Charles S. Trimmier

Charles Stephen Trimmier (October 25, 1918 – January 23, 1967) was a Mobile, Alabama-area community leader and politician who served one term as the city's Public Works Commissioner (1961-1965), during which he also served two one-year terms as the city's Mayor. Both of his terms as Mayor of Mobile were when the title was co-extensive with the presidency of the City Commission.[1]

Charles S. Trimmier
Public Works Commissioner of Mobile
In office 1961–1965
Preceded by	Charles F. Hackmeyer
Succeeded by	Lambert C. Mims
Personal details
Born	(1918-10-25)October 25, 1918 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	January 23, 1967(1967-01-23) (aged 48) Baldwin County, Alabama
Spouse(s)	Lucille Anderson Trimmier
Children	Charles Stephen Trimmier Jr.

Early and family life

Charles Trimmier was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the former Elma Bross, and her steamfitter husband Buford Trimmier, who had been born in North Carolina. His eldest of three brothers, John Alden Trimmier, had been born 11 years earlier in Ohio, and his eldest of several sisters had been born in West Virginia, as had their mother.[2] By 1930, his mother had moved with four daughters and two sons to Chicago, Illinois, where his 20 year old daughter Helen supported them by working as a clerk at Bell Telephone company.[3]

He married Lucille Elizabeth Anderson, who was active in several clubs in Mobile and survived him by four decades (d. 2007).[4] They had a son, Charles S. Trimmier Jr., who survived them.

Career

In 1937, Trimmier enlisted in the Marines, but was discharged 2 years later. In 1940, Trimmier lived in Springfield, Illinois with his wife and worked for Continental National Bank.[5] Trimmier enlisted in the Alabama Army National Guard on January 1, 1951, but was released on August 1, 1951 as the Korean War continued.[6]

Political career

Trimmier defeated Mobile's incumbent public works commissioner Charlie Hackmeyer, and began his four-year term in 1961. He had criticized the incumbent administration, and Hackmeyer in particular for his support in Mobile's African-American community, such that in the general election the only incumbent commissioner re-elected was veteran Joseph N. Langan.[7] ALthough facing a tax indictment, Trimmier formed a bi-racial Mobile Economic Commission to help secure federal funds for welfare programs in his city.[8] Nonetheless, Lambert C. Mims, who had considerable support from his Baptist congregation, defeated Trimmier's re-election bid in 1965, and would win re-election numerous times, serving 20 years.

Meanwhile, 1964, Trimmier ran to represent Alabama's 1st congressional district, since the Mobile area effectively had no congressman after redistricting cost veteran Frank Boykin his seat. Trimmier survived the first May primary (in which Clara Stone Fields Collins was eliminated, but lost the runoff to John M. Tyson Sr.,[9] who then lost to Republican Jack Edwards in the general election.

Death and legacy

Trimmer died in a car crash near Spanish Fort, Baldwin County, Alabama on January 23, 1967.[10] He is buried at Mobile's Memorial Stone Garden cemetery.[11]

Trimmier Park at 3600 Alba Club Rd in Mobile was named after him.

References

1. World Statesmen list of Mayors of Mobile
2. 1920 U.S. Census, Philadelphia Ward 19, district 397 p. 5 of 6
3. 1930 U.S. Federal Census for District 1704, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois p. 23 of 45
4. U.S. Army Draft Records for World War II on ancestry.com
5. U.S. Army Draft Records for World War II on ancestry.com
6. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS death file available on ancestry.com
7. Ashmore, Susan Youngblood (2008), Carry It On, University of Georgia Press, ISBN 978-0-8203-3051-8, retrieved 2009-06-05
8. Green, Elna C. (2003), The New Deal and Beyond: Social Welfare in the South Since 1930, University of Georgia Press, ISBN 978-0-8203-3051-8, retrieved 2020-01-26
9. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=417096
10. "Charles Stephen Trimmier, 1918-1967". Genealogy.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-27. Retrieved 2015-05-26.
11. findagrave.com no. 62364341

Preceded by Charles F. Hackmeyer	Public Works Commissioner of Mobile 1961 — 1965	Succeeded by Lambert C. Mims
Preceded by George E. McNally	88th Mayor of Mobile 1962 — 1963	Succeeded by Joseph N. Langan
Preceded by Joseph N. Langan	90th Mayor of Mobile 1964 — 1965	Succeeded by Joseph N. Langan