Robert W. Speer
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Robert W. Speer | |
|---|---|
 Speer, circa 1917 | |
| 30th Mayor of Denver | |
| In office 1916–1918 | |
| Preceded by | William H. Sharpley |
| Succeeded by | William Fitz Randolph Mills |
| 26th Mayor of Denver | |
| In office 1904–1912 | |
| Preceded by | Robert R. Wright |
| Succeeded by | Henry J. Arnold |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 1, 1855 |
| Died | May 14, 1918 (aged 62) Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Party | Non-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]
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:
- City Auditorium, site of the 1908 Democratic National Convention
- The Civic Center
- Denver Mountain Parks
- The Denver Zoo expansion from 1906 to 1918.
- Denver Museum of Nature and Science
- 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[3][4]
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.
