Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1921-02-22
LON D. MARRS HAS
HAD LONG CAREER
AMARILLO MAYOR WAS FIRST
ELRcTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE
IN 1870

Loo d. Aarn. who has served several
IN Logan county. Kentucky. received
his earfy education az Auburn. IN the
same state. and graduated from the
lao department Of Cumberland Univer
ely. az Lebanon. Tennessee.
Ax. Marrs came 10 Amarillo In 1880.
when u was q small cattle town with
shsut i<o inhabitants. In June 81 the
same year. when Swikher county was
o. g. nifed. the young lawyer was al
pointed county attorney. even ,houfn
living IN Amarillo. which was outside
a swisher county. While serving AZ
county attorney for swlsher he vas
elected 20 the same office IN Pot
ter county. which office he held
until 1856. when he was elected
county judge. In which capacity he
arrived for eight years, OF until 1894.
Prom 1904 until 1906 Judge Mars was
out Of public office for the first time
since 1899. but In the latter year was
elected mayor OF Amarillo. Mayor Mars
served for one term at this time. golng
out OF office In 1905. For several years
AIR. MarrE. now one OF the most sub
stantial and highly respected men In
tho Panhandle. remained out 81 office.
paying the closest attention TO his law
practice. which was a large and prof.
liable one. In 1917 the people Of ANA.
riilo recalled him TO public office and
he was elected again as mayor, was re
elected IN 1919. and Is the present in
cumbent II that office. The little cattle
town which first called him 10 public
office retains him In that position, even
though 70 has grown TO BE- more than
hundred times larger than II was
when Lon d. Mars first came 10 Ana
rillo, and has become a powerful and
growing city. whose influence is felt
for q radius OF hundreds Of miles In
every direction.
Mayor Mars. though a lawyer since
boyhood and n public official for three
fourshs Of his mature years. has found
time 10 engage IN other pursuits. For
several years he owned and operated a
cattle ranch west Of Amarillo. part OF
the famous Frying Pan ranch. His
experience an ranehman gave him q
love Tor out-of-door life and horseback
riding that he has never lost and which
has had much to do with his consistently
rood health. He still retains n large
farm not far from Amarillo, and also
the old Kentucky homestead. which he
has owned through the long years OF
his lifetime In Amarillo. and which he
says he would never sell for any
amount Of money.
Lon ID. Mars has been known a.
constructive force. a. a builder. In ev
cry position he has been called upon
10 occupy. While he was a pubic Of
ficiai the red schoolhouse Just north
Of the present high school building was
built, the magnificent court house build
Ing which bears his name on the cor
nerstone was erected. and many othei
public improvements were effected
While he was serving as Grand Exaltst
Ruler Of the u. p. o. T., the splendi'
building now occupied by the Elks wa
started, and when he retired a. heat
of the local lodge he was appoints
chairman Of the building COMMITTEES
ana had charge Of operations until IN
building was completed.
Mayor Mars. during the war wit
Germany. offered his services 20 n
government. which offer was decline
on account Of his being over the az
limit. As mayor OF Amarillo he too
an active interest In the various Re
Cross and Liberty Loan campaigns, an
An every sort Of war work. The may'
n known as a friend OF the ex-seryi'
men. and IL always 20 h. found hackir
any measure which has TO do with u
welfare or advantage OF the America
Legion.
Among the clubs to which the may
belongs are the Lions. the y. u. o.
the Odd Fellows. the Knights
Pythias and the woodmen. May
Mars was endorsed for reelection AZ
citizens mass meeting recently heid
the Potter county court house.
-y1 IT,