Bryce B. Smith | |
|---|---|
 Smith in 1932 | |
| 43rdMayor of Kansas City | |
| In office 1930 – January 5, 1940 | |
| Preceded by | Albert I. Beach |
| Succeeded by | Charles S. Keith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bryce B. Smith 1878 (1878) |
| Died | May 22, 1972(1972-05-22) (aged 93–94) |
| Party | Democratic |
Bryce B. Smith (1878 – May 22, 1962) was theMayor ofKansas City,Missouri from 1930 to 1940 at the height of power of theThomas Pendergast political machine.
Smith was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. His family moved to Kansas City in the 1880s and founded what would becomeGeneral Baking Corporation.
He served on thecity council from 1920 to 1924. He served as the 16th Grand Master of The Order of DeMolay from 1948 to 1949.
He was the second mayor under Kansas City's newcity manager form of government withHenry F. McElroy as City Manager. Although declaring his independence of the Pendergast machine, he was to end up being associated with it.
Many of the landmarks of Kansas City were built during his term during what was called the "Ten Year Plan":
City Buildings:
Other Landmark Buildings:
Much of the construction was done with Pendergast Ready Mixed Concrete.
Lax to non-existent enforcement of alcohol laws was to see the rise ofKansas City Jazz as well as prominent crime events. These include theKansas City Massacre and a shootout that left four dead at the polls onElection Day in 1934.
After Pendergast was sentenced toLeavenworth Federal Penitentiary forincome tax evasion in 1939, it was discovered that the city was $20 million in debt. Smith made an effort to clean out the Pendergast machine operatives but ultimately resigned on January 5, 1940.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri 1930–1940 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
