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 | |
---|---|
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 | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | November 12, 1916
Died | September 9, 2010 Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. | (aged 93)
Political 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 |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Navy |
Battles/wars | |
Goldner was born on November 12, 1916, in Detroit, Michigan.[2] He received his undergraduate degree at Miami University and law degree at Western Reserve University.[2] Goldner moved to St. Petersburg in 1949.[3]
He served as Mayor of St. Petersburg 1961–67 and 1971–1973.[4] In the 1964 election, he refused to support Barry Goldwater and instead endorsed Lyndon B. Johnson.[2] He helped organize a regional planning organization.[5] 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[6] with caricatured depictions of African Americans.[7] The mural was torn down by Joseph Waller who later became African People's Socialist Party leader Omali Yeshitela.[7]
In 1972, he switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democratic and endorsed Edmund Muskie.[8]
He married his wife Winifred Herlan Munyan, on November 3, 1938.[9] They both had two sons, Brian and Michael.[2]