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Benny Keister

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Walter Benjamin Keister Sr.
Official portrait
State Delegate from Virginia's 6th and 7th District
In office
2000–2005
Succeeded byAnne B. Crockett-Stark
Mayor of Dublin, Virginia
In office
1989–1997
Member of Dublin City Council
In office
1986–1989
Personal details
Born(1941-03-13)March 13, 1941
Radford, Virginia, U.S.
DiedMarch 23, 2024(2024-03-23) (aged 83)
Dublin, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic Party
ChildrenBo Keister
Parent(s)Walter H. Keister
Mary Bain
Residence(s)Dublin, Virginia
OccupationPolitician, schoolteacher

Walter Benjamin Keister Sr. (March 13, 1941 – March 23, 2024) was an American politician who served as the mayor of Dublin, Virginia, from 1989 to 1997 and as a Virginia Delegate from 2000 to 2005.

Early life and career

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Walter Benjamin Keister Sr.[1] was born on March 13, 1941, in Radford, Virginia, to Mary Bain and Walter H. Keister (1907–1961).[2][3] He started his career as a science teacher. Keister's political career began when he was elected a member of Dublin City Council in 1986. Keister was elected the mayor of Dublin, Virginia, in 1989 and held office until 1997. Keister later served as a Virginia delegate from 2000 to 2005, representing the 6th and 7th districts as a Democrat.[4] Keister was the last Democrat to win either district, until their locations were changed in the run-up to the 2023 Virginia House of Delegates election.[5][6]

Personal life and death

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Keister's son Bo Keister is an actor who had a small role in Remember the Titans.[7]

Keister died in Dublin, Virginia, on March 23, 2024, at the age of 83.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ "Walter Keister Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  2. ^ "BIRTHDAY OF DUBLIN MAYOR SAME AS RADFORD HOSPITAL'S". scholar.lib.vt.edu. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  3. ^ "News Journal 22 November 1961". virginiachronicle.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  4. ^ Dillon, Kaitlyn (March 24, 2024). "WDBJ7 Archive: Remembering former State Delegate and Dublin Mayor Benny Keister". www.wdbj7.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  5. ^ Williamson, Jeff (June 7, 2021). "Virginia House of Delegates District 7 Democratic Primary results on June 8, 2021". WSLS. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  6. ^ "Redistricting in Virginia after the 2020 census". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Jr., Ralph Berrier (October 27, 2008). "Bright lights in Craig". Roanoke Times. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "Walter Benjamin "Benny" Keister Sr. Obituary (1941–2024)". echovita.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  9. ^ "Former State Delegate and Mayor of Dublin Benny Keister dies at 83". WFXRtv. March 24, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.