William M. Wolfarth
William Michael Wolfarth (30 June 1906 – 25 March 1993 in Miami, Florida) was a commissioner and mayor of Miami.
William M. Wolfarth | |
|---|---|
| 25th Mayor of Miami | |
| In office 1949–1951 | |
| Preceded by | Robert L. Floyd |
| Succeeded by | Chelsie J. Senerchia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 30, 1906 Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri, USA |
| Died | March 25, 1993 (aged 86) Miami |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Agnes Galhouse |
| Residence | Miami |
In 1936, he married Mary Agnes Galhouse (1912–1992) of Atlanta. They had 6 children and celebrated the renewal of their marriage vows in 1986 at Gesu Catholic Church.
Wolfarth grew up in Chicago and moved to Miami in 1934. In 1935, he opened the first of a chain of bakeries (Cushman Bakeries). From 1949-1951, he was the Mayor of the City of Miami and from 1951-1953 he served as a commissioner (his mother-in-law, Anne Galhouse, served as his secretary). He was responsible for building the original Art Deco main public Library in downtown Miami, which unfortunately was later torn down. In addition, he built the Morningside pool which still bears a plaque commemorating him. In 1959, he ran for mayor again against Robert King High on a platform to keep Miami segregated and lost the election.
References
- The Miami Herald; William Wolfarth Former Miami Mayor; 28 March 1993; Page 4B
- The St. Petersburg Times; Wolfarth Named New Miami Mayor, 23 November 1949.
- The Miami News; Mother-In-Law Secretary Rates Mayor Bill as Tops by Don Branning; 1 December 1949.