13 Facts About Hans Tanzler

Hans Tanzler served as Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, from 1967 to 1979.

Hans Tanzler was an outstanding athlete, lettering in football, basketball and baseball, and Duke University offered him a football scholarship.

Hans Tanzler became a stand-out player, scoring in double figures all four years, and was named third-team All-SEC in his senior year, when he became the first Florida basketball player to pass 1,000 points in his college career.

Hans Tanzler earned his bachelor's degree from Florida in 1949, then his law degree in 1951.

Hans Tanzler was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great".

In 1967 Hans Tanzler ran against incumbent mayor Lou Ritter for the Democratic nomination.

Hans Tanzler ran on a ticket of reform as a "white hat", a supporter of consolidation of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County governments.

Hans Tanzler defeated Ritter in the primary, then easily defeated Republican William Hembree in the general election.

When consolidation took effect on October 1,1968, Hans Tanzler became the last mayor of the old city government and the first mayor of a consolidated Jacksonville.

Hans Tanzler's most lauded contribution was his effort to clean up the St Johns River, toward which he implemented sewage treatment and other environmental regulations.

Hans Tanzler was reelected a second time in 1975, defeating Republican Don Trednick in the general election.

In 1978 Hans Tanzler announced his candidacy for Governor of Florida.

Hans Tanzler placed third in a seven-way Democratic primary eventually won by Bob Graham.