Charles Bertan Wheeler Jr. (1926-    ) Papers (KC0028)

After receiving his A.B. from the University of Louisville in 1946, Charles Wheeler entered the University of Kansas Medical School and graduated from there in 1950. He served as a flight surgeon in the United States Air Force during the Korean War and returned to Kansas City to begin work as a pathologist. He attended evening classes at the University of Kansas City Law School and earned a J.D. in 1959. Wheeler entered the world of elected politics as a successful candidate for Jackson County Coroner in 1964. After this initial victory, he ran for and was elected to the office of Western Judge of the Jackson County Court which he held for two terms. Following a primary election defeat for Presiding Judge of the Jackson County Court in 1970, Wheeler opted to run for Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. He was elected in 1971 and held the post for two terms. Following his defeat for reelection in 1979, Wheeler returned full-time to his position as director of the Wheeler Medical Laboratories. However, he remains active in many civic organizations and activities.

The papers consist of Wheeler's personal papers for his period of public service. A small portion of the collection is from his days as Western Judge of the Jackson County Court and his service as Jackson County Coroner. The bulk of the papers, however, relate to his time spent as Mayor of Kansas City. 1967-1979.

185 cubic feet.

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updated: Monday, February 07, 2011
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