Hilmar Moore
Hilmar Guenther Moore (July 28, 1920 – December 4, 2012) was an American rancher and long-time Mayor of Richmond, Texas.
Hilmar Moore | |
---|---|
Moore in September 2012 | |
Mayor of Richmond, Texas | |
In office September 22, 1949 – December 4, 2012 | |
Succeeded by | Evalyn W. Moore[1] |
Personal details | |
Born | Hilmar Guenther Moore July 28, 1920 San Antonio, Texas |
Died | December 4, 2012 92) Richmond, Texas | (aged
Spouse(s) | Evalyn W. Moore ( - 2012, his death) |
Parents | John Moore, Jr. (father) Dorothea Guenther Moore (mother) |
Biography
Hilmar Moore was a cattleman and a fifth-generation Texan, the grandson of Texas Secretary of State John M. Moore. Moore's father John Moore, Jr. served also as Mayor of Richmond. Moore served in World War II.[2] Moore was married to Evalyn Wendt Moore, who succeeded him as mayor.[3]
Mayor of Richmond
Moore was first elected as the Mayor of Richmond in 1949 and remained in office until his death in 2012, making him "probably the longest-serving elected official in the US," according to a 2008 BBC News report,[4] though even as late as 2012 Richmond only described him as the longest serving Mayor in Texas, and the second in the US.[5]
In the segregated 1950s and 1960s, Moore persuaded restaurants in Richmond to integrate.[6]
He was honored with a life-size statue at City Hall in October 2008.[7]
Moore's father, John Jr., served as a two-term Mayor of Richmond and a two-term judge in Fort Bend County, Texas.[8] Hilmar's grandfather, John Sr., was a United States Congressman and Secretary of State of Texas.[8][9]
Chair of Texas Department of Human Resources
Moore was appointed to the Department of Human Resources by Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe. During his term, Moore stated to the press that he believed people on welfare should be sterilized, though this was a "personal opinion and [he] did not intend to seek a state sterilization policy".
Death
Moore died on December 4, 2012. A memorial service was held on December 10.[10][11][2] His widow, Evalyn W. Moore, was appointed to serve out the remainder of his term,[12] and was still mayor of Richmond as of 2019.
References
- "City of Richmond : Mayor Evalyn W. Moore".
- "Richmond Mayor Hilmar Moore passes away; believed to be longest serving mayor in U.S." ABC News. 2012-12-05. Archived from the original on 2017-10-05. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- https://www.richmondtx.gov/government/mayor
- Kevin Connolly (November 27, 2008). "Texas mulls defeat in battle of ideas". BBC News. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
- Richmond page about Moore from 2012
- https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Richmond-mayor-s-60-years-on-job-may-be-record-1769757.php
- Richard Stewart, "Meet America's (likely) longest-serving mayor", The Houston Chronicle, December 29, 2008. Accessed December 29, 2008.
- Denise Adams (May 6, 2005). "Moore's headstone to get historic marker". Fort Bend Herald. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013.
- "60-year mayor running for re-election". KLTV. March 30, 2010. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
- "Hilmar Guenther Moore". Fort Bend Southwest Star Newspaper. Archived from the original on 26 October 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- Richmond Mayor celebrated for legacy, Richmond Sun, 2008-08-07, retrieved 2008-12-29
- "Wife of Richmond Mayor Hilmar Moore, who died last week, will serve out remainder of his term" Archived 2013-01-24 at Archive.today, KTRK-TV, December 12, 2012.