W. Haydon Burns

William Haydon Burns ( born March 17, 1912 in Chicago, Illinois; † 22 November 1987 in Jacksonville, Florida ) was an American politician and from 1965 to 1967 the 35th Governor of Florida.

Early years and political rise

In 1922 Haydon Burns came with his family to Jacksonville in Florida. There he attended the High School before he attended the Babson College in Massachusetts. Then he ran a flight school. During the Second World War, he was a technical officer in the Navy Department in Washington. After the end of the war, Burns opened in Jacksonville a consultant company. In 1949 he was elected mayor of Jacksonville. After several re- elections he held that office until 1965. He still holds the record office, the mayor of this city. During his tenure, Jacksonville has experienced an enormous upswing. Burns made ​​national and international publicity for his city and he was able to attract some major companies. Especially insurance companies moved their headquarters to Jacksonville. At that time, a new courthouse was built and new sports arenas emerged. But he had to deal with racial unrest, although in Florida were generally less severe than in other southern states of the USA, yet it came in August 1960 in Jacksonville riots.

Governor of Florida

Haydon Burns served as mayor of Jacksonville so popular that he could venture in 1964 to run for the governorship. After his successful election, he joined his two -year term on January 5, 1965. Usually a term of office of governor in Florida lasts four years. 1964, but had changed to the Florida State Constitution. We did not want to take place in the same year with the U.S. presidential elections, the gubernatorial elections. For this reason a term was shortened to two years. During his tenure, the Constitution of the State has been revised. Burns also called for tax reform and he promoted the industrial development of the country. In 1966, he applied for his re-election. This led to internal party disputes. The more conservative Burns ran against some liberal Robert King High of Miami and his Democratic Party split into two opposing factions. Finally High received the nomination, but Burns refused to give him his support in the actual elections. Through this internal disunity finally the Republican Claude Kirk Jr. was elected as the new governor. This was first a Republican since 1874 head of government again in Florida.

Further CV

After the expiration of his term of office on January 3, 1967, he turned to his private affairs and his consulting firm. In 1971, he tried unsuccessfully to be again elected mayor of Jacksonville. William Burns died in 1987. Together with his wife Mildred had three children.