James J. "Jim" Eagan (March 4, 1926 - November 2, 2000) was an American politician and lawyer who was known for serving as the mayor of
Florissant, Missouri
Florissant () is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, within Greater St. Louis. It is a middle class, second-ring northern suburb of St. Louis. Based on the 2020 United States census, the city had a total population of 52,533, making it the 12 ...
, for 37 years from 1963 until his death in the year 2000. Between 1950 and 1970, the city of Florissant greatly expanded in population from less than 4,000 in 1950 to nearly 66,000, making it the most populous city in
St. Louis County, Missouri, the populous county in the state of Missouri; many residents worked for the
McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was an American aerospace manufacturer based in St. Louis, Missouri. The company was founded on July 6, 1939, by James Smith McDonnell, and was best known for its military fighters, including the F-4 Phantom I ...
and other area manufacturers. Robert Lowery Sr. (1938-2018), who had served as police chief for 22 years, succeeded him as mayor in 2001.
Eagan served in the U.S. military during World War II and saw action at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was an Irish-Catholic Democrat who was willing to support some Republican Party candidates. He helped initiate one the first municipal-operated emergency life-support services, a municipal-owned professional theater, and free transportation for the elderly.
The James J Eagan Community Center located at 1 James J Eagan Dr in Florissant is named after him.
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List of longest-serving mayors in the United States
Some of the longest-serving mayors in the United States are listed according to their length of service in that currently or has served in that part of the state or legislative office. The office of mayor is the highest ranking local official and ...
References
1926 births
2000 deaths
Mayors of places in Missouri
20th-century American politicians
Missouri Democrats
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