- William O. Head
Infobox Person
name = William O. Head
image_size =
caption =
residence = 1414 S. Second Street inOld Louisville
birth_date = birth date|1859|07|29
birth_place =Providence, Kentucky , U.S.A.
death_date = death date and age|1931|04|19|1859|07|29
death_place =Clearwater, Florida , U.S.A.
occupation =Tobacco warehouse manager, businessman
title = Mayor of Louisville
term = 1909-1913
predecessor =James F. Grinstead
successor =John H. Buschemeyer
party = Democratic PartyWilliam O. Head was mayor of
Louisville, Kentucky from 1909 to 1913. He was the son of a captain in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was raised on a farm nearProvidence, Kentucky and came to Louisville age age 21 to take a job in atobacco warehouse. He worked his way up through the tobacco industry for the rest of his professional career.In 1894 he was elected to the
Kentucky General Assembly as a Democrat. With the support of theJohn Henry Whallen 's Democratic machine, he defeatedJames F. Grinstead to be elected mayor of Louisville in 1909. Local newspapers ran stories intended to scare white voters into voting for Head, exploiting fears of the growing black community in Louisville.Head oversaw efforts to reform the city's tenement housing, adding code to the city's charter forbidding various unacceptable practices by landlords. The city also began appropriating funding for the
University of Louisville during his administration.After his term as mayor, he served as a delegate to the
Democratic National Committee and as president of theLouisville Water Company .He is buried in
Cave Hill Cemetery .References
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