Richard Reading
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard W. Reading (February 7, 1882 – December 9, 1952) was a Republican mayor of Detroit, Michigan from 1938 to 1940.
Richard Reading | |
|---|---|
| |
| 59th Mayor of Detroit | |
| In office January 4, 1938 – January 1, 1940 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Couzens |
| Succeeded by | Edward Jeffries |
| Detroit City Clerk | |
| In office 1926 – 1938 | |
| Detroit City Controller | |
| In office 1924 – 1926 | |
| Detroit City Assessor | |
| In office 1921 – 1924 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 7, 1882 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | December 9, 1952 (aged 70) Brighton, Michigan, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Blanche White (m. 1901) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of Detroit |
Biography
Richard William Reading was born in Detroit on February 7, 1882, the son of Richard W. and Louise M. Reading.[1] He was educated in the Detroit Public Schools and attended the University of Detroit.[1]
Reading married Blanche White in 1901.[1] The couple had four children.[2]
Reading was for a time a semi-pro wrestler.[2] He later worked variously as a printer, a newspaper executive, and a real estate dealer before entering public life in 1921.[2]
Reading was appointed City Assessor in 1921, moved to City Controller in 1924, and was elected City Clerk in 1926.[1] He stayed in the office of clerk until 1939, when he ran for mayor, ultimately defeating Patrick H. O'Brien by nearly two-to-one.[2] However, once in the office, Reading engaged in graft, selling protection to a numbers racketeers and promotions to police officers.[3] This corruption was exposed as the campaign for the next mayoral election was gearing up,[3] and Reading was crushed by Edward Jeffries.[3][4]
Shortly after leaving office, Reading was indicted on charges of accepting bribes and conspiring to protect Detroit's gambling rackets.[5] He was sentenced to four to five years in prison, of which he served three.[5]
Richard W. Reading died on December 9, 1952, in Brighton, Michigan.[6]
