The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-09
LIVING EX-MAY0RS OF BIRMINGHAM AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENT Five Citizens Who Once Held Reins of City Gov ernment Are Men of
 Affairs
By GEORGE H. WATSON

Birmingham claims the record over other southern cities in the number of living ex-mayors. Five former chief executives of the city are living.
 The now private citizens who once held the reins of municipal government are: B. Asbury Thompson. J. A. Van Hoose, Frank " Evans, w. M. Drennen and George B. Ward. They are all prominently connected with the busi- ness interests of the city. fsr G "
 B. Asbury Thompson, at present in the real estate and insurance business, ! was mayor of Birmingham from 1888 to 1890 Previous to that he was long connected with the city as an official His administration was conservative, vet he laid a splendid foundation for a public school system and inaugurated a strict line of management in all mu- nicipal affairs. He was born in Cham bers county in 1850 and was one of the early settlers of Birmingham
 j.. A VanHoose, a member of the wholesale grocery firm of McLester & VanHoose, on Morris avenue, was elect ed mayor one an independent ticket in 1894 His administration Avas marked by depleted treasury. which he ln- herited. Lack of funds prevented any material improvements, but MT. Van Hoose successfully managed the affairs of the city on the small revenues avail able.
 After many years as alderman, city clerk and city treasurer, Frank w. Evans was elected mayor in 1896 and served a term. He took hold of the de- pleted treasury and asked the people of the state to grant an amendment to the constitution permitting special as- sessments of mills to pay interest on bonds and to create a sinking fund to
 r;, of Hnh proposition was cared at the election. As result the city was placed on a sound financial basis and bonds rose to a premium. At present MT. Evans is actively connected with the Alabama Coal Operators Association.
 Great progress was made during the term of w. M. Drennen from 1900 to 1902. Securing funds from the bond is- sue adopted during MT. Evans term, MT. Drennen built the present city hail. A number of public school buildings were erected. The equipment of the police and fire departments were mod ,ernized.
 During his term a system of water filtration was established, nine new school buildings. including the Central High School, that was burned, were erected. A broad programme of inn provements was carried out at an ex- pense $3,000 less than voted for that purpose. Mir. Drennen is a lover of the broad and open spaces and few years ago purchased about 5000 acres in the vicinity of Blount Springs. --
 At present Mir. Drennen is an executive of the Drennen department store. On account of poor health he has retired from active duty.
 Tho first man born and reared in Birmingham to become mayor was George B. Ward. He served term inn mediately following the Drennen ad- ministration. All other mayors of the city came to Jefferson county as grown nen. but MT. Ward grew up here and was educated in the public schools.
 After commission government had been established MT. Ward became pres ident of the commission in the fall oi 1918 and retained the office until 1917 His four years were marked by practi- eN results. The prohibition law had