From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Henry W. Kiel (February 21, 1871 - November 26, 1942) was the thirty-sixth Mayor of Saint Louis, serving from 1913 to 1925.

Kiel grew up in St. Louis and attended St. Louis Public Schools and the Smith Academy. His family worked in the construction industry, and Kiel learned the bricklayer's trade from his father. He was President of Kiel and Duanes Contracting Company and had a role in constructing a number of prominent public and private buildings in St. Louis, including the Municipal Auditorium, which was later renamed in his honor as Kiel Auditorium, and its replacement named the Kiel Center before the era corporate-sponsor naming of stadiums and it became Savvis Center (Now Scottrade Center). He was active in Republican party politics, serving as committeeman and also servng one year as Chairman of the Republican City Commission.

In 1913, Kiel was elected Mayor by a very narrow margin over the Democratic candidate, Dr. John Simon. He was re-elected in 1917 and 1921, becoming the first mayor to serve three four-year terms. Mayor Kiel was a strong proponent of the City Charter adopted by the voters in 1914, which remains in effect as of 2005. The City's first zoning laws were enacted during Kiel's term.

Kiel also supported a number of public works projects in the City, and one of his greatest achievements was passage of an $87 million bond issue in 1923. Construction on many projects included in the bond issue began near the end of his term, but were not completed until after he left office.

After his last term as Mayor, Kiel continued to work in the construction industry and remained active in public affairs, later serving as President of the St. Louis Police Board. He ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in 1932. In 1892 he married Irene H. Moonan of St. Louis. They had two sons and two daughters. Kiel died November 26, 1942 and is buried in a mausoleum at Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Louis.

St. Louis Public Library