Portal:Government/Selected biography

Willie J. Junior (1942 - 2004) was a prominent African-American businessman, founder of the Junior Funeral Home, and the first black member of the Escambia County Commission. He was removed from office in 2002 for his part in the soccer complex corruption scandal, in which he took a $90,000 bribe from fellow Commissioner W. D. Childers to vote on a County land purchase later deemed inappropriate. He was convicted on corruption charges, but disappeared before being sentenced. His body was discovered on December 9, 2004 under the home of a former employee.