Title
George Van Tassel,1913-2007, Mayor of Tuscaloosa from 1956 to 1969
Subject
Mayors
Van Tassel, George 1913-2007
Description
George Van Tassel (1913 - 2007) graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1939. He served in the European Theater in World War II and returned to Tuscaloosa where he was an attorney.
He was elected mayor of Tuscaloosa in 1956, to fill the unexpired term of Mayor Hal McCall, and reelected three times, retiring in 1969 to return to the practice of law.
In 1956, the mayor's post was basically a full-time job, but it was still paid on a part-time basis. After being in office 18 months, Van Tassel was overwhelmed by the amount of time the office took and he gave up his law office in the downtown Alston Building. Van Tassel worked at being mayor all the time.
His administration was distinguished by a great deal of street paving, sanitary sewer improvements and storm sewer clearance. He was also responsible for improvements to Hargrove Road and "slum clearance" in the area of the University of Alabama's Memorial Coliseum. Van Tassel aided in both the University urban renewal project and the Castle Hill project, which covered an area of several blocks. Van Tassel used his persuasive powers to get the $12 million in federal funds for the slum clearance project.
C. Snow Hinton was elected mayor after Van Tassel stepped down.
George Van Tassel died June 18, 2007, at age 94.
He was elected mayor of Tuscaloosa in 1956, to fill the unexpired term of Mayor Hal McCall, and reelected three times, retiring in 1969 to return to the practice of law.
In 1956, the mayor's post was basically a full-time job, but it was still paid on a part-time basis. After being in office 18 months, Van Tassel was overwhelmed by the amount of time the office took and he gave up his law office in the downtown Alston Building. Van Tassel worked at being mayor all the time.
His administration was distinguished by a great deal of street paving, sanitary sewer improvements and storm sewer clearance. He was also responsible for improvements to Hargrove Road and "slum clearance" in the area of the University of Alabama's Memorial Coliseum. Van Tassel aided in both the University urban renewal project and the Castle Hill project, which covered an area of several blocks. Van Tassel used his persuasive powers to get the $12 million in federal funds for the slum clearance project.
C. Snow Hinton was elected mayor after Van Tassel stepped down.
George Van Tassel died June 18, 2007, at age 94.
Source
Tuscaloosa News Archive
Publisher
The Tuscaloosa News
Contributor
Betty Slowe (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
513
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph