Francis Slay
Francis Slay | |
|---|---|
 Slay in 2015 | |
| 45thMayor of St. Louis | |
| In office April 17, 2001 – April 18, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Clarence Harmon |
| Succeeded by | Lyda Krewson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 18, 1955 St. Louis,Missouri,U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Kim Slay |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Quincy College(BA) Saint Louis University(JD) |
| Profession | Attorney |
Francis Gerard Slay(born March 18, 1955) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 45th[1]MayorofSt. Louis, Missourifrom 2001 to 2017. The first mayor of the city of St. Louis to be elected to the office four consecutive times, Slay is the longest-serving mayor in St. Louis history. He is a member of theDemocratic Party.
Education and early career
[edit]Slay graduated fromSt. Mary's High Schoolin 1973. He received a degree inpolitical sciencefromQuincy Universityand aJ.D.degree fromSaint Louis University School of Law.[1]After graduating fromlaw school,Slay served as alaw clerkfor Judge Paul J. Simon of theMissouri Court of Appealsfor the Eastern District. In 1981, he joined thelaw firmof Guilfoil, Petzall, and Shoemake where he specialized in business law and commercial litigation. Slay was elected to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in 1985, representing the 23rd ward. In 1995, he was elected President of the Board of Aldermen, and in 1999 was re-elected without opposition.[1]
Term as mayor
[edit]
Slay defeatedincumbentmayorClarence Harmonand former mayorFreeman Bosley Jr.in the Democratic Primary in 2001. During his first term, he oversaw significant residential redevelopment within the city, including the redevelopment of theWashington Avenue Loft District.Slay then negotiated the construction ofBusch Stadium,the newSt. Louis Cardinalsbaseball stadium in downtown St. Louis, and the re-districting ofaldermanicwards required after the 2000census.The Slay administration and its public and private partners have received national and international recognition for St. Louis's renaissance. In May 2007, Downtown St. Louis's revitalization was the subject of a Preserve America Presidential Award,[2]the nation's highest award for historic preservation. In 2011, Citygarden won the Urban Land Institute's prestigious Amanda Burden Urban Open Space award.[3]
He announced on April 8, 2016, that he would not seek another term as mayor, though he remains the longest-serving mayor of the City of St. Louis as of 2024.[4]
Post-mayor
[edit]Slay accepted a job as an attorney with the Spencer Fane law firm, at their office in downtown St. Louis[5]prior to his term ending on April 18, 2017[6]
Family
[edit]Slay is the second of eleven children. His father, Francis R. Slay, was affiliated with St. Raymond's Maronite Catholic Cathedral in St. Louis, and was the long-time Democratic Committeeman in the 23rd Ward, and who once served as Recorder of Deeds. Francis R. Slay died on March 16, 2011, aged 83.[7]
Slay and his wife Kim have two children and three rescued dogs. Slay is aMaronite Catholicand also a supporter of theArchdiocese of St. Louisand ofCatholicorganizations in the city. He is ofLebaneseandPolishancestry.[8]
See also
[edit]- 2001 St. Louis mayoral election
- 2005 St. Louis mayoral election
- 2009 St. Louis mayoral election
- 2013 St. Louis mayoral election
References
[edit]- ^abc"About - Mayor Slay: Standing up for St. Louis".MayorSlay.Archived fromthe originalon February 4, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 13,2019.
- ^"2007 Preserve America Presidential Awards".preserveamerica.gov.RetrievedSeptember 13,2019.
- ^Robert W. Duffy (May 10, 2011)."Citygarden wins prestigious Amanda Burden award".St. Louis Public Radio.NPR.RetrievedSeptember 13,2019.
- ^"Mayor's Office".stlouis-mo.gov.RetrievedSeptember 13,2019.
- ^"After 16 years as mayor, Slay lands job at law firm".KSDK.February 15, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 13,2019.
- ^McDermott, Kevin (April 16, 2017)."After 16 years, outgoing St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay reflects".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.RetrievedSeptember 13,2019.
- ^Sorkin, Michael (March 16, 2011)."Francis R. Slay, father of the mayor, dies at 83".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.RetrievedSeptember 13,2019.
- ^Profile,politicalgraveyard; accessed November 25, 2014.
- Schlinkmann, Mark (April 18, 2001). "Slay Is Sworn in as St. Louis' 45th Mayor".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.p. A1.
External links
[edit]
- 1955 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American politicians
- American Maronites
- American politicians of Lebanese descent
- American politicians of Polish descent
- Mayors of St. Louis
- Members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen
- Missouri Democrats
- Missouri lawyers
- Quincy University alumni
- Saint Louis University School of Law alumni