Truman George Hart

Truman George Hart was a businessman, County Clerk, Firefighter, Fire Chief, Police Commissioner, city trustee, and mayor of Fresno. The Hart family is considered one of the founding families of the city of Fresno.
Truman George Hart was born April 9, 1866 to Judge Charles August Hart and Ann McKenzie (nee. Brennan) in Fort Miller located near Millerton, California. He was the youngest of four children and the only biological son of Charles Hart. His half-siblings were from his mother's prior marriage to the late United States Army Sergeant James McKenzie. Hart was born in U.S. Army Headquarters building at Fort Miller where he was raised his first several years of life until the family would move with many other settlers to the then town of Fresno which was established by the Central Pacific Railroad in 1872 and made the county seat in 1874.Rehart, S. (1986). Chapter 4: Fresno City Its Leadership and Progress. In C. W. Clough, H. Clingan, & B. S. Temple (Authors), Fresno County in the 20th century: From 1900 to the 1980s: An all new history (Vol. II, pp. 53–54). Fresno, CA: Panorama West Books.
Hart attended the public school in Fort Miller and eventually the Fresno City Schools. Hart entered St. Augustine College at Benicia from which he graduated in 1886. Hart returned to Fresno and soon became identified with the Fresno County Abstract Company, working his way to the position of manager.Vandor, Paul E. (1919). Biographies. Paul E Vandor (Authors), History of Fresno County: With Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified with Its Growth and Development for the Early Days to the Present (Vol. I, pp. 648-649). Los Angeles, CA: Historic Record Company. 
On September 29, 1892, Hart married Augusta A. Trowbridge, a native of Illinois.Rehart, S. (1986). Chapter 4: Fresno City Its Leadership and Progress. In C. W. Clough, H. Clingan, & B. S. Temple (Authors), Fresno County in the 20th century: From 1900 to the 1980s: An all new history (Vol. II, pp. 53–54). Fresno, CA: Panorama West Books. 
Hart was considered one of the pioneers in the oil industry in the San Joaquin Valley. Hart is attributed as one of the organizers of the Producers and Consumers Oil Company, in which he served as a director. Hart also organized the Oil City Petroleum Company and sat as its president, and the Twenty-eight Oil Company where he served as its director.Vandor, Paul E. (1919). Biographies. Paul E Vandor (Authors), History of Fresno County: With Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified with Its Growth and Development for the Early Days to the Present (Vol. I, pp. 648-649). Los Angeles, CA: Historic Record Company. 
==Civic career==
===Fire Chief===
Hart's first public office came as part of the Fresno Volunteer Fire Department, the precursor to the Fresno Fire Department. From as early as 1889 to 1893, Hart served as the Assistant Fire Chief.The Fresno Morning Republican. "Declines the Nomination" 06 Dec 1889. https://www.newspapers.com/image/707637252/ In 1893, Hart was nominated and elected by fireman to serve as Fire Chief.The Fresno Morning Republican. "Their Annual Meeting The Fire Department Nominates Officers" 09 Nov 1893. https://www.newspapers.com/image/707762714/ During Hart's tenure as Fire Chief, Fresno would suffer a notable fire in which the Fresno County Courthouse would have its copper dome destroyed and the courthouse gutted in July 1895. The Fresno Volunteer Fire Department would suffer damage from the fire as an engine was burned in the incident. Hart would originally resign his position as Fire Chief on January 5, 1897 in favor of James B. McDonald.The Fresno Morning Republican. "The New Fire Chief James B. McDonald in Charge of the Department" 06 Jan 1897. https://www.newspapers.com/image/707748239 McDonald served from January 6, 1897 to December 30, 1897.The Fresno Morning Republican. "Fireman Meet Accept Chief McDonalds Resignation" 31 Dec 1897. https://www.newspapers.com/image/707760360/ At this time, Hart would be elected again to serve as Fire Chief until his second resignation on May 23, 1898.The Fresno Morning Republican. "Higgins Chief Elected by the Fireman Last Night Chief Hart Resigned Because of Other Duties - The Chemical Driver" 24 May 1898. https://www.newspapers.com/image/707760298/ 
===County Clerk===
In 1894, Hart was elected on the Republican ticket for the office of county clerk, receiving over 700 votes over his opponent in a county that at the time was a Democratic stronghold. Hart would serve one term from January 1895, through January 1899. Hart would be succeeded by George W. Cartwright. 
===Police and Fire Commissioner===
Hart was appointed as Commissioner to the Board of Police and Fire in 1902 by Mayor L. O. Stephens. Hart served alongside his half-brother William Henry McKenzie. The commission oversaw the police and fire chiefs and their departments. The commissioners were referred to as Police Commissioners even though they were not sworn officers and the departments had their own Police Chief and Fire Chief. Hart served on the commission from 1902 to 1920.The Fresno Morning Republican. "Committee Sees Firehouse Plan" 20 May 1920. https://www.newspapers.com/image/607199183/?
===City Board of Trustees===
Hart was appointed to the Fresno City Board of Trustees form the third ward, a predecessor to the Fresno City Council, by Mayor Alva Snow. Hart was currently serving as a freeholder committee working to modify and amend the city charter. This position was vacated by Ernest Klette who was appointed to the role of City Attorney.The Fresno Morning Republican. "T. G. Hart Accepts Position of City Trustee" 16 Jun 1912. https://www.newspapers.com/image/606948989/ Hart would then run in the 1913 Fresno City Election and win a full term.The Fresno Morning Republican. "Official Canvas Makes No Change" 22 Apr 1913. https://www.newspapers.com/image/607267026/ Hart would not seek reelection in 1917 due to severe illness which resulted in him missing city council meetings in 1916.The Fresno Morning Republican. "Briggs and Ryan Will Make Run in April for Reelection" 07 Dec 1913. https://www.newspapers.com/image/607044403/
===Mayor===
Hart would declare his candidacy on December 2, 1920 for the April 1921 election. Hart would campaign for the office of mayor after the crafting of a new city charter to create a City commission government. The new charter eliminated the office of mayor replacing it as an ex-officio position, with the primary head of city government being devolved to five city commissioners each responsible for specific aspects of city governance. The ex-officio mayor was the Commissioner of Public Safety and Welfare who was responsible for the selection, hiring, and termination of the police and fire chiefs as well as lead and manage the city health department.Rehart, S. (1986). Chapter 4: Fresno City Its Leadership and Progress. In C. W. Clough, H. Clingan, B. S. Temple (Authors), Fresno County in the 20th century: From 1900 to the 1980s: An all new history (Vol. II, pp. 53–54). Fresno, CA: Panorama West Books. Hart touted his civil service experience and his lifetime of being a Fresno County residedt as more robust and capable of managing under the new charter.The Fresno Morning Republican. "Truman G. Hart" 05 Apr 1921. https://www.newspapers.com/image/607367073/ Hart defeated the incumbent William F. Toomey by more tha twice the number of votes. The Fresno Morning Republican. "Hart, Dillon, Stranahan, Elected" 12 Apr 1921. https://www.newspapers.com/image/607367757/
Mayor Hart immediately after taking office in 1921 recognized that the new charter was flawed unless the city had full cooperation of all commissioners. Hart attempted to establish this amongst the other commissioners however this would prove troublesome as other commissioners argued for co-equal municipal power and place themselves on the same level of municipal control although Hart was the lead commissioner. Hart began to advocate for the charter to be amended to allow a city manager.Rehart, S. (1986). Chapter 4: Fresno City Its Leadership and Progress. In C. W. Clough, H. Clingan, B. S. Temple (Authors), Fresno County in the 20th century: From 1900 to the 1980s: An all new history (Vol. II, pp. 53–54). Fresno, CA: Panorama West Books.
Hart's tenure was noted for the re-establishment of the City Planning Commission that had been abolished in prior years.The Fresno Bee. "City Planning Board Revived" 21 Mar 1925. https://www.newspapers.com/image/700817001/
Category:1866 births
Category:People from California
Category:Businesspeople
Category:1927 deaths