William B. Hartsfield

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William Berry Hartsfield (February 28, 1890 - February 22, 1971) was an American politician. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and served as its mayor from 1937 to 1941 and again from 1942 to 1962, making him the longest-serving mayor in Atlanta history.

Hartsfield is credited along with Mayor Maynard Jackson with developing Atlanta's airport into a national aviation center and ensuring a good water supply with the completion of the Buford Dam. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is named in honor of him and later Mayor Maynard Jackson, who led the modernization of the airport in the 1970s.

Hartsfield was also responsible for fostering Atlanta's image as "the city too busy to hate" during the Civil Rights struggles of the 1950s.

Willie B., a gorilla who was a popular attraction at Zoo Atlanta, was named for Hartsfield.

[edit] References

• William Berry Hartsfield (1978), Harold H. Martin, Latin Corp
• Charlie Brown Remembers Atlanta (1982), Charles M. Brown, R. L. Bryan Company
• Williams, Louis. 2002. "William B. Hartsfield (1890-1971)". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities Council. [1]

[edit] External links

• New Georgia Encyclopedia, Biography

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