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→Mayoral accomplishments
===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.
Under Fant, an area along the Red River was developed as the site of the Shreveport Convention Center and Civic Center complex. Later the popular Clyde Fant Parkway brought regular joggers, walkers, and bicyclists into the Riverfront area. The acclaimed R.S. Barnwell Memorial Garden and Art Center was also established when Fant was mayor but faced closure in 2014 became of financial problems. Other projects in the Fant years included the Shreveport-Barksdale Air Force Base bridge, the Jewella-Milam Street connection, the Youree Drive extension, and the Southern Avenue and Spring Street viaduct.
Under Fant, an area along the Red River was developed as the site of the Shreveport Convention Center and Civic Center complex. Later the popular Clyde Fant Parkway brought regular joggers, walkers, and bicyclists into the Riverfront area. The acclaimed R.S. Barnwell Memorial Garden and Art Center was also established when Fant was mayor but faced closure in 2014 became of financial problems. Other projects in the Fant years included the Shreveport-Barksdale Air Force Base bridge, the Jewella-Milam Street connection, the Youree Drive extension, and the Southern Avenue and Spring Street viaduct.
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.
==Legacy==
==Legacy==
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]].