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 by | Arthur Frank Katzentine |
| Succeeded by | John H Levi |
| 6th Mayor of Miami Beach | |
| In office 1928–1930 | |
| Preceded by | John Newton Lummus, Jr |
| Succeeded by | Val Cleary |
| 4th Mayor of Miami Beach | |
| In office 1922–1926 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas E James |
| Succeeded by | John Newton Lummus, Jr |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 January 1890 |
| Died | 9 Dec 1951 Miami Beach, Florida |
| Resting place | Miami |
| Spouse | Edna Morris |
Early life
editLouis 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
editSnedigar 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
editReferences
editCitations
edit- ^ "Snedigar sings with Athletics". Miami Herald. May 12, 1913. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ Butler, Guy (May 28, 1945). "Mack gave Snedigar right tip". Miami Daily News.
- ^ "Miami Beach History archives". Miami Beach Archives. City of Miami Beach. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "City Clerk". Miami Beach Archives. City of Miami Beach. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Miami Beach Mayor is Sworn into office". Miami Herald. Miami Herald. December 18, 1930. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ Bills, John T. "Beach Ex mayors son pulls rank". Miami Beach Archive. Miami Herald. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "Commissioner LF Snedigar dead at 61". Miami Herald. Dec 10, 1951. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
Sources
edit- Miami Beach Archives
- Blackman, E.V. (1921). Miami and Dade County, Florida: Its Settlement, Progress and Achievement. Washington D.C.: Victor Rainbolt.
- Carson, Ruby Leach (1955). "Forty Years of Miami Beach" (PDF). Tequesta. XV (XV): 3. Retrieved 9 June 2024.