Robert E. Lee Chancey (December 16, 1880 – June 1, 1948) was a lawyer who served as mayor of Tampa, Florida.[1][2][3] He was a member of the White Municipal Party.

Robert E. Lee Chancey
Hillsborough County Solicitor
In office
1916–1916
In office
1923–1929
44th Mayor of Tampa
In office
November 3, 1931 – November 3, 1943
Preceded byThomas N. Henderson
Succeeded byCurtis Hixon
Personal details
BornDecember 16, 1880
Offerman, Georgia
DiedJune 1, 1948
Tampa, Florida
Political partyWhite Municipal Party
RelationsPatrick C. Whitaker (brother-in-law)
EducationMercer University

Robert E. Lee Chancey was born in Offerman, Georgia. He attended public schools and graduated from Mercer University in 1902 with a law degree. Chancey moved to Tampa in 1905 and worked for attorney, M.B. Macfarlane until 1918. He married Jennie Cortinio in Tampa in September 1910 and they had two sons. One was killed in an automobile accident leaving William B. as his only surviving son.[4][1] Throughout his life he was socially and politically active. Chancey was a member of the Elks Club and the Knights of Pythias.[1]

Chancey was appointed county solicitor and served from 1916 to 1921 and a second time from 1923 to 1929. He was also the president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association.[1][4]

Chancey died on June 1, 1948, in Tampa, Florida.[1] =

Mayor of Tampa

edit

He served as the mayor of Tampa from November 1931 until November 1943. In 1935 six Tampa policemen were indicted for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping and torture or members of a political organization known as the Modern Democrats. The police chief was also implicated in obstructing an investigation. Chancey's brother-in-law Patrick Crisp Whitaker was the lead defense attorney.

He was mayor during the Works Progress Administration's planned funding of an American Hellenic Center in Tampa.[5]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e "Robert E. Lee Chancey - 44th Mayor Of Tampa". City of Tampa. June 17, 2014.
  2. ^ "Mayor R.E.L. Chancey being sworn in". digital.lib.usf.edu.
  3. ^ "Mildred Pepper on steps of plane with Mayor R.E.L. Chancey of Tampa | fsu.digital.flvc.org". diginole.lib.fsu.edu.
  4. ^ a b Cutler, Harry Gardner (January 5, 1923). "History of Florida: Past and Present, Historical and Biographical". Lewis publishing Company – via Google Books.
  5. ^ House, United States Congress (January 5, 1940). "Hearings". U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.