Lou Ritter
| Lou Ritter | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Jacksonville | |
|
In office 1965–1967 |
|
| Preceded by | W. Haydon Burns |
| Succeeded by | Hans Tanzler |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 27, 1925 Jacksonville, Florida |
| Died | April 9, 2010 (aged 84) Palm Valley, Florida |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Judie Ritter |
| Alma mater | University of Florida |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
Louis Hampton "Lou" Ritter (September 27, 1925 – April 9, 2010) was an American politician and lobbyist. He served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1965 until 1967. A Democrat, he assumed office when W. Haydon Burns, mayor since 1949, resigned to become Governor of Florida. He was the last mayor to serve his entire term before the city was consolidated with the Duval County government.
Ritter was born and raised in Jacksonville and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1943. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, then attended the University of Florida where he served as student body president, graduating in 1950.
Ritter decided to run for the Jacksonville City Council in early 1951, but was refused when he tried to file his intention with the clerk of the court, as he had been at school in Gainesville and not physically living in Duval County. He filed suit to challenge the residency requirement and prevailed less than two weeks before the first primary. The publicity from the court challenge helped him win the election, and at 23, he became the youngest city councilman in Jacksonville's history. Two years later, Ritter was elected by his fellow councilmen as Council President. He was elected as Commissioner of Highways, Sewers & Airports in 1955 and served for nearly 10 years. Ritter initiated the planning and pushed for the current Jacksonville International Airport. Construction began in 1965 and the facility opened in October, 1968. He implemented a building code which required and enforced minimum housing standards. Ritter also began a master sewer plan for the city. In 1960, Ritter helped run John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in Florida.
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