Frank Zeidler

City Mayor. Three-term mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1948-1960). Chairman of the National Socialist Party. Zeidler was the last Socialist to head a major U.S. city whose two decades of leadership included major construction of public housing, educational television in Wisconsin and city beautification programs. During his tenure as mayor, Zeidler oversaw improvement of city services such as garbage collection, fire departments, roads and bridges and new libraries. Supported civil rights for all and was an activist for world peace, saying that the term "socialism" was discredited by Hitler and Stalin in their rhetoric to justify their actions. Wrote his memoirs in "A Liberal in City Government" which, even though written in 1962, was not published until 2005. Unsuccessfully ran for president in 1976. Brother of Carl F. Zeidler, who also served as Milwaukee's mayor (1940-1942) and who died in World War II. Survived by his wife, Agnes Reinke Zeidler. They were the parents of six children, Michael, Dorothy, Anita, Clara, Mary and Jeanne, who followed her father into politics and is presently mayor of Williamsburg, Virginia. Cause of death: congestive heart failure.