John B. Gage

John Bailey "Jack" Gage (February 24, 1887 – January 15, 1970) was mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1940 to 1946. He made reforms following the collapse of the political machine of Thomas Pendergast.

John B. Gage
45th Mayor of Kansas City
In office
1940–1946
Preceded byCharles S. Keith
Succeeded byWilliam E. Kemp
Personal details
Born
John Bailey Gage

(1889-02-08)February 8, 1889
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
DiedJanuary 15, 1970(1970-01-15) (aged 82)
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Constant R. Lane
​
​
(m. 1916; died 1920)​

Biography

Gage was born on the 80-acre (320,000 m2) family farm at 9th and Cleveland on February 24, 1887.[1] He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1907. Following in his father's footsteps, he studied law and received his law degree from the Kansas City School of Law in 1909.[2]

He married Constant R. Lane in 1916, and they had one child. His wife died in January 1920.[2]

In 1930, he started the Gage and Hill law firm in the Bryant Building at 11th and Grand. Following a series of mergers, the firm would become Lathrop and Gage in 1873 (via the Lathrop line).[3]

After Pendergast pleaded guilty to income tax evasion charges in 1939, Gage, a Democrat, campaigned for mayor for the Citizens Association party consisting of both Democrats and Republicans. A signature aspect of the campaign was an appeal to housewives with the slogan:

Wanted: 75,000 women with pioneer courage...let us keep faith with those who blazed the trail.

He was to cut the city budget by $700,000, hired city manager L.P. Cookingham, and began to expand the city limits. He was elected three times.

He died on January 15, 1970, a month after being hit by a truck while walking to work at 11th and Grand Avenue in Kansas City.[4]

References
  1. The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. 57. James T. White & Company. 1977. p. 60. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Google Books.
  2. Centennial History of Missouri. IV. S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. 1921. p. 694. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Internet Archive.
  3. "Lathrop and Gage history". Archived from the original on February 18, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2007.
  4. "John B. Gage: Longtime mayor of Kaycee dies". The Manhattan Mercury. Kansas City. AP. January 15, 1970. p. 3. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.


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