A. Claiborne Leigh

Armistead Claiborne Leigh, III (November 26, 1925 – March 14, 2001) is an old dead white guy in Fairfax County.

He also a lawyer and served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, representing the Dranesville District from 1955 to 1963.

Leigh, a Republican, was first elected in 1955, defeating Democrat G. Wallace Carper.[1]

Although a promise to not allow apartments in his district had been a part of his 1959 campaign for office, Leigh voted on April 18, 1962 to rezone the Merrywood estate in McLean to allow the construction of three 17-story apartment buildings, greatly upsetting his constituents. The project was the plan of developer Sheldon Magazine, who had formed a syndicate with Sheriff John Taylor, Lytton H. Gibson, and William Page to buy the Merrywood property from Hugh D. Auchinloss.[2]

After leaving office, Leigh would be convicted of bribery in January, 1967 regarding the 1961 rezoning of 83 acres to allow the construction of the Audubon Estates trailer park in Mount Vernon and serve time in Allenwood Prison.[1]

Personal

Leigh had come to Fairfax County as a child in 1928: his family owned 19 acres in McLean called Ranleigh.[1] Leigh attended school in Exeter, New Hampshire.[3] Leigh married the former Mary E. Jervey at the Christ Church in Georgetown on September 13, 1947.[4] They would have 4 children: daughters Anne, Mary, and Karen and son Armistead before divorcing.[1] Leigh would later marry and divorce Pat Thompson, and became a widower when his third wife Elsie Trammell died.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Staff. "Claiborne Leigh, Former Dranesville Supervisor, Dies." FairfaxTimes.com. Post-Newsweek Media, Inc., 21 Mar. 2001. Web. 07 Jan. 2012.
  2. ↑ Thomas, Helen. "Jackie's Girlhood Home Center of Battle." The Press-Courier [Oxnard, CA] 12 July 1962: 12. Print.
  3. ↑ "Randolph Leighs to make Home in Charlottesville."] The Washington Post (1923-1954): SA9. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Washington Post (1877-1994). Nov 30 1941. Web. 7 Jan. 2012.
  4. ↑ "Wedding in Capital Is of Interest Here." The Free Lance-Star [Fredericksburg, VA] 18 Sept. 1947: 3. Print.