Ronnie Thompson

Who is Ronnie Thompson?

Ronald John Thompson, known as Ronnie Thompson or 'Machine Gun Ronnie' Thompson, is a former Georgia Republican politician who was the first member of his party to have been elected mayor of Macon, the seat of Bibb County in central Georgia. Thompson served two controversial terms from 1967-1975. He is also a former gospel and country music singer known for his highly conservative views on issues.

In 1972, Thompson was a Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives, but he was defeated by the Democratic incumbent W.S. Stuckey, Jr.. In the 1974 gubernatorial election, as his party's nominee, Thompson was trounced by Democrat George D. Busbee. A populist in political philosophy, Thompson was often at odds with his state and national moderate Republican leadership.

Buddy Kelly Moore, who completed a master of arts thesis on Thompson's career in 1976 at Georgia College & State University, opined that Thompson "shocked and fascinated observers with hard-line approaches to law-and-order, municipal unionism, and race relations." Moore defined Thompson's career in terms of a "predilection for the flamboyant." Unconventional author Will D.