Born on March 1st, 1890, in Atlanta, Georgia, William Hartsfield defended his life to the betterment of his hometown and community. During his six terms equally mayor of Atlanta, Hartsfield helped guide the city through tremendous change and growth. Due to the efforts and policies of Hartsfield, Atlanta grew from a urban center of 100,000 to i million people, transforming the city into a major economic and cultural center. Mayor during a fourth dimension of trigger-happy opposition to integration, Hartsfield envisioned Atlanta as a "metropolis likewise busy to hate." In many means, Hartsfield helped plow this vision into a reality for his domicile city.

Growing upward in Atlanta, Hartsfield attended the city'southward public schools but failed to earn his loftier schoolhouse diploma. At the historic period of 25, he began piece of work as a law clerk for the business firm Rosser, Slaton, Phillps, and Hopkins. He spent his nights studying legal journals and books in the promise of passing the Georgia bar. In 1917, he achieved his goal and he was admitted to the bar. Hartsfield left the police force firm where he started his legal career and opened his own office in 1921. A yr later, Hartsfield successfully ran for a position on the Atlanta City Council. Hartsfield firmly believed in Atlanta's potential for air transportation and as an alderman, urged the city quango to establish the Atlanta's first airport in 1925. Hartsfield's work to develop and grow Atlanta's airport earned him the title "father of aviation."

In 1936, Hartsfield successfully campaigned for his first term equally mayor of Atlanta. He took function as the city struggled to recover from the Bully Depression and his first priority was to ensure Atlanta did not sink into bankruptcy. Hartsfield recruited the help of major business leaders in Atlanta, such as Coca-Cola CEO Robert Woodruff, and convinced the Georgia General Associates to laissez passer budget reforms. Despite the accomplishments of his first term in part, Hartsfield was non reelected for a 2nd term in 1940, defeated past Roy LeCraw. He would presently return to the position of mayor, however, when LeCraw resigned from office following the assail on Pearl Harbor. A major in the Georgia National Baby-sit, LeCraw reported for active duty, and in May 1942, Hartsfield won a special election for mayor. His second term in office was dedicated to guiding a metropolis through state of war. He would serve as mayor for iv more terms until his retirement in 1961.

During his 25 years as mayor of Atlanta, Hartsfield invested in the city's infrastructure and fulfilled Atlanta's potential to become a modern metropolis. Under his leadership, Atlanta built parks, expanded its aerodrome, synthetic an extensive expressway organization, and developed into a major tourist center. One of Hartsfield'due south most of import accomplishments as mayor was ensuring the peaceful integration of Atlanta's public schools. Hartsfield was determined Atlanta would go a model for peaceful race relations in the southeast and in the entire U.s..

On June 7, 1961, Hartsfield appear he would non seek reelection and would retire from politics the following year. In retirement, Hartsfield served as a consultant to companies such as Coca-Cola and Georgia Power. His successor, Ivan Allen, connected Hartsfield'south piece of work, peacefully guiding Atlanta through the Civil Rights Move. During a trip to New York City in February 1971, Hartsfield passed away from a centre set on a calendar week earlier his 81st birthday. Hartsfield left behind a powerful legacy of progress, one that fundamentally shaped the Atlanta we know today. Soon after his decease, the Atlanta City Quango renamed the Atlanta airport to accolade Hartsfield'southward many contributions to the city he loved.

Taking Flying

"Memphis is preparing to spend several million dollars in development of Mud Island for aviation purposes and the plan is to make it i of the near modern and finest fields in the entire country. Birmingham, Savannah, Augusta, New Orleans,…

Elected Mayor

"Y'all and I may also face the fact that our people now need of united states of america a right-changeabout in the comport of this authorities, and will correspond no niggling strife or selfish political manipulation. I take office with a feeling of apprehensive gratefulness to…

His One and Merely Defeat

"I thought I did such a helluva good job that I didn't need to campaign, but that'due south not right. Yous've got to fight every fourth dimension. You could pave the streets with aureate, reduce taxes to a nickel a yr and scent the sewers with Chanel No. v – and they…

Stormy Waters

"Steering a city through troublesome times is just like piloting a ship through stormy waters. You don't know what you are going to run into but you are going to exist ready for anything. You may accept to go through obstacles instead of around them. Or…

The Great and Friendly City of Atlanta

"Here in our own city government nosotros are proud of the progress that is being fabricated in amicable race relations. Nosotros have and are making progress in increased public housing for our Negro citizens. Nosotros accept congenital new parks and libraries; we accept aided in…

A Program of Comeback

"The Program of Improvement has unshackled our town, given it new life and hope. A new spirit of optimism is in the air. Truthful, there are still those who for selfish reasons will effort to impede our progress and place obstacles in our path, but we are…

The Decadent County Unit Arrangement

"Atlanta - Since, I, along with others, have spoken out against the county unit of measurement system, information technology is but natural for its defenders to fire back. Equally usual they rely on prejudice and hate because they have no logic on their side... Why must Georgia always…

The Temple Bombing

"Atlanta has prided itself in being a beacon of tolerance and racial and religious decency in the Southward. This shocks and amazes the states. We cannot aid but feel this is the work of an out-of-town gang operating southwide. The full resources of the police…

The School Fight

"I don't give a damn what [Governor] Griffin or anyone else said. I refuse to come across Georgia go through some other catamenia of ignorance. People have asked me why I got in this school fight and I'm non ashamed to tell you. I am the son of a father and female parent…

Before the Residue of the Nation

"Simply the almost important thing nearly our city, with its natural advertizement­vantages, as the smashing southern regional majuscule and heart of south­ eastern trade and commerce, is its skillful proper name and its paradigm before the balance of the nation. In this electronic…

We Will Miss Him

"Hartsfield was a colorful con human being, in his style, a great promoter, a man who could breathe life into any cause he believed in. He could make you angry, because he was stubborn and certain of his own convictions. Nevertheless he brought a forcefulness and vitality and…

*The words bolded throughout Hartsfield'due south tour are those defined in the glossary for the accompanying Georgia Journeys Instructor's Guide.