Jyles Coggins
Encyclopedia
Jyles Jackson Coggins was an American
politician
who served in the North Carolina General Assembly
as a state representative
and senator
. He was elected as the 31st Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina
in 1975, serving one, two-year term. The total population of Raleigh expanded by more than three times during his career in elected office.
Coggins was born on January 10, 1921, in Iredell County, North Carolina
, where he was raised on a farm. He attended college at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, North Carolina State University
and Duke University
. However, Coggins never earned a bachelor's degree
, which was something he regretted, according to his family. Coggins enlisted in the United States Marines during World War II, serving as a bombing pilot, which earned him ten military awards. He became known as "Bomber Jack Coggins" to his fellow Marines during the war.
Coggins returned to his native North Carolina
in 1946 following the end of World War II. He soon established a small construction
company, which grew into a larger business by the early 1960s. Coggins remained in the construction industry for more than sixty years. By his own account, Coggins held a number of former jobs before becoming successful in construction, including sales, janitor, airplace factor inspector, and railroad brakeman. He was responsible for the construction of several landmark buildings in the Raleigh region, including Raleigh Memorial Park's mausoleum
, which stands seven stories tall, and both the Beckanna Apartments and several commercial developments along the city's Glenwood Avenue.
Coggins simultaneously launched his political career in the early 1960s as well. Coggins affiliated himself as a political conservative within the Democratic Party
, often voting against the party line while in the state legislature
. He was first elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives
in 1963, serving one term in office. Coggins was then elected to the North Carolina Senate
in 1965. He won re-election to the Senate in 1967.
In 1975, Jyles Coggins was elected the Mayor of
Raleigh, North Carolina
. Coggins was popular while as Mayor, though his sometimes strained relationship with the city council
led to a challenge during his 1977 re-election campaign by a grassroots
candidate, Isabella Cannon
. Cannon, who was 73 years old at the time, was nicknamed the "little old lady in tennis shoes." In an upset, Cannon defeated Coggins in the 1977 mayoral election.
Jyles Coggins died at his home in the West Raleigh
neighborhood of the city on August 25, 2011, at the age of 90. He was survived by five daughters - Rebecca Coggins-Gibson, Anna Sherman, Debby Schmidt, Jaci Gholizadeh and Judy Coggins - 15 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandson. His wife, Frances Katherine Lyon Coggins, died on February 1, 1995.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served in the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
as a state representative
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
and senator
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
. He was elected as the 31st Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina
Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina
The mayor of Raleigh is the mayor of Raleigh, the state capital of North Carolina, in the United States. Raleigh operates with council-manager government, under which the mayor is elected separately from Raleigh City Council, of which he is the eighth member....
in 1975, serving one, two-year term. The total population of Raleigh expanded by more than three times during his career in elected office.
Coggins was born on January 10, 1921, in Iredell County, North Carolina
Iredell County, North Carolina
Iredell County, along with Moore County in the eastern Piedmont, are among a very few counties in the United States sharing borders with nine adjacent counties.-Demographics:...
, where he was raised on a farm. He attended college at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
and Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. However, Coggins never earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, which was something he regretted, according to his family. Coggins enlisted in the United States Marines during World War II, serving as a bombing pilot, which earned him ten military awards. He became known as "Bomber Jack Coggins" to his fellow Marines during the war.
Coggins returned to his native North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in 1946 following the end of World War II. He soon established a small construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
company, which grew into a larger business by the early 1960s. Coggins remained in the construction industry for more than sixty years. By his own account, Coggins held a number of former jobs before becoming successful in construction, including sales, janitor, airplace factor inspector, and railroad brakeman. He was responsible for the construction of several landmark buildings in the Raleigh region, including Raleigh Memorial Park's mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
, which stands seven stories tall, and both the Beckanna Apartments and several commercial developments along the city's Glenwood Avenue.
Coggins simultaneously launched his political career in the early 1960s as well. Coggins affiliated himself as a political conservative within the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, often voting against the party line while in the state legislature
State legislature
In the United States of America, a state legislature is a generic term referring to the legislative body of any of the country's 50 states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 24 states, the legislature is simply called the "Legislature", or the "State Legislature", while in 19 states,...
. He was first elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
in 1963, serving one term in office. Coggins was then elected to the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
in 1965. He won re-election to the Senate in 1967.
In 1975, Jyles Coggins was elected the Mayor of
Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina
The mayor of Raleigh is the mayor of Raleigh, the state capital of North Carolina, in the United States. Raleigh operates with council-manager government, under which the mayor is elected separately from Raleigh City Council, of which he is the eighth member....
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. Coggins was popular while as Mayor, though his sometimes strained relationship with the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
led to a challenge during his 1977 re-election campaign by a grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
candidate, Isabella Cannon
Isabella Cannon
Isabella Walton Cannon was the first female mayor of a capital city in the United States. At the age of 73, she defeated the incumbent Mayor of Raleigh, Jyles Coggins, during the election of 1977. Known as “the little old lady in tennis shoes,” she served one term as mayor of Raleigh until 1979...
. Cannon, who was 73 years old at the time, was nicknamed the "little old lady in tennis shoes." In an upset, Cannon defeated Coggins in the 1977 mayoral election.
Jyles Coggins died at his home in the West Raleigh
West Raleigh Historic District
The West Raleigh Historic District in Raleigh, North Carolina is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located 1.5 miles west-northwest of the State Capitol, the district encompasses approximately...
neighborhood of the city on August 25, 2011, at the age of 90. He was survived by five daughters - Rebecca Coggins-Gibson, Anna Sherman, Debby Schmidt, Jaci Gholizadeh and Judy Coggins - 15 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandson. His wife, Frances Katherine Lyon Coggins, died on February 1, 1995.