Charles Wheeler (politician)
Encyclopedia
Charles Bertan Wheeler, Jr. (born August 10, 1926) is a former Missouri state senator and a former mayor
of Kansas City, Missouri
from 1971 to 1979, in addition to having held other elected offices. As of January 2011, he is running once again for Mayor of Kansas City, MO.
Medical School, he was a Flight Surgeon
in the United States Air Force Medical Corps before he returned to Kansas City
as Director of Laboratories at Kansas City General Hospital and Medical Center, and, later as Director of Wheeler Medical Laboratories.
Dr. Wheeler began his public career in 1965 when he was elected Coroner of Jackson County, Missouri
. Subsequently, he was elected as Judge of the Western District of the Jackson County Court.
. During his tenure he oversaw the financing and construction of Kemper Arena
, which was built in 18 months and hosted the 1976 Republican National Convention
.
Kansas City International Airport
opened in 1972 during his watch. The Kansas City Downtown Airport
, which used to be the city's main airport, is now formally named for him.
Wheeler ran for the U.S. Senate in 1976 and garnered less than 2% of the vote in the Democratic primary in a race that was won by Jerry Litton
, who died in a plane crash en route to the victory party in Kansas City. John C. Danforth ultimately won the position.
He did not concurrently seek re-election to the senate and was succeeded by Democrat Jolie Justus
in the 10th district seat.
In 2006, at the age of 79, Wheeler ran for Jackson County
Executive
, but was defeated in the Democratic primary by county prosecutor
Mike Sanders
.
In 2008, Wheeler ran for the Democratic nomination for Missouri State Treasurer. He placed fourth behind the nominee Clint Zweifel and two other candidates.
Medical School, as well as adjunct professor and consultant to the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration.
Wheeler is an American Diplomat of the Board of Pathology, certified in Pathologic Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
, and, Forensic Pathology
. He is recipient of the American Medical Association's Benjamin Rush Award (1971), the University of Missouri-Kansas City Lifetime Achievement Award (1984), and the Kansas University Medical Distinguished Alumnus Award (1997).
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
from 1971 to 1979, in addition to having held other elected offices. As of January 2011, he is running once again for Mayor of Kansas City, MO.
Life
Wheeler was born in 1926. A graduate of the University of KansasUniversity of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
Medical School, he was a Flight Surgeon
Flight surgeon
A flight surgeon is a military medical officer assigned to duties in the clinical field variously known as aviation medicine, aerospace medicine, or flight medicine...
in the United States Air Force Medical Corps before he returned to Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
as Director of Laboratories at Kansas City General Hospital and Medical Center, and, later as Director of Wheeler Medical Laboratories.
Dr. Wheeler began his public career in 1965 when he was elected Coroner of Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
. Subsequently, he was elected as Judge of the Western District of the Jackson County Court.
Kansas City mayor
In 1971 he was elected to two consecutive terms as mayor of Kansas City. Although the mayor does not have a formal party affiliation, he is DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. During his tenure he oversaw the financing and construction of Kemper Arena
Kemper Arena
Kemper Arena is a 19,500 seat indoor arena, in Kansas City, Missouri.It is named for R. Crosby Kemper Sr., a member of the powerful Kemper financial clan and who donated $3.2 million, from his estate for the arena...
, which was built in 18 months and hosted the 1976 Republican National Convention
1976 Republican National Convention
The 1976 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States met at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, from August 16 to August 19, 1976. The convention nominated incumbent Gerald Ford for President, but only after narrowly defeating a strong challenge from former California...
.
Kansas City International Airport
Kansas City International Airport
Kansas City International Airport , originally named Mid-Continent International Airport, is a public airport located 15 miles northwest of the central business district of Kansas City, in Platte County, Missouri, United States. In 2008, 10,469,892 passengers used the airport...
opened in 1972 during his watch. The Kansas City Downtown Airport
Kansas City Downtown Airport
Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport , also known as Kansas City Downtown Airport, is a public airport located in Kansas City, Clay County, Missouri, United States. This airport is publicly owned by City of Kansas City.-History:...
, which used to be the city's main airport, is now formally named for him.
Wheeler ran for the U.S. Senate in 1976 and garnered less than 2% of the vote in the Democratic primary in a race that was won by Jerry Litton
Jerry Litton
Jerry Lon Litton was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Missouri who died with his wife and two children while en route via a small plane to the victory party after winning Missouri's state Democratic primary for U.S. Senate....
, who died in a plane crash en route to the victory party in Kansas City. John C. Danforth ultimately won the position.
State Senator
In 2002, Wheeler ran unopposed in the general election and was elected to the State Senate from the 10th District.He did not concurrently seek re-election to the senate and was succeeded by Democrat Jolie Justus
Jolie Justus
Jolie L. Justus is an American lawyer and politician from Missouri. A Democrat, she is a member of the Missouri State Senate, representing the state's 10th District in Kansas City.-Early life and career:...
in the 10th district seat.
In 2006, at the age of 79, Wheeler ran for Jackson County
Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
Executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
, but was defeated in the Democratic primary by county prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
Mike Sanders
Mike Sanders (Missouri)
Mike Sanders is a Democratic Party politician in Independence, Missouri who was a Jackson County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney from 2002 to 2006 and since 2007 has been Jackson County executive....
.
In 2008, Wheeler ran for the Democratic nomination for Missouri State Treasurer. He placed fourth behind the nominee Clint Zweifel and two other candidates.
Doctor in Politics
Wheeler was the only physician in the Missouri State Senate. Having authored "Doctor in Politics" in 1974, Wheeler is a frequent lecturer and speaker. He has served as Assistant Clinical Professor of Pathology, University of KansasUniversity of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
Medical School, as well as adjunct professor and consultant to the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration.
Wheeler is an American Diplomat of the Board of Pathology, certified in Pathologic Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
Clinical pathology
Clinical pathology , Laboratory Medicine , Clinical analysis or Clinical/Medical Biology , is a medical specialty that is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the laboratory analysis of bodily fluids, such as...
, and, Forensic Pathology
Forensic pathology
Forensic pathology is a branch of pathology concerned with determining the cause of death by examination of a corpse. The autopsy is performed by the pathologist at the request of a coroner or medical examiner usually during the investigation of criminal law cases and civil law cases in some...
. He is recipient of the American Medical Association's Benjamin Rush Award (1971), the University of Missouri-Kansas City Lifetime Achievement Award (1984), and the Kansas University Medical Distinguished Alumnus Award (1997).