Joseph M. Barr (May 28, 1906 – August 26, 1982) was an American politician who held a variety of positions, including an eleven-year tenure as mayor of Pittsburgh from 1959 to 1970.
Joseph M. Barr | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Barr in 1961 | |
| 53rd Mayor of Pittsburgh | |
| In office December 2, 1959[1] – January 5, 1970[2] | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Gallagher |
| Succeeded by | Pete Flaherty |
| 25th President of the United States Conference of Mayors | |
| In office 1967–1968 | |
| Preceded by | Jerome Cavanagh |
| Succeeded by | Terry Schrunk |
| Member of the Democratic National Committee from Pennsylvania | |
| In office December 16, 1966[3] – May 25, 1972[4] | |
| Preceded by | David Lawrence |
| Succeeded by | Robert Jones |
| Chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party | |
| In office June 9, 1954[5] – July 23, 1959[6] | |
| Preceded by | Maurice Splain, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | John Rice |
| Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 43rd district | |
| In office January 7, 1941 – November 29, 1959 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Kilgallen |
| Succeeded by | John Devlin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 28, 1906 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | August 26, 1982 (aged 76) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Salesman |
Life
Barr was born in Pittsburgh to James P. and Blanche E. Moran Barr.[7] He married Alice White, when she was 29 and he was 43. White had been active with women's Republican groups in Chicago[8] but left the Republican party in support of her Democrat husband.[9] Together they had two children, Alice ("Candy") and Joseph ("Skipp).[8]
Pittsburgh politics
In 1959 Barr the consummate Harrisburg insider and Lawrence the seasoned Pittsburgh chief swapped roles, with Barr coming "home" and running for Mayor and Lawrence becoming Governor of Pennsylvania.[10] He was instrumental as mayor in completing many of the Lawrence programs, while at the same time having the city's infrastructure catch up to all the progress that Lawrence instituted. Expanded and modernized street lights, water services and the stadiums were all hallmarks of Barr's leadership. He oversaw the completion of both Three Rivers Stadium and the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, both having bogged down in heated political disputes during Lawrence's tenure.[11]
State Democratic politics
In 1940, Barr became the state's youngest state senator, serving the Pittsburgh-area in Harrisburg. Barr was elected chair of the State Democratic Party in 1954, and was elected Pennsylvania's male representative on the Democratic National Committee following Lawrence's death in 1966. He retired from public life in 1972.
Other work
In 1967 and 1968, Barr served as president of the United States Conference of Mayors.[12]
Later life
Barr died on August 26, 1982. He is buried in Pittsburgh's St. Mary Cemetery.[7]
References
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