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'''Clyde Edward Fant, Sr.''' (October 18, 1905 – July 6, 1973), was a 20-year [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[mayor]] of [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], having served from 1946 to 1954 and again from 1958 to 1970.​

'''Clyde Edward Fant, Sr.''' (October 18, 1905 – July 6, 1973), was a 20-year [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[mayor]] of [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], having served from 1946 to 1954 and again from 1958 to 1970.​

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Fant was cited as "Louisiana's Mayor of the Year" in 1953 by the Louisiana Municipal Association, which he headed for three consecutive years. In 1948, with fewer than two years of mayoral experience, he had been among four mayors in the [[United States]] invited to [[The Hague]], [[Netherlands]], for the annual conference of the World Conference of Mayors, an occasion which rendered him national recognition. Fant's success as Shreveport's mayor was attributed to his commitment to his city, his interpersonal skills, and the approval in his first term of a $9.6 million capital improvements bond issue that set the stage for municipal growth in the post-[[World War II]] era. Shreveport was the second most populous city in Louisiana until the 1970s, when [[Baton Rouge]] pushed it into third place.

Fant was cited as "Louisiana's Mayor of the Year" in 1953 by the Louisiana Municipal Association, which he headed for three consecutive years. In 1948, with fewer than two years of mayoral experience, he had been among four mayors in the [[United States]] invited to [[The Hague]], [[Netherlands]], for the annual conference of the World Conference of Mayors, an occasion which rendered him national recognition.  

 

Fant's success as Shreveport's mayor was attributed to his commitment to his city, his interpersonal skills, and the approval in his first term of a $9.6 million capital improvements bond issue that set the stage for municipal growth in the post-[[World War II]] era. Shreveport was the second most populous city in Louisiana until the 1970s, when [[Baton Rouge]] pushed it into third place.

==Background==

==Background==

Clyde Fant was a native of Linden in Cass County in east [[Texas]]. He was one of six children of Mr. and Mrs. John Preston Fant. John Fant was a cotton gin owner and a one-time Texas state representative. Clyde Fant graduated in 1925 from the former Marshall (Texas) College, now East Texas Baptist University. He taught school for a year in Blocker, a since abandoned community near Marshall in Harrison County. He then worked for a [[lumber]] company in East Texas and was thereafter associated with Southwestern Gas and Electric Company. He was an executive with Interstate Electric Company, with seven years of service with the firm, when he was transferred to Shreveport.<ref name=fantremembered>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Fant&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=11&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GSsr=41&GRid=41118253&df=all&|title=Our History: Early Image of Clyde Fant discovered|author=John Andrew Prime|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=March 30, 2015|accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref>​

Clyde Fant was a native of Linden in Cass County in east [[Texas]]. He was one of six children of Mr. and Mrs. John Preston Fant. John Fant was a cotton gin owner and a one-time Texas state representative. Clyde Fant graduated in 1925 from the former Marshall (Texas) College, now East Texas Baptist University. He taught school for a year in Blocker, a since abandoned community near Marshall in Harrison County. He then worked for a [[lumber]] company in East Texas and was thereafter associated with Southwestern Gas and Electric Company. He was an executive with Interstate Electric Company, with seven years of service with the firm, when he was transferred to Shreveport.<ref name=fantremembered>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Fant&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=11&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GSsr=41&GRid=41118253&df=all&|title=Our History: Early Image of Clyde Fant discovered|author=John Andrew Prime|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=March 30, 2015|accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref>​

Dr. Clyde Fant Jr., is a former pastor in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] and former professor of preaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary] in [[Fort Worth]], Texas. He is professor emeritus at Stetson University in DeLand in Volusia County, [[Florida]].​

Fant was married to the former Margaret Moos (1909-2009); they had two sons, Clyde E. Fant, Jr., Doctor of Theology (born 1934), a [[Southern Baptist]] [[clergy]]man and author of the "Great Preaching" series, and John Frank Fant (born 1937), an [[attorney]] in Texas.<ref name=fantremembered/>​ Dr. Clyde Fant Jr., is a former pastor in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] and former professor of preaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary] in [[Fort Worth]], Texas. He is professor emeritus at Stetson University in DeLand in Volusia County, [[Florida]].​

 

John Frank "Jack" Fant received his Bachelor of Arts degree from [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], Texas, and in 1962 a law degree from the [[Louisiana State University]] Law Center in Baton Rouge. On September 4, 1971, he was appointed to serve as judge over the1st Judicial District, Division "D," in Shreveport to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of William F. Woods. Upon leaving the bench, Jack Fant relocated to Huntsville, Texas, where he took a position as a legal services attorney for inmates in the Texas Department of Corrections. He was later promoted to an assistant directorship. In 2002, his employment was terminated after the Department of Criminal Justice recognized that he did not hold a Texas law license.  On May 3, 2004, a Walker County

John Frank "Jack" Fant received his Bachelor of Arts degree from [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], Texas, and in 1962 a law degree from the [[Louisiana State University]] Law Center in Baton Rouge. On September 4, 1971, he was appointed to serve as judge over the1st Judicial District, Division "D," in Shreveport to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of William F. Woods. Upon leaving the bench, Jack Fant relocated to Huntsville, Texas, where he took a position as a legal services attorney for inmates in the Texas Department of Corrections. He was later promoted to an assistant directorship. In 2002, his employment was terminated after the Department of Criminal Justice recognized that he did not hold a Texas law license.  On May 3, 2004, a Walker County

jury found Fant guilty of [[perjury]]. He did not appeal.<ref>(Cause Number 02-1701, Walker County Court At Law.</ref> With the resoluton of his legal credentials, Fant remains in private practice in Huntsville.​

jury found Fant guilty of [[perjury]]. He did not appeal.<ref>(Cause Number 02-1701, Walker County Court At Law.</ref> With the resoluton of his legal credentials, Fant remains in private practice in Huntsville.​

 

==Five elections as mayor==​

==Five elections as mayor==

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In 1944, Fant was appointed as Shreveport's public utilities commissioner by newly inaugurated [[Governor]] [[Jimmie Davis]], who had been the Shreveport public safety commissioner from 1938 to 1942, and like Fant, a man steeped in the activities of the [[Southern Baptist]] denomination. Fant succeeded commissioner James Reilly, who accepted a position with the State of Louisiana.​

In 1944, Fant was appointed as Shreveport's public utilities commissioner by newly inaugurated [[Governor]] [[Jimmie Davis]], who had been the Shreveport public safety commissioner from 1938 to 1942, and like Fant, a man steeped in the activities of the [[Southern Baptist]] denomination. Fant succeeded commissioner James Reilly, who accepted a position with the State of Louisiana.​

Fant had been considered a potential candidate for governor or lieutenant governor, but he ran for no other office than Shreveport mayor. He served in several state appointive positions, including the Louisiana Tax Commission, the Board of Institutions, and the Overton-Red River Waterway Planning Commission.​

Fant had been considered a potential candidate for governor or lieutenant governor, but he ran for no other office than Shreveport mayor. He served in several state appointive positions, including the Louisiana Tax Commission, the Board of Institutions, and the Overton-Red River Waterway Planning Commission.​

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==Mayoral accomplishments==​

===Mayoral accomplishments===

 

Fant was credited with maintaining racial calm in Shreveport during the late 1950s and early 1960s at the height of the [[civil rights]] movement, when a majority of the city's voters were [[segregation]]ists. Fant instituted municipal programs aimed at uplifting black citizens, including slum clearance. By the time that he finally left office in 1970, nearly 7,500 dwellings had been rehabilitated, and another 2,000 were demolished. Fant's successor, Calhoun Allen, continued such outreach to the black community, but racial resentments continued for decades.​

Fant was credited with maintaining racial calm in Shreveport during the late 1950s and early 1960s at the height of the [[civil rights]] movement, when a majority of the city's voters were [[segregation]]ists. Fant instituted municipal programs aimed at uplifting black citizens, including slum clearance. By the time that he finally left office in 1970, nearly 7,500 dwellings had been rehabilitated, and another 2,000 were demolished. Fant's successor, Calhoun Allen, continued such outreach to the black community, but racial resentments continued for decades.​

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In 1953, Fant was selected by the LMA as "Louisiana's Mayor of the Year." The National Municipal League and 'the since defunct ''Look'' [[magazine]], moreover, named Shreveport as one of the nation's top eleven cities. That same year, Fant was the first individual to receive the Shreveport Advertising Club's annual award called "Shreveport's Best Ad," a designation given to an institution or a person who brought the city the most favorable publicity during the year. Fant was a past president of the Broadmoor Kiwanis International.​

In 1953, Fant was selected by the LMA as "Louisiana's Mayor of the Year." The National Municipal League and 'the since defunct ''Look'' [[magazine]], moreover, named Shreveport as one of the nation's top eleven cities. That same year, Fant was the first individual to receive the Shreveport Advertising Club's annual award called "Shreveport's Best Ad," a designation given to an institution or a person who brought the city the most favorable publicity during the year. Fant was a past president of the Broadmoor Kiwanis International.​

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==Fant's legacy==​

==Legacy==​

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The Clyde E. Fant Memorial Award for Community Service is given annually in honor of the late mayor. Past winners include [[Virginia Shehee|Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee]], the first woman to garner the honor, and Donald E. Jones, the former mayor of [[Bossier City]].​

The Clyde E. Fant Memorial Award for Community Service is given annually in honor of the late mayor. Past winners include [[Virginia Shehee|Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee]], the first woman to garner the honor, and Donald E. Jones, the former mayor of [[Bossier City]].​

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