George W. Lehr

He was born in Kirksville, Missouri in 1937. He attended Kirksville High School and was halfback on the football team, where he was coached by John Spainhower, brother of future Missouri Treasurer Jim Spainhower.[1] In his senior year of high school, Lehr became afflicted with Polio.[2] He would walk with the aid of crutches afterwards.[3][4]

After graduating from the University of Iowa with a degree in accounting, he was appointed auditor of Jackson County, Missouri in 1963.[5] At the age of 29, he became the youngest major elected office holder in the history of Jackson County by being elected collector of revenue.[3] He was the first elected county executive, serving from 1971 to 1975, replacing the old system of having a County Judge, and replacing it with a legislature and Executive.[6] During his watch the County built the Truman Sports Complex, and Lehr on one occasion, mediated during a possible strike that threatened the project.[7] Also during his tenure, Lehr once helped diffuse a prison hostage situation by offering himself as a hostage, and remaining so until there was a resolution.[8][9]

In 1974, Lehr was elected Missouri auditor by a margin of about 73,000 votes, defeating the appointed incumbent John Ashcroft.[3] Lehr argued that as a certified public accountant, he would be better able to do the job.[10] He became the first certified public accountant to serve as State Auditor.[5]

Lehr was seen as a potential contender for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1976.[11] Polling at the time showed Lehr to be the best polling candidate against incumbent Governor Kit Bond, albeit trailing by a large margin.[12] Later polls showed that Lehr was the best polling candidate in the Democratic primary,, edging out State Treasurer James Spainhower and Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Teasdale.[13] Lehr considered running, even before he was elected Auditor,[14][15] but would ultimately decline to enter the race.[16]

On September 18, 1976, Lehr announced his intent to resign to spend more time with his family and terminally ill son, George Lehr Jr. who had muscular dystrophy.[17] Lehr planned to resign after that November's election if Kit Bond won re-election, but opted to delay his resignation for when Joseph Teasdale won, so that the new Governor, a fellow Democrat, could name his replacement.[18] His resignation went into effect at noon January 11, 1977.[19]

Lehr's son died in 1977 at the age of 18.[4] In 1981, Lehr accepted a post as executive director of the Teamsters Union Central States pension fund.[20] Lehr is credited with helping to clean up the scandal-plagued fund.[21] He had also been the president of the Empire Bank and Trust Company in Kansas City and later was chairman and chief executive officer of Traders Bank.[22]

Lehr died on March 21, 1988 at the age of 51. At the time of his death he had had inoperable brain tumors for more than a year.[21][23] He was survived by his wife Barbara and two daughters.[21]

• Kirkpatrick, James C. "Official Manual State of Missouri, 1975-1976"