Joseph M. Barr

Joseph M. Barr
Member of the Democratic National Committee from Pennsylvania
In office December 16, 1966[1]  – May 25, 1972[2]
Preceded by	David Lawrence
Succeeded by	Robert Jones
53rd Mayor of Pittsburgh
In office December 2, 1959[3] – January 5, 1970[4]
Preceded by	Thomas Gallagher
Succeeded by	Pete Flaherty
Chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
In office June 9, 1954[5] – July 23, 1959[6]
Preceded by	Maurice Splain, Jr.
Succeeded by	John Rice
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 43rd district
In office January 7, 1941 – November 29, 1959
Preceded by	Thomas Kilgallen
Succeeded by	John Devlin
Personal details
Born	May 28, 1906 Pittsburgh
Died	August 26, 1982 (aged 76) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Salesman
Religion	Roman Catholic

Joseph M. Barr (May 28, 1906 – August 26, 1982) was an American politician who held a variety of positions, including an eleven-year tenure as Mayor of Pittsburgh from 1959 to 1970.

Life

Barr was born in Pittsburgh to James P. and Blanche E. Moran Barr.^[7] He married Alice White, when she was 29 and he was 43. White had been active with women's Republican groups in Chicago^[8] but left the Republican party in support of her Democrat husband.^[9] Together they had two children, Alice ("Candy") and Joseph ("Skipp).^[8]

Pittsburgh politics

In 1959 Barr the consummate Harrisburg insider and Lawrence the seasoned Pittsburgh chief swapped roles, with Barr coming "home" and running for Mayor and Lawrence becoming Governor of Pennsylvania.^[10] He was instrumental as mayor in completing many of the Lawrence programs, while at the same time having the city's infrastructure catch up to all the progress that Lawrence instituted. Expanded and modernized street lights, water services and the stadiums were all hallmarks of Barr's leadership. He oversaw the completion of both Three Rivers Stadium and the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, both having bogged down in heated political disputes during Lawrence's tenure.^[11]

State Democratic politics

In 1940, Barr became the state's youngest state senator, serving the Pittsburgh-area in Harrisburg. Barr was elected chair of the State Democratic Party in 1954, and was elected Pennsylvania's male representative on the Democratic National Committee following Lawrence's death in 1966. He retired from public life in 1972.

Later life

Barr died on August 26, 1982. He is buried in Pittsburgh's St. Mary Cemetery.^[7]

References

1. "Francis Smith Withdraws As Candidate". The Gettysburg Times. December 13, 1966. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
2. "Shapp Man Heads Party". The Beaver County Times. May 26, 1972. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
3. Christopher, Frank (December 2, 1959). "Barr In, Paints Bright Future". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 1.
4. "Council Balks Appointments By Pete". The Pittsburgh Press. January 5, 1970. p. 2.
5. "Democrats Elect Sen. Barr State Chairman". The Reading Eagle. June 10, 1954. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
6. "Mention Rice For Barr Post". The Gettysburg Times. July 9, 1959. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
7. "Joseph M Barr". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
8. Rittmeyer, Brian C. "Mayor's wife supported husband, charities". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
9. Archives Service Center (March 2011). "Mayor Joseph M. Barr Photograph Collection". Guides to Archives and Manuscript Collections at the University of Pittsburgh Library System. ULS Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh Library System. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
10. Times, Special To The New York (1982-08-28). "Joseph Barr, 76, Dies; Was Pittsburgh Mayor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
11. "ArchiveGrid : Mayor Joseph M. Barr photograph collection, 1956-1969.". beta.worldcat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.