Richard Reading | |
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59th Mayor of Detroit | |
In office January 4, 1938 – January 1, 1940 | |
Preceded by | Frank Couzens |
Succeeded by | Edward Jeffries |
Personal details | |
Born | February 7, 1882 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
Died | December 9, 1952 Brighton, Michigan, U.S. | (aged 70)
Spouse |
Blanche White (
m. 1901) |
Children | 4 |
Education | University of Detroit |
Richard W. Reading (February 7, 1882 – December 9, 1952) was a Republican mayor of Detroit, Michigan from 1938 to 1940.
Richard William Reading was born in Detroit on February 7, 1882, the son of Richard W. and Louise M. Reading. [1] He was educated in the Detroit Public Schools and attended the University of Detroit. [1]
Reading married Blanche White in 1901. [1] The couple had four children. [2]
Reading was for a time a semi-pro wrestler. [2] He later worked variously as a printer, a newspaper executive, and a real estate dealer before entering public life in 1921. [2]
Reading was appointed City Assessor in 1921, moved to City Controller in 1924, and was elected City Clerk in 1926. [1] He stayed in the office of clerk until 1939, when he ran for mayor, ultimately defeating Patrick H. O'Brien by nearly two-to-one. [2] However, once in the office, Reading engaged in graft, selling protection to numbers racketeers and promotions to police officers. [3] This corruption was exposed as the campaign for the next mayoral election was gearing up, [3] and Reading was crushed by Edward Jeffries. [3] [4]
Shortly after leaving office, Reading was indicted on charges of accepting bribes and conspiring to protect Detroit's gambling rackets. [5] He was sentenced to four to five years in prison, of which he served three. [5]
Richard W. Reading died on December 9, 1952, in Brighton, Michigan. [6]