Henry Maier

Henry Walter Maier (February 7, 1918 – July 17, 1994) was an American politician and the longest-serving mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, holding office from 1960 to 1988. A Democrat, Maier was a powerful but controversial figure, presiding over an era of economic and political turbulence for the city of Milwaukee.

Henry Maier
36th Mayor of Milwaukee
In office April 18, 1960 – April 15, 1988
Preceded by	Frank Zeidler
Succeeded by	John Norquist
Personal details
Born	Henry Walter David Nelke February 7, 1918 Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Died	July 17, 1994 (aged 76) Delafield, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin–Madison University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

Early life

Maier was born Henry Walter David Nelke in Dayton, Ohio. After his father died, he moved with his mother to Springfield, Ohio to live with his grandparents. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1936. When his mother moved to Milwaukee and married contractor Charles Maier, Nelke accompanied her. He changed his name to Henry Walter Maier in 1938.

Maier served in the United States Navy during World War II. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a master's degree from University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Maier was in the insurance business and taught workers' compensation and general liability insurance at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.[1]

Political career

A member of the Democratic Party, Maier was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1950. In 1960 he was elected Milwaukee's mayor, succeeding Frank Zeidler, the last of Milwaukee's Socialist mayors. Maier's term included the 1967 Milwaukee riot, a response by the African-American community to a host of issues including housing discrimination and police brutality. (Maier's opposition to the Civil Rights Movement caused constant friction with his administration and Milwaukee's non-white residents). Maier remained in office for 28 years, succeeded by John Norquist in 1988. He was the longest-serving mayor in Milwaukee history.

In 1993, Maier wrote a political memoir: The Mayor Who Made Milwaukee Famous. He died of pneumonia at age 76 at his home in Delafield, Wisconsin. The Henry Maier Festival Park, where Summerfest is held, was named in his honor.[2]

See also

• List of mayors of Milwaukee

Notes

1. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library (comp.). The Wisconsin Blue Book 1960. Madison: State of Wisconsin, 1960, p. 21.
2. "Henry W. Maier: 1918-1994-Maier Leaves Mixed Legacy". Milwaukee Sentinel, July 18, 1994, p. 11A.

External links

• Henry W. Maier at Find a Grave
• Henry W. Maier at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries
• 'Urban Statesman' Steps Down in The Washington Post
• Henry Maier at Milwaukee Magazine
• Henry W. Maier (1919-2005) at CYC-Online