Lawrence, David

Lawrence, David (Leo)

(1889–1966) mayor; born in Pittsburgh, Pa. After working for William J. Brennan, Democratic chief of Allegheny County, he became active in state and national Democratic Party affairs. He went on to serve an unprecedented four terms as mayor of Pittsburgh (1946–59). In concert with Richard K. Mellon and other civic leaders, he helped clean and build up the city. He became the first Catholic governor of Pennsylvania (1959–63). In 1963 President John F. Kennedy, whose nomination he had helped to secure, appointed him chairman of the Committee on Equal Opportunity for Housing.