Hilmar Moore | |
|---|---|
 Moore in September 2012 | |
| Mayor of Richmond, Texas | |
| In office September 22, 1949 – December 4, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Wilbert Lee Ansel[1] |
| Succeeded by | Evalyn W. Moore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hilmar Guenther Moore July 28, 1920 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | December 4, 2012 (aged 92) Richmond, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouses | Hallie Kelley Peareson
(died 1982)Evalyn Wendt (m. 1984) |
| Parents |
|
| Alma mater | University of Texas School of Law |
| Known for | Longest-serving Mayor in Texas |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army Air Corps |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Unit | 4th Emergency Rescue Squadron[2] |
| Battles/wars | |
Hilmar Guenther Moore (/ˈhɪlmər ˈɡʊnθər/; 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.
Hilmar Moore was a cattleman and a fifth-generation Texan, the grandson of U.S. congressman John Matthew Moore. Moore's father John Matthew Moore Jr. served also as Mayor of Richmond. Moore served in World War II.[3] Moore was married to Evalyn Wendt Moore, who succeeded him as mayor.[4]
Moore was first elected as the Mayor of Richmond in 1949 and remained in office until his death in 2012, making him "probably the longest-serving elected official in the U.S.," according to a 2008 BBC News report,[5] though even as late as 2012 Richmond only described him as the longest serving Mayor in Texas, and the second in the US.[6]
In the segregated 1950s and 1960s, Moore persuaded restaurants in Richmond to integrate.[7]
He was honored with a life-size statue at City Hall in October 2008.[8]
Moore's father, John Jr., served as a two-term Mayor of Richmond and a two-term judge in Fort Bend County, Texas.[9] Hilmar's grandfather, John Sr., was a U.S. congressman and member of Texas House of Representatives.[9][10]
Moore was appointed to the Department of Human Resources by Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe.[11] In 1980, a controversy erupted when Moore voiced his view that welfare parents should be sterilized.[12]
Moore died on December 4, 2012. A memorial service was held on December 10.[13][14][3]
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.[15]
