Robert W. Speer

Robert Walter Speer (December 1, 1855 May 14, 1918) was elected mayor of Denver, Colorado three times. He served two four-year terms in office from 1904 to 1912. He died from Influenza, early on in the worldwide epidemic of that year on May 14, 1918, while halfway through a third term in office that had started in 1916.[1]

Robert W. Speer
Robert W. Speer
26th Mayor of Denver
In office
1904–1912
Preceded byRobert R. Wright
Succeeded byHenry J. Arnold
30th Mayor of Denver
In office
1916–1918
Preceded byWilliam H. Sharpley
Succeeded byWilliam Fitz Randolph Mills
Personal details
Born(1855-12-01)December 1, 1855
Mount Union, Pennsylvania
DiedMay 14, 1918(1918-05-14) (aged 62)
Denver, Colorado
Political partyDemocrat

Biography

Speer was born in Mount Union, Pennsylvania, on December 1, 1855. He married Kate Thrush, his childhood sweetheart, in 1882.[2]

As an adherent of the City Beautiful movement, Speer initiated several projects that added new landmarks, updated existing facilities, or improved the city's landscape including:

Speer was the first mayor of Denver to die while serving in office. Speer Boulevard in Denver is named in his honor.[5] He is buried in Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.

References

  1. "History of the Office". Denver Office of the Mayor. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  2. Johnson, Denver's Mayor Speer, pp. 5-6.
  3. Forestry statistics are from Noel, Mile High City, p. 100.
  4. Other items in the list of projects are from "Some Things Denver Owes to Speer," Rocky Mountain News, 15 May 1918, p. 3.
  5. Goodstein, Denver Streets, p. 33.

Bibliography

  • Goodstein, Phil (1995). Denver Streets: Names, Numbers, Locations, Logic (2nd Revised ed.). Denver, CO: New Social Publications. ISBN 0-9622169-3-3.
  • Johnson, Charles A. (1969). Denver's Mayor Speer. Denver, CO: Green Mountain Press.
  • Noel, Thomas Jacob (1997). Mile High City: An Illustrated History of Denver. Denver, CO: A. B. Hirschfeld Press. ISBN 1-886483-10-8.
  • "Robert W. Speer, Mayor of Denver, Is Dead: Cathedral Bells Toll as Flags are Placed at Half Mast in Memory". Rocky Mountain News. 15 May 1918. pp. 1, 3.
  • Eaton, Raymond A. (15 May 1918). "Speer was Man of Great Vision; Had Many Ideas for Better City". Rocky Mountain News. p. 3.
  • "Speer Always Worked For a City Beautiful; Plans Had Just Begun". Rocky Mountain News. 15 May 1918. p. 3.
  • "Some Things Denver Owes to Speer". Rocky Mountain News. 15 May 1918. p. 3.


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