Baron Henry "Bud" Asher was an American politician, football coach and former lawyer.
27 Facts About Bud Asher
1.
2.
Bud Asher was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 27,1925, to Baron Hirsch Bud Asher and Erna Fromme.
3.
Bud Asher graduated from the new defunct Tech High in Atlanta.
4.
Bud Asher enlisted with the US Navy in 1943 during World War II, serving on board the USS Bunker Hill and USS Bennington, which were part of a larger torpedo squadron in the Pacific Theater.
5.
Bud Asher saw action at campaigns and battles in the Philippines, Iwo Jima, Guam, Palau, Formosa and Okinawa.
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Bud Asher received two Air Medals, as well as theater ribbons and unit citations, for his service in the Navy during the war.
7.
Bud Asher initially attended the University of Tennessee after the war, but transferred to the University of Georgia, where he earned both his bachelor's degree and law degrees.
8.
Bud Asher practiced law in Atlanta until 1954, when he moved to Florida to accept a position as the assistant football coach for Stetson University.
9.
Bud Asher owned and operated a string of nightclubs, businesses and hotels in the city, including the Safari Beach Motel.
10.
Bud Asher did have detractors and critics, who accused him of promoting Daytona Beach as a "beer-can mentality" destination for college students, rather than promoting the city as a place for family friendly vacationers.
11.
However, Bud Asher's efforts earned him the nickname, "Father of Spring Break," within Daytona Beach.
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Bud Asher served as a district judge in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, for two years.
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Bud Asher was first elected mayor of Daytona Beach in 1995.
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Bud Asher defeated his 1995 general election challenger, former city Public Works Director Tom McClelland, by approximately 600 votes in the municipal election.
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Bud Asher was sworn into office on November 7,1995.
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Bud Asher was re-elected in 1997,1999, and 2001, before retiring from office in 2003.
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Bud Asher continued to work in football for more than sixty years, while simultaneously remaining in business and politics.
18.
Bud Asher coached football for high schools in Volusia County, including New Smyrna Beach High School, Spruce Creek High School and Father Lopez Catholic High School, as well as the Daytona Beach Bulldogs for the midget league.
19.
Bud Asher was involved with Bethune-Cookman University for more than 40 years as the university's football coach, as well as a consultant adviser to several of BCU's presidents.
20.
Bud Asher coached the Jacksonville Sharks of the defunct World Football League and the Daytona Beach ThunderBirds, a semi-pro team.
21.
Bud Asher scouted potential players for both the NFL and college football programs for more than 30 years.
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Bud Asher specifically worked as an NFL talent scout for the San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals and the Oakland Raiders.
23.
Bud Asher was inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000.
24.
Bud Asher called games as a commentator and sports announcer on WNDB 1150 for the last two years of his life.
25.
Bud Asher died from prostate cancer at his home on the Halifax River in Daytona Beach at 9 PM on July 5,2013, at the age of 88.
26.
Bud Asher was survived by his wife of 27 years, Dawn Ioviero Asher; his children from his previous marriage, Marybeth Asher-Lawson and Baron "Ron" Asher; his stepdaughter, Wendy Fiore Bentley; and five grandchildren.
27.
Bud Asher's funeral was held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with burial at Daytona Memorial Park, complete with full military honors and an honorific flyover during the ceremony.