Past Mayors

51st - Chris Beutler

mayor_beutler_bw.jpg 2007 - 2019
Born: Omaha, NE
Nov. 14, 1944
Party Affiliation: Democrat

 

 

 

 

 

50th - Coleen J. Seng

cseng.jpg 2003 - 2007
Born: Council Bluffs, IA
Feb. 8, 1936
Party Affiliation: Democrat

 Coleen Seng was elected the City of Lincoln’s 50th Mayor on May 6, 2003 and was sworn in May 19. The Mayor serves a four-year term.

From 1987 to 2003, Coleen served on the Lincoln City Council representing the northeast district. During those 16 years, she helped to improve communication between the City and businesses in her district by forming the Northeast Lincoln Large Employer Group. She maintained contact with citizens in her district through her monthly citizens’ meetings.

As a member of the City Council, Coleen represented the City on many boards, commissions and task forces. She was a member of the Mayor’s first Multi-Cultural Task Force, Co-Chair of Governor Ben Nelson’s Urban Advisory Team, Chair of Railroad Transportation Safety District, and Chair of the Joint Budget Committee.

As a City Council member, Coleen was recognized in the annual KFOR Radio survey as one of the best City Council members. She also received the Tribute to Women Award from the YWCA; the Citizen of the Year Award from the Northeast Lincoln Kiwanis Club; the Woman of the Year Award from the Axis Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc.; the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Lincoln Northeast Rotary Club; and the Mayor’s Neighborhood Roundtable Founder’s Award.

Coleen was born February 8, 1936 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She grew up in Fremont, Nebraska, where her parents owned a welding, machine shop and repair business. Coleen thgraduated from high school in 1954 and went on to Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln in the fall of that same year. At Wesleyan, she was 1st Student Head Resident and graduated in 1958 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and sociology.

From 1958 to 1960 Coleen worked for the Girl Scouts in Saginaw, Michigan. She continued her work for the Girl Scouts in Lincoln in 1961 and 1962. From 1977 through 1997, Coleen was the Director of Community Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Lincoln. She continues to serve on the Church’s Social Concerns and Outreach Commission

Coleen has lived, worked, and raised a family in Lincoln for more than 40 years. During this time, the focus of her involvement and leadership has been to make sure individuals have a voice in decisions affecting their own lives. She remains active in the University Place Community Organization, which founded the Northeast Family Resource Center. She is Past Chair of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Family Resource Center Board and continues her service to families. She is Past President of the Lincoln Fellowship of Churches and a delegate member from her home church, First United Methodist. Coleen began her involvement with the Girl Scouts as a Brownie in 1942. She is a Past President of the Homestead Girl Scout Council and continues to be involved in Girl Scout fund-raising activities.

Coleen is a member of the YWCA, the Friends of the Women’s Commission, the Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum, the Newcomen Society, a local P.E.O. chapter, the East Lincoln Rotary Club and Common Cause. She is a past board member of the University Place Art Center and Neighborhoods, Inc. She also has been involved in parent groups at Brownell Elementary, Mickle Junior High/Middle School and Lincoln Northeast High.

Coleen and her late husband Darrel, who died in 1993, have three grown children and four grandchildren.

---Coleen J. Seng

 

49th - Don Wesely

dwesely.jpg 1999-2003
Wesely, Don
Born: David City, NE
Mar. 30, 1954
Party Affiliation: Democrat

Don Wesely was elected the City of Lincoln's 49th Mayor on May 4, 1999 and was sworn into office May 17. In a record voter turnout for the non-partisan election, Wesely received 56 percent of the vote. The Mayor serves a four-year term.

Mayor Wesely is dedicated to improving Lincoln's quality of life. His major priorities include strengthening downtown and the city's established neighborhoods, encouraging and guiding the tremendous growth in business and residential development and putting in place a long-range plan to ensure Lincoln's prosperity for the future.

Wesely has assumed the leadership in moving forward with the largest infrastructure project in the city's history -- the Antelope Valley Project, which will provide flood control, traffic improvements and neighborhood revitalization in the core of the city. The Mayor took the lead in forging a historic public-private partnership among NEBCO Inc., the University of Nebraska and the city that will result in new ballparks for the University baseball and softball teams and a new Northern League professional baseball team for Lincoln. The Mayor has also led the transition of ambulance service to the Fire Department.

Wesely was born March 30, 1954 in David City, Nebraska. He attended the Lincoln public schools, graduating from Lincoln Northeast High School. He received his B.A. Degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1977 and attended graduate school at UNL.

Mayor Wesely has three children -- Sarah, Amanda and Andrew.

Wesely was first elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 1978, becoming the third youngest person ever to serve in the Unicameral Legislature. He served the 26th Legislative District of Northeast Lincoln for 20 years during which time more than 300 legislative initiatives he sponsored or co-sponsored were successfully enacted into state law. His committee work included 14 years as Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. When he retired from the Legislature in 1998, Wesely was the eighth longest serving State Senator in Nebraska history.

Wesely was employed as a Senior Research Associate for Aliant Communication (formerly Lincoln Telephone Company, now Alltel) from 1985 to 1998.

---Don Wesely

48th - 43rd

48th 47th 46th
dyoung.jpg mjohanns.jpg bharris.jpg
1998-1999
Young, Dale
Born: Palmyra, NE
Mar. 13, 1928
Party Affiliation: Republican
1991-1998
Johanns, Mike
Born: Osage, IA
Jun. 18, 1950
Party Affiliation: Republican
1987-1991
Harris, Bill
Born: Charlotte, NC
Aug. 8, 1939
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Died: Lincoln, NE, Jan. 4, 2011
45th 44th 43rd
rluedtke.jpg boosalis.jpg schwart.jpg
1983-1987
Luedtke, Roland
Born: Lincoln, NE,
Jan. 24, 1924
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE, July 22, 2005
1975-1983
Boosalis, Helen
Born: Minneapolis, MN,
Aug. 28, 1919
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Died: Lincoln, NE, June 15, 2009
1967-1975
Schwartzkopf, Sam
Born: Lincoln, NE
Jan. 12, 1916
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Died: Lincoln, NE, June 5, 2004

 

42nd - 37th

 

42nd 41st 40th
petersen.jpg tyrrell.jpg beboyles.jpg
1963-1967
Petersen, Dean H.
Born: Hampton, NE
Jan. 26, 1904
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE
July 21, 1989
1963: Jan-May
Tyrrell, Dell L.
Born: Lincoln, NE
Party Affiliation:
Died: Lincoln, NE
Dec. 8, 1965
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
1959-1962
Boyles, Bartlett E. (Pat)
Born: Terry, SD
Unknown date
Party Affiliation: Unknown
Died: McAuley Lake Resort, Atikolam, Ontario, Canada, Jun. 7, 1972
Lincoln Memorial Park, Lincoln, NE
39th 38th 37th
bsmartin.jpg cjeary.jpg anderson.jpg

1956-1959
Martin, Bennett S.
Born: Oregon, MO
Mar. 6, 1904
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE
Jan. 3, 1975
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE

Bennett S. "Abe" Martin was a prominent Lincoln businessman, civic, and political figure in Lincoln for many years. He served as Lincoln's Mayor from 1956 to 1959 after a term on the city council. With his wife, Dorothy Bridgmon Martin, contributed to many public improvements in Lincoln and were noted for their many philanthropies, including the endowment that allowed construction of the library that bears the family name. Other contribution made where the Lincoln YMCA and YWCA, Children's Zoo, Junior Golf Course and Clark Jeary Memorial Manor. Mr. Martin served on the Lincoln Power Review Board and the city's Air Base Reactivation Committee. He was twice a delegate to the National Republican Convention. Died January 3, 1975

 

1953-1956
Jeary, Clark
Born: Lincoln, NE
Apr. 25, 1892
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE
Aug. 27, 1959
Lincoln Memorial Park, Lincoln, NE

1950-1953
Anderson, Victor Emanuel
Born: Lincoln, NE
Mar. 30, 1902
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE
Aug. 15, 1962
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE

Lincoln businessman, born 1902 in Lincoln and graduated from Havelock High School. A businessman and investor, he was instrumental in several major projects in Lincoln, including the building of the Harris Overpass and Pershing Auditorium. Elected to the state legislature in 1948 where he served on the Budget Committee. Bought the controlling interest in the Havelock National Bank in 1949. Appointed in 1950 to fill and un-expired term as mayor, Victor Anderson was elected for the 1951-1953 term. During his office, the first street resurfacing in 15 years took place, the 'O" street viaduct was replaced, the city charter was amended, and Lincoln Air Force Base was reactivated. Mr. Anderson was elected Governor of Nebraska in 1954 served until 1959. Died August 15, 1962. Wife, Betty, died December 31, 2000.

 

 

36th - 31st

36th 35th 34th
pansing.jpg
 cgmiles.jpg  ljmarti.jpg
1950
Pansing, Thomas R.
Born: Morenci, AZ
Nov. 21, 1917
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE
Apr. 13, 1973
Lincoln Memorial Park, Lincoln, NE
1947-1950
Miles, Clarence Gillespie
Born: Beattie, KS, Jun. 12, 1887
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Died: Santa Barbara, CA
Mar. 7, 1959
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
1943-1947
Marti, Lloyd J.
Born: Hastings, NE
Feb. 1, 1901
Party Affiliation: Unknown
Died: Unknown, Unknown
Unknown
33rd 32nd 31st
johnson.jpg  campbell.jpg  copeland.jpg
1941-1943
Johnson, Richard O.
Born: Weston, NE
Apr. 24, 1894
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE
Oct. 14, 1971
Lincoln Memorial Park, Lincoln, NE
1939-1941
Campbell, Robert Erle
Born: Unknown
Mar. 13, 1888
Party Affiliation: Unknown
Died: Lincoln, NE
Jan. 22, 1978
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE

1937-1939
Copeland, Oren Sturmon
Born: Huron, SD
Mar. 16, 1886
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE
Apr. 10, 1958
Wuyka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE

A Representative from Nebraska; born on a farm near Huron, Beadle County, S.Dak., March 16, 1887; moved with his parents to Pender, Nebr., in 1891; attended the public schools at Pender; attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln 1904-1907; engaged in newspaper work at Lincoln, Nebr., in 1910 and in the fuel business in 1913; served as city commissioner, department of public safety, 1935-1937; mayor of Lincoln from 1937 until his resignation in 1940; elected as a Republican to the Seventy-seventh Congress (January 3, 1941-January 3, 1943); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1942; resumed the retail fuel business; died in Lincoln, Nebr., April 10, 1958; interment in Wyuka Cemetery.

 

 

30th - 25th

*Served more than one non-consecutive term

30th 

*2ndnon-consecutive term

29th 28th*

3rdnon-consecutive term

 cwbryan.jpg  fleming.jpg  zehrung.jpg
1935-1937
Bryan, Charles Wayland
Born: Salem, IL, Feb. 10, 1867
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Died: Lincoln, NE, Mar. 4, 1945
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
1933-1935
Fleming, Fenton B.
Born: Athol, KS, Jul 17, 1882
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE, Apr 4, 1953
Lincoln Memorial Park, Lincoln, NE
1931-1933
Zehrung, Frank Connell
Born: Cedar Rapids, IA, Oct. 7, 1858
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE, Sept. 8, 1942
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
27th 

*2ndnon-consecutive term

26th 25th 

*2ndnon-consecutive term

 dllove.jpg  hedge.jpg  zehrung.jpg
1929-1931
Love, Don Lathrop
Born: Janesville, WI, Mar. 7, 1863
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE, Sept. 12, 1940
Claremont, IA
1927-1929
Hedge, Verne
Born: Montezuma, IA, Sept. 3, 1877
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE, Aug. 31, 1963
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
1921-1927
Zehrung, Frank Connell
Born: Cedar Rapids, IA, Oct. 7, 1858
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE, Sept. 8, 1942
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE

 

24th - 19th

*Served more than one non-consecutive term
24th 23rd*1stterm 22nd*1stterm
 jemiller.jpg  cwbryan.jpg  zehrung.jpg
1917-1920
Miller, John Eschelman
Born: Cumberland, PA, Aug. 2, 1859
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Died: Lincoln, NE, Mar. 15, 1938
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
1915-1917
Bryan, Charles Wayland
Born: Salem, IL, Feb. 10, 1867
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Died: Lincoln, NE, Mar. 4, 1945
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
1913-1915
Zehrung, Frank Connwell
Born: Cedar Rapids, IA, Oct. 7, 1858
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE, Sept. 8, 1942
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
21st 20th*1stterm 19th
 armstron.jpg  dllove.jpg  fwbrown.jpg
1911-1913
Armstrong, Alvin H.
Born: Unknown, Unknown
Party Affiliation: Unknown
Died: Los Angeles, CA, Apr. 21, 1933
Los Angeles, CA
1909-1911
Love, Don Lathrop
Born: Janesville, WI, Mar. 7, 1863
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE, Sept. 12, 1940
Claremont, IA
1905-1909
Brown, Francis W.
Born: Boonville, MD, Jun. 16, 1854
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Died: Lincoln, NE, July 7, 1915
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE

 

18th - 13th

18th 17th 16th
 gaadams.jpg  winnett.jpg  fagraham.jpg
1903-1905
Adams, George A.
Born: Morgan Town, IN, Jun. 4, 1849
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE, May 2, 1936
Morgan Town, IN
1899-1903
Winnett, Hudson J.
Born: Washington County, PA,
April 19, 1846
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Baltimore, MD, Dec. 19, 1918
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
1895-1899
Graham, Frank A.
Born: Herkimer County, NY,
Jun. 30, 1854
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Long Beach, CA, Jun. 25, 1925
Forest Lawn Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA
15th 14th 13th
 ahweir.jpg  rbgraham.jpg  ajsawyer.jpg
1891-1895
Weir, Austin H.
Born: Unknown, Jan. 10, 1842
Party Affiliation: Independent
Died: Lincoln, NE, Apr. 8, 1907
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
1889-1891
Graham, Robert B.
Born: New York City, NY, May 17, 1842
Party Affiliation: Unknown
Died: Unknown, Feb. 8, 1912
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
1887-1889
Sawyer, Andrew J.
Born: Ottawa, IL, Oct. 5, 1844
Party Affiliation: Independent
Died: Lincoln, NE, Mar. 5, 1924
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE

 

12th - 7th

12th 11th 10th
 burr.jpg  moore.jpg  doolitle.jpg
1885-1887
Burr, Carlos C.
Born: Dekalb, IL, Aug., 1846
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Columbus, OH, Dec. 5, 1927
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
1883-1885
Moore, Robert Emmett
Born: Darwin, IL, Oct. 22, 1849
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE, Dec. 6, 1921
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
1882-1883
Doolittle, John
Born: Sheffield, MA, 1836
Party Affiliation: Unknown
Died: Lincoln, NE, Aug. 21, 1898
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
9th 8th 7th
 wright.jpg  galey.jpg  hwhardy.jpg
1880-1881
Wright, John B.
Born: Rochester, NY, Dec. 10, 1845
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE, Jan. 14, 1925
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
1879-1880
Galey, Seth P.
Born: Allegheny City, PA, Sept. 30, 1844
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Unknown, Unknown
1877-1879
Hardy, Harvey Wesley
Born: Gainsville, NY, Oct. 29, 1825
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE, Jan. 10, 1913
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE

 

6th - 1st

*Served more than one non-consecutive term

6th 

*2ndnon-consecutive term

5th 4th
 silver.jpg  cobb.jpg  little.jpg
1876-1877
Silver, Robert D.
Born: Piqua, OH, Feb. 28, 1843
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Died: Denver, CO, Nov. 5, 1889

1875-1876
Cobb, Amasa
Born: Palistine, IL, Sept. 27, 1823
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Los Angeles, CA, Jul. 5, 1905
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE

A Representative from Wisconsin; born in Crawford County, Ill., September 27, 1823; attended the public schools; moved to the Territory of Wisconsin in 1842 and engaged in lead mining; served in the Mexican War as a private in the United States Army; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Mineral Point, Iowa County, Wis.; district attorney 1850-1854; member of the State senate in 1855 and 1856; adjutant general of Wisconsin 1855-1858; member of the State assembly in 1860 and 1861 and served as speaker during the last year; entered the Union Army as colonel of the Fifth Wisconsin Infantry July 12, 1861; became colonel of the Forty-third Wisconsin Infantry on September 29, 1864; brevetted brigadier general March 13, 1865; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-eighth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1863-March 3, 1871); moved to Lincoln, Nebr., and continued the practice of law; appointed mayor of Lincoln, Nebr., in 1873; associate justice of the State supreme court 1878-1892 and served as chief justice for four years; died in Los Angeles, Calif., July 5, 1905; interment in Evergreen Cemetery, Lincoln. Nebr.

Bibliography
Nelson, Meredith K. "Amasa Cobb." Nebraska Law Bulletin 14 (November 1935): 197-213.

 

1874-1875
Little, Samuel W.
Born: Pittsburgh, PA, Sept. 6, 1818
Party Affiliation: Unknown
Died: Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 30, 1911
Los Angeles, CA
3rd 

*1stterm

2nd 1st
 silver.jpg  eebrown.jpg  chapin.jpg
1873-1874
Silver, Robert D.
Born: Piqua, OH, Feb. 28, 1843
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Died: Denver, CO, Nov. 5, 1889
1872-1873
Brown, Erastus E.
Born: Jordan, Onondaga, NY, 1836
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Lincoln, NE, Aug. 15, 1908
Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
1871-1872
Chapin, William F.
Born: Ostego County, NY, May 22, 1831
Party Affiliation: Republican
Died: Grand Island, NE, Nov. 14, 1885
Greenwood, NE