Richmond Citizens' Association.[4][5] In 1948, a new city charter weakened the mayor's power by implementing acity manager system and replaced the bicameral city council with a single nine-person body whose members were elected at large.[citation needed] He described the change as "Richmond's greatest tragedy".[4] During his tenure, he oversaw the building of theRobert E. Lee Memorial Bridge withReconstruction Finance Corporation funds and the replacement of the Marshall, Fifth and First viaducts. The World War Memorial Carillon was also built inByrd Park.[3][4][5] He ran again for the Virginia House of Delegates in 1941, but lost.[3]
In 1941, Bright became an assistant co-coordinator of the State Defense Council. In 1942, he became state director of the Office of Price Administration. In 1950, he became medical advisor to the State Industrial Commission. He held that role until his death.[1][3] In 1950 and 1951, he led referendum drives to defeat city council supported efforts to build an expressway. He later agreed the toll road was the proper approach to handling the traffic problem in Richmond.[4]
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Bright lived at 408 West Grace Street in Richmond.[3] He was hospitalized for a heart ailment in November and on December 26, 1953. He died of a heart attack a few days later on December 29th.[1][3] He was buried inHollywood Cemetery.[3]
