Mayors haven’t always completed their terms

Mayor Lynn Ragsdale will be sort of going against the rule if whenever he leaves office it’s at the end of a four-year term.

In the history of Webb City, early mayoral resignations have happened quite often. Ragsdale actually took office by being elected by his fellow council members to fill the vacancy left by John Biggs in 2015. After completing Biggs’ term, Ragsdale was elected by voters to the office in 2018 and 2022.

The trend of uncompleted terms started with our very first leader, J.E. McNair, who was appointed as the chairman of trustees on Dec. 11, 1876, when Webb City was incorporated.) By the way…

Happy Birthday To Webb City,

148 Years Old

Within one month of McNair’s appointment he was offered the job as postmaster, which was a paying job. He resigned as chairman, and James Smith was appointed to take his place.

One year later, Webb City had its first election, and George H. Smith was elected as chairman of trustees. He held this position for three months, until Webb City was incorporated as a fourth-class city. Cities of that class are led by a mayor and city council.

Ben C. Webb, brother of John C, Webb, was elected as Webb City’s first mayor. The term was only for one year.

James Gammon, in July 1882, became the first mayor to resign prior to the end of his term. T.J. Harrington finished Gammon’s term and went on to serve as mayor for 8 1/2 one-year terms, though not consecutive years.

In 1897, Mayor F.M. King, a local grocer, resigned after one year of a two-year term. J.W. Frey finished King’s unexpired term.

In 1951, Robert J. Cummings resigned after 19 months of a four-year term, and C.S. Fly was appointed to finish his term. There were many reasons that an elected mayor was not able to finish his term. Controversy often played a role in a mayor deciding it was better for the city if he resigned. One such case was when Robert J. Baker resigned with only six months left of his four-year term. The controversial purchase of King Jack Park caused havoc for Baker. He decided to step down rather than distract voters from approving the new water system.

Health issues caused P.D. “Don” Crockett to be step down in his third term. Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn McGowan became the first female mayor as she served six months of Crockett’s term in 1984-85. After the April 1985 election, Kathryn Patten became mayor pro tem and completed the last year of Crockett’s term as mayor. Patten was the second female mayor in Webb City history within a six-month period. 

Mayor Sterling Gant served two partial terms (two years each) and two complete terms for a total of 12 years in office. That’s the longest tenure for a Webb City mayor. Biggs is in second place for longevity, with 9 1/2 years. Ragsdale is about to pass T.J. Harrington’s with his 8 1/2 years.

Some mayors have been favorites of the citizens by what they accomplished while in office. Others have been favorites due to their personalities. And some mayors have not been on the list of favorites at all.

The position has never been a money making career. At one time, the mayoral position was volunteer. Along the way, the city council voted to give the mayor $100 a month for expenses. Even later, the council voted to pay the mayor $425 a month for expenses. Then in 2009, the council decided to pay $1,250 to make the position more attractive. In the meantime, council members receive only $25 a month for expenses.

Being mayor or serving on the city council takes quite a bit of time, energy and patience. These volunteers are not always appreciated. Many on the city council serve with more than one mayor.

I am sorry to say, I do not know the names of the many people who have served on the city council in the past 148 years or the amount of time they served. But they are to be commended for serving even one two-year term. One of the major reasons for serving on the city council or as mayor has to be a love of Webb City. It is not for the money… or the applause… so it has to be love!