Neal Blaisdell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 8thMayor of Honolulu | |
| In office 1955–1969 | |
| Preceded by | John H. Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Frank Fasi |
| 23rdPresident of the United States Conference of Mayors | |
| In office 1965–1966 | |
| Preceded by | Raymond Tucker |
| Succeeded by | Jerome Cavanagh |
| Member Hawaii Territorial Senate | |
| In office 1946–1950 | |
| Member Hawaii Territorial House of Representatives | |
| In office 1944–1946 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Neal Shaw Blaisdell (1902-11-06)November 6, 1902 Honolulu,Territory of Hawaii |
| Died | November 5, 1975(1975-11-05) (aged 72) Honolulu,Hawaii, U.S. |
| Resting place | Oahu Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lucy Thurston |
| Residence | Hawaii |
| Alma mater | University of Hawaii Bucknell University |
| Profession | Teacher |
Neal Shaw Blaisdell (November 6, 1902 – November 5, 1975) served asMayor ofHonolulu from 1955 to 1969 as a member of theHawaii Republican Party. As chief executive of theCity and County of Honolulu,Hawaii, he oversaw one of the largest construction booms in city and county history, working closely withGovernorJohn A. Burns. Blaisdell was the sitting mayor when Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state on August 21, 1959.
Blaisdell was born inHonolulu and had European andHawaiian ancestry.His father was William Wallace Blaisdell II, who served as fire chief of Honolulu;[1] and his mother was Maliaka "Malie" Alaneao Merseberg.[2]A maternal great-grandfather wasJohn Adams Cummins.[3]A paternal great-grandfather, John Blaisdell (1812–1889), came to theHawaiian Islands fromMaine in 1849.[4]
Known as "Rusty", Blaisdell played basketball, football and baseball atSaint Louis School.[5]He attended theUniversity of Hawaii and later transferred toBucknell University inLewisburg,Pennsylvania, where he was quarterback of the school's football team, graduating in 1926. He was also a member of theSigma Chi fraternity.[6] He received Bucknell's Alumni Award for Meritorious Achievement in 1968. Although Blaisdell also played basketball and baseball, he was inducted into the Bucknell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988 in the football category.[7] He was also a golfer, and started his day with push-ups.[5] He returned to Honolulu to become a teacher, high school coach and athletic director.[8]
Blaisdell was elected representative of the 4th district to the legislature of theTerritory of Hawaii in 1945, and the territorial senate in 1947 and 1949.[9]In 1950 he ran forMayor of Honolulu, but withdrew after suffering fromtuberculosis.[5]
Blaisdell ran againstFrank Fasi and was elected in 1954, taking office in 1955.[10][11] As mayor, he oversaw the construction of theJohn H. Wilson Tunnels through theKoʻolau Range fromKalihi Valley; and erected the Hawaii International Center, a multipurpose complex with a concert hall, convention center, exhibition hall and sports arena.[12] After Blaisdell's death, his successor, Fasi, renamed the complex in Blaisdell's honor; is now known as theNeal S. Blaisdell Center.
From 1965 to 1966, Blaisdell was president of theUnited States Conference of Mayors.[13]
Blaisdell marriedLucy Thurston on October 23, 1926. Their daughter Velma Blaisdell Clark marriedJames Kalaeone Clark and was a teacher for the Hawai`i State Department of Education. Their daughter Marilyn Blaisdell Ane married another football coach and taught atPunahou School for 28 years.[14]
Blaisdell suffered a stroke while doing yard work and died on November 5, 1975, one day shy of his 73rd birthday.[5] He is buried atOahu Cemetery.[11]
A park of 25.9 acres (10.5 ha) on the shore ofPearl Harbor (at21°23′11″N157°57′17″W / 21.38639°N 157.95472°W /21.38639; -157.95472 (Neal S. Blaisdell Park)) was named for him.[15][16]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Mayor of Honolulu 1955 – 1968 | Succeeded by |
