Jeremiah Joseph O'Keefe | |
|---|---|
 O'Keefe in December 2011 | |
| Mayor of Biloxi, Mississippi | |
| In office 1973–1981 | |
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives | |
| In office 1960–1964 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 12, 1923 Ocean Springs, Mississippi, US |
| Died | August 23, 2016 (aged 93) Biloxi, Mississippi, US |
| Cause of death | Heart Failure |
| Children | 13; including Jeremiah IV |
| Nicknames |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Navy Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (2) Congressional Gold Medal |
Jeremiah Joseph O'Keefe III (July 12, 1923 – August 23, 2016) was an American fighter ace, Democratic Party politician, insurance executive, and funeral director. As a Marine pilot in World War II he received the Navy Cross for five of the seven kills he recorded over Okinawa. After the war he entered politics, serving as a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1960 to 1964 and as the mayor of Biloxi, Mississippi, from 1973 to 1981. The most prominent funeral homeowner in Biloxi,[1] he won a $500 million jury award in a contractual dispute with the rival funeral home company Loewen Group, later settling for $175 million.
O'Keefe was a major donor to and chief fundraiser for the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum Of Art, named after his wife Annette, and many other civic, cultural and charitable organizations.[2] His son, Jeremiah Joseph O'Keefe IV, also served as a state legislator.
O'Keefe was portrayed by actor Tommy Lee Jones in the 2023 film The Burial.[3]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "O'Keefe Legacy". Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ Glenn Kenny, ‘The Burial’ Review: A Mississippi Courtroom Drama, The New York Times, October 12, 2023, accessed October 14, 2023.