Bruce Hoblitzell
{{Short description|American politician (1887–1970)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Bruce Hoblitzell
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| office = 48th Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky
| term_start = 1957
| term_end = 1961
| predecessor = Andrew Broaddus
| successor = William O. Cowger
| party = Democratic
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1887|6|25}}
| birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1970|8|11|1887|6|25}}
| death_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
| resting_place = Cave Hill Cemetery
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
| nickname = Mr. Hobby
| occupation = {{hlist|Real estate agent|politician}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Irene Oatley Forbes|1910}}
| children = 3
}}
Bruce Hoblitzell (June 25, 1887 – August 11, 1970) was mayor of Louisville, Kentucky from 1957 to 1961. He also served as sheriff of Jefferson County, Kentucky.
Early life
Bruce Hoblitzell was born in 1887, in Louisville, Kentucky. He was raised in Louisville and graduated from duPont Manual High School.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102704198/bruce-hoblitzell-former-louisville/ |title=Bruce Hoblitzell, Former Louisville Mayor, Dies |date=1970-08-12 |newspaper=The Courier–Journal |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2022-05-28}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-democrats-persuade-b/150596226/ |title=Democrats Persuade Bruce Hoblitzell, Sr., To Run for Sheriff |date=1953-06-11 |newspaper=The Courier-Journal |page=17 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-07-03}}{{Open access}} He graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute in 1905.
Career
From 1906 to 1912, Hoblitzell worked at the Kentucky Heating Company. He formed the McClellan-Hoblitzell Realty Company with J. A. McClellan in 1912. The company was dissolved in 1919 and became the Bruce Hoblitzell Realtors and Insurance Agency. He was elected sheriff of Jefferson County in 1953. On November 5, 1957, he was elected mayor on the Democratic Party ticket, defeating Republican Robert B. Diehl by about ten thousand votes. He served until November 1961. He was nicknamed "Mr. Hobby".
Hoblitzell was a member of the board and served as president of the Kosair Crippled Children's Hospital for 9 years.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-bruce-hoblitzell-is/150598799/ |title=Bruce Hoblitzell is Honored by State Medical Auxiliary |date=1956-09-20 |newspaper=The Courier-Journal |page=24 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-07-03}}{{Open access}} He also served as president of the Louisville Board of Trade for three years. He was a director of the Louisville Industrial Foundation and was a board member of the Metropolitan Sewer District from 1937 to 1954. He was also a member of the Mayor's War Housing Committee.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal/150670554/ |title=Here Are Candidates for City of Louisville Posts in Next Tuesday's Election |date=1957-11-03 |newspaper=The Courier-Journal |page=69 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-07-04}}{{Open access}} He was president of both the Louisville and Kentucky Real Estate Boards.
Personal life
Hoblitzell married Irene Oatley Forbes of Louisville on January 31, 1910.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-miss-irene-forbes/150596815/ |title=Miss Irene Forbes... |date=1910-02-01 |newspaper=The Courier-Journal |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-07-03}}{{Open access}} They had a son and two daughters, Bruce Hoblitzell Jr., Mrs. Leo K. Broecker and Mrs. Charles Greenwood. As of 1953, he lived at 1415 St. James Court in Louisville.
Hoblitzell suffered a stroke in December 1962 and remained bedridden. He died on August 11, 1970, at his home in Louisville. Hoblitzell was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery.
Awards
References
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{{succession box|title=Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky|before=Andrew Broaddus|after=William O. Cowger|years=December 1957–December 1961}}
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{{LouisvilleMayors}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoblitzell, Bruce}}
Category:Mayors of Louisville, Kentucky
Category:DuPont Manual High School alumni
Category:Burials at Cave Hill Cemetery
Category:20th-century mayors of places in Kentucky
Category:American real estate brokers
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