Changes

{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

| name=Clyde Edward Fant, Sr.​

| name=Clyde Edward Fant, Sr.​

|nationality=[[United States|American]]​

| nationality=[[United States|American]]​

| office=[[Mayor]] of [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]]​

| office=[[Mayor]] of [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]]​

| party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]] ​

| party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]] ​

| term_start=1946​

| term_start=1946​

| term_end=1954​

| term_end=1954​

| preceded=Sam Caldwell​

| preceded=[[Sam Caldwell]]​

| succeeded=[[James C. Gardner]]​

| succeeded=[[James C. Gardner]]​

|term_start2=1958​

| term_start2=1958​

|term_end2=1970​

| term_end2=1970​

|preceded2=James C. Gardner​

| preceded2=James C. Gardner​

|succeeded2=[[Calhoun Allen]]​

| succeeded2=[[Calhoun Allen]]​

|office3=Shreveport Public Utilities Commissioner​

| office3=Shreveport Public Utilities Commissioner​

|term_start3=1944​

| term_start3=1944​

|term_end3=1946​

| term_end3=1946​

|preceded3=James Reilly​

| preceded3=James Reilly​

| birth_date=October 18, 1905​

| birth_date=October 18, 1905​

| birth_place=Linden, Cass County, [[Texas]]​

| birth_place=Linden, Cass County, [[Texas]]​

In 1946, Fant did not seek a full term as utilities commissioner but instead ran for mayor, under the city's then commission form of [[government]]. Sam Caldwell, the incumbent mayor, had run unsuccessfully against Davis for governor in 1944. Fant was elected to a four-year term and reelected in 1950.​

In 1946, Fant did not seek a full term as utilities commissioner but instead ran for mayor, under the city's then commission form of [[government]]. Sam Caldwell, the incumbent mayor, had run unsuccessfully against Davis for governor in 1944. Fant was elected to a four-year term and reelected in 1950.​

In the 1952 gubernatorial race, Fant supported the successful candidate, Judge [[Robert F. Kennon]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], who prevailed over another jurist, Carlos Gustave Spaht, Sr. (1906-2001) of Baton Rouge.<ref>"Over 400 attend Bob Kennon rally Tuesday," ''Minden Herald,'' February 8, 1952, p. 1.</ref>\

In the 1952 gubernatorial race, Fant supported the successful candidate, Judge [[Robert F. Kennon]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], who prevailed over another jurist, Carlos Gustave Spaht, Sr. (1906-2001) of Baton Rouge.<ref>"Over 400 attend Bob Kennon rally Tuesday," ''Minden Herald,'' February 8, 1952, p. 1.</ref>

Fant did not seek a third term in 1954, and the position went to his fellow Democrat [[James C. Gardner]]. From 1954 to 1958, he was the president and general manager of the insurance agency, Fant, Chase, and Kline.

Fant did not seek a third term in 1954, and the position went to his fellow Democrat [[James C. Gardner]]. From 1954 to 1958, he was the president and general manager of the insurance agency, Fant, Chase, and Kline.

In 1958, Fant decided to seek a return to the mayoral position. By a wide margin in the Democratic [[primary]], he unseated Gardner, who was closely identified with more "progressive" politics. Fant pledged to lead Shreveport to greater heights in the 1960s than had already been accomplished. Fant won again in 1962, and he was unopposed for his fifth, and as it turned out final, term in 1966.​

In 1958, Fant decided to seek a return to the mayoral position. By a wide margin in the Democratic [[primary]], he unseated Gardner, who was closely identified with more "progressive" politics. Fant pledged to lead Shreveport to greater heights in the 1960s than had already been accomplished. Fant won again in 1962, and he was unopposed for his fifth, and as it turned out final, term in 1966.​

[[Republican Party|Republicans]] began to gain strength in Shreveport in the middle 1960s, but no Republican challenged Fant in any of his elections. A group of Republicans tried to convince then GOP State Chairman [[Charlton Lyons]], to challenge Fant in 1966. Lyons politely declined to wage a mayoral campaign, after having lost races for the [[United States House of Representatives]] in 1961 to [[Joe Waggonner]] and for governor in 1964 to [[John J. McKeithen]]. Fant did not seek a sixth term in 1970, in part because of health considerations. He was succeeded by the outgoing public utilities commissioner [[Calhoun Allen]]. George W. D'Artois continued as public safety commissioner, a post to which he was elected in 1962, in the new Allen administration; Donald Edgar Hathaway, later the Caddo Parish sheriff, was elected public works commissioner in 1970.​

[[Republican Party|Republicans]] began to gain strength in Shreveport in the middle 1960s, but no Republican challenged Fant in any of his elections. A group of Republicans tried to convince then GOP State Chairman [[Charlton Lyons]], to challenge Fant in 1966. Lyons politely declined to wage a mayoral campaign, after having lost races for the [[United States House of Representatives]] in 1961 to [[Joe Waggonner]] and for governor in 1964 to [[John J. McKeithen]]. Fant did not seek a sixth term in 1970, in part because of health considerations. He was succeeded by the outgoing public utilities commissioner [[Calhoun Allen]]. George W. D'Artois continued as public safety commissioner, a post to which he was elected in 1962, in the new Allen administration; [[Donald E. Hathaway]], later the Caddo Parish sheriff from 1980 to 2000, was elected public works commissioner in 1970.​

The long-term public works commissioner, [[H. Lane Mitchell]], whose service began in 1934 and paralleled most of Fant's tenure,  had resigned in December 1968, amid what developed as an embarrassing theft scandal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/19711060246So2d814_1915.xml/STATE%20v.%20MITCHELL|title=''State v. Mitchell''|date=May 3, 1971|publisher=leagle.com|accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref>​

The long-term public works commissioner, [[H. Lane Mitchell]], whose service began in 1934 and paralleled most of Fant's tenure,  had resigned in December 1968, amid what developed as an embarrassing theft scandal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/19711060246So2d814_1915.xml/STATE%20v.%20MITCHELL|title=''State v. Mitchell''|date=May 3, 1971|publisher=leagle.com|accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref>​

===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.​