Robert Walter Speer (1855–1918) was elected the mayor of Denver, Colorado three times. He served two four-year terms in office from 1904 to 1912. He died from pneumonia on May 14, 1918, while halfway through a third term in office that had started in 1916.
[edit] Biography
Speer was born in Mount Union, Pennsylvania, on December 1, 1855. He married Kate Thrush, his childhood sweetheart, in 1882.[1]
As an adherent of the City Beautiful movement, Speer initiated several projects that added new landmarks, updated existing facilities, or improved the city's landscape including:
Speer was the first mayor of Denver to die while serving in office. Speer Boulevard in Denver is named in his honor.[4] He is buried in Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.
- ^ Johnson, Denver's Mayor Speer, pp. 5-6.
- ^ Forestry statistics are from Noel, Mile High City, p. 100.
- ^ Other items in the list of projects are from "Some Things Denver Owes to Speer," Rocky Mountain News, 15 May 1918, p. 3.
- ^ Goodstein, Denver Streets, p. 33.
[edit] References
- Goodstein, Phil (1995). Denver Streets: Names, Numbers, Locations, Logic (2nd Revised Edition ed.). Denver, CO: New Social Publications. ISBN 0-9622169-3-3.
- Johnson, Charles A. (1969). Denver's Mayor Speer. Denver, CO: Green Mountain Press.
- Noel, Thomas Jacob (1997). Mile High City: An Illustrated History of Denver. Denver, CO: A. B. Hirschfeld Press. ISBN 1-886483-10-8.
- "Robert W. Speer, Mayor of Denver, Is Dead: Cathedral Bells Toll as Flags are Placed at Half Mast in Memory". Rocky Mountain News: pp. 1, 3. 15 May 1918.
- Eaton, Raymond A. (15 May 1918). "Speer was Man of Great Vision; Had Many Ideas for Better City". Rocky Mountain News: p. 3.
- "Speer Always Worked For a City Beautiful; Plans Had Just Begun". Rocky Mountain News: p. 3. 15 May 1918.
- "Some Things Denver Owes to Speer". Rocky Mountain News: p. 3. 15 May 1918.
[edit] External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Speer, Robert W. |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
American politician |
| Date of birth |
1855 |
| Place of birth |
|
| Date of death |
1918 |
| Place of death |
|
