Political Career
Jerry O’Keefe served as state representative for Harrison County from 1959 to 1964. During his time as representative he was chairman of the temperance committee that led the option to legalize liquor to near victory. For the 1960 Legislature, Jerry O’Keefe was named most outstanding freshman member of the House.
Jerry J. O’Keefe was elected Mayor of Biloxi without opposition in 1973 and re-elected in 1977. He served as mayor until 1981. Some of the projects accomplished during his tenure as mayor include Saenger Theater renovation, the ’76 Bicentennial Celebration, the building of the Biloxi Library Cultural Center, and the building of the Biloxi Commercial Harbor.
Jerry O’Keefe was a staunch civil rights advocate. As mayor, he opposed the Ku Klux Klan in Biloxi by refusing them access to city venues for meeting. The result of this standoff was vandalization of his city office.