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Line 80: − + − There was no more powerful force in Northwest Louisiana during the past quarter-century than Clyde Fant. Additionally, the accomplishment of the Fant years in office would rank him as one of the chief top executives in Shreveport history.<br>+ − − − − − − Clyde Fant was a man of unusual vision, and the consequences of that vision will long be felt by the people here. His programs helped to build our city, not only in a mortar and stone fashion, they also gave Shreveport an aura of humanity. ... − − If he was Shreveport's shining star, then he was also Louisiana's mayor of mayors. ... He needs no monument to mark his resting place because Shreveport is the better reminder of his life.<ref name=fantobit>Clyde Fant obituary, ''The Shreveport Times,'' July 7, 1973.</ref></blockquote> + + − +
→Legacy
On his death, ''The Shreveport Times'' eulogized the former mayor:
On his death, ''The Shreveport Times'' eulogized the former mayor:
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
Clyde Fant, more than any other person, was Shreveport. He poured his life into our community, and the community responded with respect and love.<br>
Clyde Fant, more than any other person, was Shreveport. He poured his life into our community, and the community responded with respect and love. There was no more powerful force in Northwest Louisiana during the past quarter-century than Clyde Fant. Additionally, the accomplishment of the Fant years in office would rank him as one of the chief top executives in Shreveport history.<br>
He was a kind, gentle, [[Christian]] man, but his politics were laced with bare-knuckled toughness when he felt it necessary. That combination marked continuing progress for Shreveport throughout Mr. Fant's two decades of service. When he was first elected to office at the end of World War II, he inherited a city in a desperate financial condition. Using his immense personal powers, he turned the city around and left a legacy of industrial growth and quality services for Shreveport.<br>
He was a kind, gentle, [[Christian]] man, but his politics were laced with bare-knuckled toughness when he felt it necessary.
That combination marked continuing progress for Shreveport throughout Mr. Fant's two decades of service. When he was first elected to office at the end of World War II, he inherited a city in a desperate financial condition. Using his immense personal powers, he turned the city around and left a legacy of industrial growth and quality services for Shreveport.<br>
Clyde Fant was a man of unusual vision, and the consequences of that vision will long be felt by the people here. His programs helped to build our city, not only in a mortar and stone fashion, they also gave Shreveport an aura of humanity. ... If he was Shreveport's shining star, then he was also Louisiana's mayor of mayors. ... He needs no monument to mark his resting place because Shreveport is the better reminder of his life.<ref name=fantobit>Clyde Fant obituary, ''The Shreveport Times,'' July 7, 1973.</ref></blockquote>
Fant was a long-term member of the board of directors of Broadmoor Baptist Church and was chairman of the board for seven years. He taught a men's [[Bible]] class. He resided at 340 Ockley Drive in the Broadmoor neighborhood.<ref>William McCleary, "The Broadmoor Neighborhood: One of Shrevport's Older Communities," ''[[North Louisiana History]],'' Vol. XLII (Winter-Spring 2011), p. 5.</ref> Services were held at the Broadmoor Baptist Church, with the then pastor, Dr. [[Scott Tatum]] officiating. His papers are in the archives of Louisiana State University at Shreveport, a four-year branch campus which opened in 1967, six years before Fant's passing.
Fant was a long-term member of the board of directors of Broadmoor Baptist Church and was chairman of the board for seven years. He taught a men's [[Bible]] class. He resided at 340 Ockley Drive in the Broadmoor neighborhood.<ref>William McCleary, "The Broadmoor Neighborhood: One of Shrevport's Older Communities," ''[[North Louisiana History]],'' Vol. XLII (Winter-Spring 2011), p. 5.</ref> Services were held at the Broadmoor Baptist Church, with the then pastor, Dr. [[Scott Tatum]] officiating. His papers are in the archives of Louisiana State University at Shreveport, a four-year branch campus which opened in 1967, six years before Fant's passing.
Fant is interred at Forest Park East Cemetery in Shreveport. Mrs. Fant, who died in 2009 a month before her 100th birthday, is buried instead at Oakdale Cemetery in DeLand, Florida, where her older son lives. She had also lived in her later years in DeLand.<ref>{{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=Margaret Fant|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref>
Fant is interred at Forest Park East Cemetery in Shreveport. Mrs. Fant, who died in 2009 a month before her 100th birthday, is buried instead at Oakdale Cemetery in DeLand, Florida, where her older son lives. She had also lived in her later years in DeLand.<ref>{{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=Margaret Fant|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref>