Bryce B. Smith
Encyclopedia
Bryce B. Smith was Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1930 to 1939 at the height of the power of the Thomas Pendergast machine.
Smith was born in Indianapolis, Indiana
. His family moved to Kansas City in the 1880s and founded what would become General Baking Corporation.
He served on the city council from 1920 to 1924.
He was the second mayor under Kansas City's new city manager
form of government with Henry McElroy as City Manager. Although declaring his independence of the Pendergast machine, he was to end up being associated with it.
Many of the landmarks of Kansas City were built during his term during what was called the "Ten Year Plan":
City Buildings:
Other Landmark Buildings:
Much of the construction was done with Pendergast Ready Mixed Concrete.
Lax to non-existent enforcement of alcohol laws was to see the rise of Kansas City Jazz
as well as prominent crime events including the Union Station Massacre
and a shootout at the polls on election day in 1934 which left four dead.
After Pendergast was sentenced to Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary for income tax evasion in 1939, it was discovered that the city was $20 million in debt. Smith made an effort to clean out the Pendergast machine operatives but ultimately resigned on January 5, 1940.
Smith was born in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. His family moved to Kansas City in the 1880s and founded what would become General Baking Corporation.
He served on the city council from 1920 to 1924.
He was the second mayor under Kansas City's new city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
form of government with Henry McElroy as City Manager. Although declaring his independence of the Pendergast machine, he was to end up being associated with it.
Many of the landmarks of Kansas City were built during his term during what was called the "Ten Year Plan":
City Buildings:
- Kansas City City HallKansas City City HallThe City Hall of Kansas City, Missouri, is the official seat of government for the city of Kansas City, Missouri. It is a 29-story skyscraper located in downtown Kansas City, and has an observation deck on the top of it...
which is one of the tallest city halls in the world - Municipal Auditorium
- Establishment of University of Kansas CityUniversity of Missouri–Kansas CityThe University of Missouri–Kansas City is a public university located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It is a branch of the University of Missouri System. Its main campus is in Kansas City's Rockhill neighborhood east of the Country Club Plaza...
Other Landmark Buildings:
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of ArtNelson-Atkins Museum of ArtThe Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is an art museum in Kansas City, Missouri, known for its neoclassical architecture and extensive collection of Asian art....
- Jackson County Courthouse
- Kansas City Power and Light Building
Much of the construction was done with Pendergast Ready Mixed Concrete.
Lax to non-existent enforcement of alcohol laws was to see the rise of Kansas City Jazz
Kansas City Jazz
Kansas City Jazz is a style of jazz that developed in Kansas City, Missouri and the surrounding Kansas City Metropolitan Area during the 1930s and marked the transition from the structured big band style to the musical improvisation style of Bebop...
as well as prominent crime events including the Union Station Massacre
Kansas City Massacre
The Kansas City massacre was the shootout and murder of four law enforcement officers and a criminal fugitive at the Union Station railroad depot in Kansas City, Missouri, on the morning of June 17, 1933. It occurred as part of the attempt by a gang led by Vernon Miller to free Frank "Jelly" Nash,...
and a shootout at the polls on election day in 1934 which left four dead.
After Pendergast was sentenced to Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary for income tax evasion in 1939, it was discovered that the city was $20 million in debt. Smith made an effort to clean out the Pendergast machine operatives but ultimately resigned on January 5, 1940.