Hilmar Moore Explained

Hilmar Moore
Office:Mayor of Richmond, Texas
Term Start:September 22, 1949
Term End:December 4, 2012
Predecessor:Wilbert Lee Ansel[1]
Successor:Evalyn W. Moore
State:Texas
Birth Name:Hilmar Guenther Moore
Birth Date:28 July 1920
Birth Place:San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Death Place:Richmond, Texas, U.S.
Spouse:
    Father:John M. Moore Jr.
    Mother:Dorothea Guenther Moore
    Alma Mater:University of Texas School of Law
    Known For:Longest-serving Mayor in Texas
    Serviceyears:1942–1945
    Unit:4th Emergency Rescue Squadron
    Battles:

    Hilmar Guenther Moore (; July 28, 1920  - December 4, 2012) was an American rancher and long-time mayor of Richmond, Texas, for over 60 years. He was the longest-serving mayor in Texas, and possibly the United States.

    Biography

    Hilmar Moore was a cattleman and a fifth-generation Texan, the great-great grandson of a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence,[2] and grandson of U.S. congressman John Matthew Moore. His maternal great grandfather was Carl Hilmar Guenther.[3] Moore's father John Matthew Moore Jr. served also as Mayor of Richmond. Moore served in World War II. Moore was married to Evalyn Wendt Moore, who succeeded him as mayor.[4]

    Mayor of Richmond

    Moore was first appointed to fill an unexpired term as mayor of Richmond in September 1949 and won 32 elections,[2] remaining in office until his death in 2012. He was opposed fewer than 10 times. He won against his last opponent in 1996 in a 337 to 42 vote. Moore is believed to be the longest-serving elected official in the United States.[5] A 2008 BBC News report referred to him as "probably the longest-serving elected official in the U.S.",[6] though even as late as 2012 Richmond only described him as the longest serving Mayor in Texas, and the second in the US.[7]

    In the segregated 1950s and 1960s, Moore persuaded restaurants in Richmond to integrate.[8] He was president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association from 1974 to 1976.[9] In 1976, Moore registered as both a Republican and a Democrat.[2]

    He was honored with a life-size statue at City Hall in October 2008.[10]

    Moore's father, John Jr., served as a two-term Mayor of Richmond and a two-term judge in Fort Bend County, Texas.[11] Hilmar's grandfather, John Sr., was a U.S. congressman and member of Texas House of Representatives.[12]

    Chair of Texas Welfare Board

    Moore was appointed to the Department of Human Resources by Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe.[13] In 1980, a controversy erupted when Moore voiced his view that welfare parents should be sterilized.[14]

    Death

    Moore died on December 4, 2012. A memorial service was held on December 10.[15] [16] [17] Pete Olson and Tom DeLay were two of many political figures that attended his funeral.[2]

    His widow, Evalyn W. Moore, was appointed to serve out the remainder of his term, who in turn served until she was defeated by Rebecca Kennelly Haas in the 2020 mayoral election.[18]

    Texas House Resolution No. 2103 was passed in his honor.[19]

    Notes and References

    1. News: Griffin. Marquita. Hilmar Moore remembered by friends. December 6, 2012. Fort Bend Herald and Texas Coaster. December 1, 2023. February 11, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190211231200/https://www.fbherald.com/news/hilmar-moore-remembered-by-friends/article_343ec0bc-4028-11e2-8354-001a4bcf887a.html.
    2. News: Town Mourns a Mayor Who Had Staying Power. Fernandez. Manny. December 10, 2012. The New York Times.
    3. News: Hilmar Guenther Moore. Fort Bend Herald and Texas Coaster. December 6, 2012.
    4. Web site: Mayor Evalyn W. Moore. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20201016180926/https://www.richmondtx.gov/government/mayor. October 16, 2020. March 13, 2021.
    5. Web site: Fama. Jillian. Texas Mayor Dies After Serving 63 Years. December 5, 2012. ABC News.
    6. News: Texas mulls defeat in battle of ideas. Kevin Connolly. . November 27, 2008 . January 5, 2010.
    7. https://web.archive.org/web/20120302071852/http://www.ci.richmond.tx.us/mayor.html Richmond page about Moore from 2012
    8. News: Richmond mayor's 60 years on job may be record. Stewart. Richard. December 29, 2008. Chron.
    9. Web site: Iconic rancher, TSCRA president dies at 92. December 5, 2012. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
    10. Stewart, Richard. "Meet America's (likely) longest-serving mayor", The Houston Chronicle, December 29, 2008. Accessed December 29, 2008.
    11. News: Moore's headstone to get historic marker. Adams. Denise. Fort Bend Herald . May 6, 2005 . dead . https://archive.today/20130125040617/http://www.herald-coaster.com/articles/2005/05/06/news/news01.txt. January 25, 2013.
    12. News: 60-year mayor running for re-election. KLTV. March 30, 2010. March 31, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20171213011119/http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12229545. December 13, 2017. dead.
    13. News: Moore's appointment reaffirmed by panel. subscription. Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. November 1, 2023. May 29, 1975. 30. Newspapers.com.
    14. News: Mayor Calls for Sterilization of Welfare Parents. March 17, 1980. 8. Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. November 1, 2023.
    15. Web site: Hilmar Guenther Moore. Fort Bend Southwest Star Newspaper. December 8, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151026003849/http://www.fortbendstar.com/2012/12/07/hilmar-guenther-moore/. October 26, 2015.
    16. http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2008/08/18/fort_bend_sun/news/sws_-_hilmar_moore_87.txt Richmond Mayor celebrated for legacy
    17. News: Richmond Mayor Hilmar Moore passes away; believed to be longest serving mayor in U.S.. ABC News. December 5, 2012. live . December 5, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20171005000434/http://abc13.com/archive/8909318/. October 5, 2017.
    18. News: Herman. Ken. The end of a small-town Texas political dynasty. November 27, 2020. Austin American-Statesman. December 1, 2023. December 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201216172952/https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/elections/state/2020/11/27/herman-end-of-small-town-texas-political-dynasty/115055068/.
    19. Web site: H. R. No. 2103. Texas Legislature Online.

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