Harry Baals

Harry Baals
Mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana
In office 1934–1948
Preceded by	William J. Hosey
Succeeded by	Henry Branning
In office 1951 – May 9, 1954
Preceded by	Henry Branning
Succeeded by	Robert Meyers
Personal details
Born	Harry William Baals (1886-11-16)November 16, 1886 Fort Wayne, Indiana
Died	Fort Wayne, Indiana
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Minnie Marie Baals (m:1909-1936) Irene Baals (m:?–1954)

Harry William Baals (16 November 1886 – 9 May 1954) was an American politician who was the Republican mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana, from 1934 to 1947, and from 1951 until his death in 1954.

Biography

When Baals first took office, he consolidated city departments and lowered city tax rates. He launched construction of Fort Wayne's massive underground sewage system and had the city sewage treatment plant built, which is still being used today.

During the Great Depression, Mayor Baals directed war materials drives, upgraded city equipment and services, and broke ground for Baer Field, now Fort Wayne International Airport. In the 1930s, one of his major accomplishments was getting the old Nickel Plate Railroad tracks, running through downtown, to be elevated. This opened up the north side of the city for development.

Fort Wayne newscaster Bob Chase, of WOWO-AM, related a story that he once pronounced the mayor's name "Bales." Mayor Baals personally called him following the broadcast to correct his pronunciation, saying, "son, this is your Mayor. I pronounce my name 'Balls'."

Personal life and death

He had two children: Marceil D. Baals Smith and Donald Baals.

Harry W. Baals died in 1954 of a kidney infection, while serving his fourth term as mayor. He is buried at Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Legacy

File:Harry Baals street sight.JPG

The new Harry Baals Dr. street sign

Harry Baals Drive was named in honor of the late mayor, extending east from Parnell Avenue, north and west of the St. Joseph River in Johnny Appleseed Park. In recent years, the double entendre arising from Baals's name has led Fort Wayne officials to shy away from naming streets and buildings after him. The aforementioned street has been renamed to "H. W. Baals Drive" due to persistent theft

Harry Baals Government Center

In early 2011 Fort Wayne city officials invited people to suggest names for a new government building. The winner with 23,826 votes was the "Harry Baals Government Center," more than ten times the votes received by the closest contender. But city officials almost immediately backed away from the name (many Americans, including those in the Fort Wayne area, pronounce Harry identically to hairy. See the Mary–marry–merry merger.) The city's deputy mayor Beth Malloy said, "We realize that while Harry Baals was a respected mayor, not everyone outside of Fort Wayne will know that. We wanted to pick something that would reflect our pride in our community beyond the boundaries of Fort Wayne." Subsequently, it was announced that the building would be named "Citizens Square."

Baals's descendants have taken to pronouncing their name so that it became a homophone of "Bales."

References

Citations

Bibliography

• "Baals, Harry William" (biographical sketch, p. 747), Who's Who and What's What in Indiana Politics, published by James E. Perry, Indianapolis, 1944.

External links

• Killer in the Rain
• Harry Baals at Find a Grave

Preceded by William J. Hosey	Mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana 1934–1947	Succeeded by Henry Branning
Preceded by Henry Branning	Mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana 1951–1954	Succeeded by Robert Meyers