Louis Fielding “Red" Snedigar (1890–1951) was an attorney, realtor and four-time mayor of the city of Miami Beach.

Louis Fielding "Red" Snedigar
County Commissioner
In office
1949 – 1951 (deceased)
9th Mayor of Miami Beach
In office
1934–1937
Preceded byArthur Frank Katzentine
Succeeded byJohn H Levi
6th Mayor of Miami Beach
In office
1928–1930
Preceded by John Newton Lummus, Jr
Succeeded byVal Cleary
4th Mayor of Miami Beach
In office
1922–1926
Preceded byThomas E James
Succeeded by John Newton Lummus, Jr
Personal details
Born2 January 1890
Died9 Dec 1951
Miami Beach, Florida
Resting placeMiami
SpouseEdna Morris

Early life

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Louis married Edna Morris on May 24, 1916, in Deland, Florida. He later graduated from Stetson University where he played baseball while earning a law degree. Snedigar had a .420 batting average and was signed to a contract by the Philadelphia Athletics.[1] Snedigar later credited major league legend, Connie Mack with dissuading him from a baseball career.[2]

The Snedigars had two sons.

Politics

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Snedigar was the 4th, 6th and 9th Mayor of Miami Beach. In a letter he wrote to the mayor and city council in the late 1940s, Snedigar remarked that he had been the leader of the city through, "the boom, the bust, the Wall Street panic and, 'the blow'", referring to the great Miami Hurricane of 1926.[3]

During Snedigar's terms as mayor he oversaw the installation of the city water system, the sewer system, the procurement of multiple parks and building of multiple bridges.[4]

Notably, Snedigar was never a Miami Beach city council member prior to his election victories.

In his 1928 election victory, he defeated Val C Cleary by only four votes.[5] He retired after the 1930 election.

In 1934, John H Levi withdrew from the mayoral race citing a technicality in the city charter. Snedigar announced his candidacy just a few hours later and went on to win his 3rd term.[citation needed]

During WWII, Snedigar's enlistment was declined. He joined the Florida State Guard and the Coast Guard volunteers.[6]

After his service to Miami Beach, Snedigar ran for and won a Dade County Commission seat.[7]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ "Snedigar sings with Athletics". Miami Herald. May 12, 1913. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  2. ^ Butler, Guy (May 28, 1945). "Mack gave Snedigar right tip". Miami Daily News.
  3. ^ "Miami Beach History archives". Miami Beach Archives. City of Miami Beach. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  4. ^ "City Clerk". Miami Beach Archives. City of Miami Beach. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Miami Beach Mayor is Sworn into office". Miami Herald. Miami Herald. December 18, 1930. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  6. ^ Bills, John T. "Beach Ex mayors son pulls rank". Miami Beach Archive. Miami Herald. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Commissioner LF Snedigar dead at 61". Miami Herald. Dec 10, 1951. Retrieved 8 June 2024.

Sources

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