Herman Goldner
American politician (1916–2010)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Herman Wilson Goldner (November 12, 1916 – September 9, 2010) was a lawyer and politician in the United States. He served four terms as mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida. Originally a Republican, he switched parties and became a Democrat during Richard Nixon's presidency.[1]
Herman Goldner | |
|---|---|
Goldner in 1961 | |
| Mayor of St. Petersburg | |
| In office 1961–1967 | |
| Preceded by | Edward F. Brantley |
| Succeeded by | Don Jones |
| In office 1971–1973 | |
| Preceded by | Don L. Spicer |
| Succeeded by | Randolph Wedding |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 12, 1916 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | September 9, 2010 (aged 93) Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic (after 1972) |
| Other political affiliations | Republican (until 1972) |
| Spouse |
Winifred Herlan Munyan
(m. 1938) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Miami University Western Reserve University Harvard Business School |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Battles/wars | |
Early life
Goldner was born on November 12, 1916, in Detroit, Michigan.[2] He received his undergraduate degree at Miami University, law degree at Western Reserve University, and business degree from Harvard Business School.[2] Goldner moved to St. Petersburg in 1949.[3][4]
Political career
He served as Mayor of St. Petersburg from 1961 to 1967 and 1971 to 1973.[5] In the 1964 election, he refused to support Barry Goldwater and instead endorsed Lyndon B. Johnson.[2] He helped organize a regional planning organization.[6]
Goldner championed the elimination of St. Petersburg city ordinances that practiced segregation.[2] He defended murals by George Snow Hill in St. Petersburg's city hall[7] with caricatured depictions of African Americans.[8] The mural was torn down by Joseph Waller who later became African People's Socialist Party leader Omali Yeshitela.[8]
In 1972, he switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democratic and endorsed Edmund Muskie.[9]