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Walter H. Reynolds

Walter H. Reynolds
Providence mayor Walter Reynolds.jpg
Reynolds in 1962
30th Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island
In office
January 1951 – January 1965
Preceded by Dennis J. Roberts
Succeeded by Joseph A. Doorley Jr.
Personal details
Born (1901-01-22)January 22, 1901
Providence, Rhode Island
Died April 7, 1987(1987-04-07) (aged 86)
Westerly, Rhode Island
Resting place St. Ann's Cemetery, Cranston
Political party Democratic
Parents Bernard Reynolds and Catherine O'Connell
Occupation Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island
Religion Roman Catholic

Walter H. "Barney" Reynolds (January 22, 1901 – April 7, 1987), served seven consecutive terms as 30th Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, totaling fourteen years of service. He served from 1951 until 1965.

Reynolds was born in the "Irish End" of Providence's Federal Hill neighborhood, to Bernard and Catherine Reynolds. He attended St. Mary's Elementary School, the old English High School, and later the former St. Mary's Commercial High School. He worked for the Western Electric Company from 1922 to 1933. He never married.

Reynolds served as administrative assistant to Mayor Dennis J. Roberts. He became budget officer in 1943, and finance director in 1947. When Roberts ran for governor in 1950, Reynolds entered the mayor's race against Republican Robert E. Burns. Despite never having held elective office before, Reynolds won the election with 56,092 votes to Burns' 23,395. Reynolds was elected to office a total of seven consecutive terms.

His accomplishments as mayor included:

In 1964, Reynolds lost favor with Democratic city chairman Lawrence P. McGarry, Rhode Island's most influential party boss. McGarry backed the young city councilman Joseph A. Doorley Jr. in the 1964 Mayoral election, and Reynolds' political career was over.

He was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 1985. Reynolds received honorary degrees from Brown University and Bryant College.

In 1977, the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier was named in Reynolds's honor.


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