Douglas DeGood

DeGood was born in Tiffin, Ohio, to Freda and Kenneth DeGood, and moved to Toledo in 1956. He graduated from Whitmer High School and University of Toledo, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in political science. He served as the program director for a local YMCA branch, and as a member of the Lucas County Board of Education. == Political career ==

Toledo city council In 1973, DeGood ran for Toledo city council, but did not succeed in the primary elections. In January 1975, he was appointed to the council to fill an unexpired term of councilwoman Carol Peitrykowski, who had been appointed to Lucas County Clerk of Courts. He was elected to a full two-year term the following fall, and served on the council until 1977. Mayor of Toledo DeGood successfully ran for city mayor in 1977 as a member of the Democratic Party. He defeated Republican opponent Max Reddish, and succeeded the incumbent Harry W. Kessler, who he considered a friend and mentor. DeGood's election made him the youngest mayor of a large city in the United States, at the age of 30. DeGood ran for a second term and was re-elected in 1979, and again in 1981. During his terms, planning and construction began for the downtown area's Portside Festival Marketplace shopping mall (now Imagination Station) and Seagate complex, the latter being dedicated in 1982. Former city officials considered DeGood's efforts in redeveloping the downtown area as some of his most significant achievements. In 1981, voters rejected a 0.5 percent income tax increase, which lead to layoffs of city workers and services cutbacks. Following a year of campaigning by DeGood, voters approved a 0.75 percent increase in 1982. == Personal life ==

DeGood married his wife Karen in July 1975, and they had two sons, Alex and Kevin. In 2000, DeGood and his wife moved to the Atlanta, Georgia area. Death On December 1, 2019, DeGood died at Georgetown University Hospital, as the result of massive brain injuries he sustained in an accidental fall, while visiting family in Washington, D.C. Funeral services were private and his remains were cremated. == References ==