Duff Post

Duff Post (May 19, 1854 – May 19, 1915) Duff Post was born on May 19, 1854 in Tampa, Florida. He was the son of the 5th mayor of Tampa, Madison Post. Post would attend local schools before going onto study at the Philadelphia Dental College to obtain a dentistry degree.[1]

Post would establish his dentistry practice in Tampa once graduating from college. From there he'd first get involved with local politics and business. He would marry Alberti Johnson in Tampa on January 3, 1879. Post's first political office he would hold would be the President of the Hillsborough County Board of Health in 1873. He opened an ice cream parlor and restaurant in the Masonic Lodge Building in downtown Tampa on March 31, 1877. He would serve as Tampa's City Marshal from 1881 to 1883, and was Captain in the 4th Regiment of the Florida Militia.[1]

He was first elected mayor on August 14, 1883 and served until August 13, 1886 (three consecutive one-year terms). Duff would be the second native of Tampa to hold that office. He was elected again to a second term on March 4, 1891 and served until March 4, 1892. Upon leaving office he returned to his dentistry practice.[2] Post was involved in effort to bring rail service to Tampa and helped extend Henry Plant's Steamship Company contracts for service in Tampa.[2] As mayor, he would prioritize much of his overall work towards improving the city's sanitation.[1]

Post would die in Tampa on May 19, 1915.[1]