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{{Short description|American politician}}
[[Image:Speer robert.jpg|thumb|250px|Robert W. Speer]]
{{Infobox Politician

⚫
|name = Robert W. Speer
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'''Robert Walter Speer''' (1855–1918) was elected the [[List of mayors of Denver|mayor of Denver]], [[Colorado]] three times. He served two four-year terms in office from 1904 to 1912. He died from [[pneumonia]] on May 14, 1918, while halfway through a third term in office that had started in 1916.
|image = Speer robert.jpg
|caption = Speer, circa 1917
|order = 30th
|office = Mayor of Denver
|predecessor = [[William H. Sharpley]]
|successor = [[William Fitz Randolph Mills]]
|term_start = 1916
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|term_end = 1918
|order1 = 26th
|office1 = Mayor of Denver
|term_start1 = 1904
|term_end1 = 1912
|predecessor1= [[Robert R. Wright]]
|successor1 = [[Henry J. Arnold]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1855|12|01}}
| birth_place = [[Mount Union, Pennsylvania]]
| residence =
| death_date = {{death date and age|1918|05|14|1855|12|01}}
| death_place = [[Denver, Colorado]]
|party = Non-Political
|religion =
|spouse =
|children =
|website =
⚫
}}
⚫
'''Robert Walter Speer''' (December 1, 1855 &ndash; May 14, 1918) was elected [[List of mayors of Denver|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 [[1918 flu pandemic|epidemic of that year]] on May 14, 1918, while halfway through a third term in office that had started in 1916.<ref>{{cite web| title=History of the Office |publisher=Denver Office of the Mayor|url=https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/mayors-office/about-the-office-of-the-mayor/history-of-the-office.html|accessdate=February 26, 2014}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
In 1855, Speer was born in [[Mount Union, Pennsylvania]]. He married Kate Thrush, his childhood sweetheart, in 1882.<ref>Johnson, ''Denver's Mayor Speer,'' pp. 5-6.</ref>
Speer was born in [[Mount Union, Pennsylvania]], on December 1, 1855. He married Kate Thrush, his childhood sweetheart, in 1882.<ref>Johnson, ''Denver's Mayor Speer,'' pp. 5-6.</ref>


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:
As an adherent of the [[City Beautiful movement]], Speer initiated several projects that added new landmarks, updated existing facilities, and signed Speer Amendment for non-political administration, and dropped his Democrat affiliation in 1916 When elected to third term; improved the city's landscape including:
*[[Denver Arena Auditorium|City Auditorium]], site of the [[1908 Democratic National Convention]]
* [[Denver Arena Auditorium|City Auditorium]], site of the [[1908 Democratic National Convention]]
*[[Civic Center, Denver|The Civic Center]]
* [[Civic Center, Denver|The Civic Center]]
*[[Denver Mountain Parks]]
* [[Denver Mountain Parks]]
*[[Denver Zoo|The Denver Zoo expansion]] from 1906 to 1918.
* [[Denver Zoo|The Denver Zoo expansion]] from 1906 to 1918.
*[[Denver Museum of Nature and Science]]
* [[Denver Museum of Nature and Science]]
*The paving and graveling of many of the city's remaining dirt streets
* The paving and graveling of many of the city's remaining dirt streets
*An urban forestry program that eventually distributed 110,000 free shade trees to city residents<ref>Forestry statistics are from Noel, ''Mile High City,'' p. 100.</ref><ref>Other items in the list of projects are from "Some Things Denver Owes to Speer," ''Rocky Mountain News,'' 15 May 1918, p. 3.</ref>
* An urban forestry program that eventually distributed 110,000 free shade trees to city residents<ref>Forestry statistics are from Noel, ''Mile High City,'' p. 100.</ref><ref>Other items in the list of projects are from "Some Things Denver Owes to Speer," ''Rocky Mountain News,'' 15 May 1918, p. 3.</ref>


Speer was the first mayor of [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]] to die while serving in office. Speer Boulevard in Denver is named in his honor.<ref>Goodstein, ''Denver Streets,'' p. 33.</ref> He is buried in [[Fairmount Cemetery (Denver, Colorado)|Fairmount Cemetery]] in Denver.
Speer was the first mayor of [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]] to die while serving in office. Speer Boulevard in Denver is named in his honor.<ref>Goodstein, ''Denver Streets,'' p. 33.</ref> He is buried in [[Fairmount Cemetery (Denver, Colorado)|Fairmount Cemetery]] in Denver.

==Notes==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book
*{{cite book
| last = Goodstein
| last = Goodstein
| first = Phil
| first = Phil
| title = Denver Streets: Names, Numbers, Locations, Logic
| title = Denver Streets: Names, Numbers, Locations, Logic
| edition= 2nd Revised Edition
| edition= 2nd Revised
| location = Denver, CO
| location = Denver, CO
| publisher = New Social Publications
| publisher = New Social Publications
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{{DenverMayors}}
{{DenverMayors}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

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| NAME = Speer, Robert W.
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American politician
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1855
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
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| DATE OF DEATH = 1918
| PLACE OF DEATH =
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}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Speer, Robert W.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Speer, Robert W.}}
[[Category:1855 births]]
[[Category:1855 births]]
[[Category:1918 deaths]]
[[Category:1918 deaths]]
[[Category:Mayors of Denver, Colorado]]
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in Colorado]]
[[Category:Deaths from the Spanish flu pandemic in Colorado]]
[[Category:Mayors of Denver]]
[[Category:19th-century American politicians]]




Latest revision as of 04:43, 13 April 2024

Robert W. Speer
Speer, circa 1917
30th Mayor of Denver
In office
1916–1918
Preceded byWilliam H. Sharpley
Succeeded byWilliam Fitz Randolph Mills
26th Mayor of Denver
In office
1904–1912
Preceded byRobert R. Wright
Succeeded byHenry J. Arnold
Personal details
Born(1855-12-01)December 1, 1855
Mount Union, Pennsylvania
DiedMay 14, 1918(1918-05-14) (aged 62)
Denver, Colorado
Political partyNon-Political

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]

Biography[edit]

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, and signed Speer Amendment for non-political administration, and dropped his Democrat affiliation in 1916 When elected to third term; 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[edit]

  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[edit]

  • 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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