Peter Roe Nugent (1893–September 24, 1975) was an American politician who served as mayor of Savannah, Georgia and as vice-chairman and pioneer member of the Georgia Ports Authority.
Peter Roe Nugent | |
|---|---|
| Georgia Ports Authority | |
| In office 1949–1955 | |
| Appointed by | Herman Talmadge |
| 55th Mayor of Savannah, Georgia | |
| In office 1945–1947 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Gamble |
| Succeeded by | John G. Kennedy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1893 Savannah, Georgia |
| Died | September 24, 1975 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary Louise Lynch |
| Children | 4 |
| Parents |
|
| Education | B.A. Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Baker |
Biography
editNugent was born to a prominent Catholic family in Savannah in 1893, the son of Nellie Roe and Thomas Nugent.[1] His father was an immigrant from Australia and his mother a Savannah native.[1] He graduated from the Benedictine Military School and Georgia Institute of Technology.[1] In 1915, he and his father started a bakery of which he became the proprietor.[1] His sister, Helen Roe Nugent, served as president of the Savannah-Atlanta Diocesan Council of the National Council of Catholic Women.[1] In 1937, he was elected to the City Council of Savannah.[1] On November 4, 1942, he was named vice-chairman of the City Council after Harry B. Grimshaw was named chairman; and on January 22, 1945, he was named chairman.[2] On July 25, 1945, he was elected mayor by the City Council upon the untimely death of mayor Thomas Gamble.[1][2][3]
While in office, Nugent was dedicated to developing the paper industry in the region,[4] lead a campaign to test all 125,000 residents of the county for tuberculosis and syphilis in order to treat and eradicate the diseases,[5][6] presided over a state visit by Winston Churchill,[7] conducted a major cleanup of the city[8][9] after criticism from Lady Nancy Astor that Savannah was "like a beautiful woman with a dirty face"[10][11] (she later apologized),[12] and secured the establishment of a Savannah branch for Georgia State University (to serve freshman and sophomores).[13]
He declined to enter the race for mayor after the end of his term on January 27, 1947.[14] The Democrat nominee for mayor was Democrat John G. Kennedy, of the Citizen's Progressive League which had been in opposition to his administration.[15] Kennedy was the only candidate on the ballot in the general election although he accused unnamed members of the outgoing Nugant administration of illegally inserting 15–20,000 stick-in ballots for pasting on the general ballot.[16] Kennedy won in a landslide and the entire City Council was replaced.[17] From 1949 to 1955, he again served as chairman of the City Council during the administration of mayor Olin F. Fulmer[2] and helped to facilitate the exchange of Savannah-owned Hunter Field for the Chatham Air Force Base.[18] In 1949, he was appointed by Governor Herman Talmadge to the 3-member Georgia Ports Authority[19] and was soon after named vice-chairman.[20] In 1950, Nugent helped to secure a $4,500,000 loan from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation for Port of Savannah expansion.[21] He resigned from the Port Authority in 1955.[22][23]
Nugent was a former president of the Hibernian Society,[24] the Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Baker's Association, and the Chatham County Board of Education.[1]
Personal life
editLynch married Mary Louise Lynch of Savannah; they had four children: Mrs. J H. Clancy Jr., John Nugent, Thomas Nugent, and Mary Roe Nugent.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Peter Roe Nugent Elected Mayor By Savannah Alderman". The Bulletin of the Catholic Laymen's Society of Georgia. August 25, 1945.
- ^ a b c "A List of Mayors and Aldermen of the City of Savannah, Georgia, 1790-2012". savannahga.gov.
- ^ "Bakery Firm President Named To Serve as Savannah Mayor". The Macon Telegraph. July 27, 1945 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Savannah Looks To Expanded Papers Uses". The Atlanta Constitution. January 15, 1947 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Lesnesne, Henry (November 11, 1945). "Concerted Attack Opened Against TB and Syphilis". The Columbus Ledger – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Savannahans Queue Up for VD Tests". The Atlanta Constitution. October 16, 1945 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Boring, Bill (January 17, 1946). "Churchill in Savannah; Other Days". The Atlanta Constitution – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "One of History's Biggest Clean-ups is Accomplished by City of Savannah". The Macon News. February 24, 1946 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Insulted Savannah Washes Face, Puts Rose in Hair for Bankers". The Atlanta Constitution. March 4, 1946 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Astor-Despised Dirt Ousted by Galled Savannah". The Atlanta Constitution. February 21, 1946 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Can Go-On Cussing, Lady Astor Says, If Savannah Tidies Up". The Columbus Ledger. February 26, 1946 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lady Astor Gives Praise to Savannah For Cleanup". The Macon Telegraph. March 12, 1946 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "News About Georgia". The Atlanta Constitution. May 27, 1947 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Savannah Mayor Refuses to Enter December Race". The Atlanta Constitution. October 16, 1946 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bouhan Sits On Sidelines". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. October 27, 1946 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Write-In Poses Snarl In Savannah". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. January 14, 1947 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Harris, Bill (January 26, 1947). "Monday is "Moving Day" in Savannah City Hall". The Atlanta Constitution – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Savannah Swaps Air Base". The Macon News. November 24, 1949 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Talmadge Appointments to Clear Slate". The Atlanta Constitution. February 17, 1949 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Miller, W. O. (March 11, 1949). "Port Project Pland Made For Savannah". The Columbus Ledger – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Wright, Wellington (January 11, 1950). "State Sets Port Work With $4,500,000 RFC Loan". The Atlanta Constitution – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Nugent To Leave Port Authority". The Macon News. January 29, 1955 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "P.R. Nugent Resigns Port Post". The Atlanta Constitution. January 29, 1955 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hibernian Society Elects Peter Nugent President". The Atlanta Constitution. March 18, 1944 – via Newspapers.com.