Bud Asher facts for kids

Baron Henry "Bud" Asher (May 27, 1925 – July 5, 2013) was an important American leader. He was a politician, a football coach, and a lawyer. Bud Asher served as the Mayor of Daytona Beach, Florida, for eight years, from 1995 to 2003. Before becoming mayor, he was a Daytona Beach City Commissioner for twelve years.

About Bud Asher

His Early Life

Bud Asher was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 27, 1925. His parents were Baron Hirsch Asher and Erna Fromme. He went to Tech High in Atlanta.

In 1943, during World War II, he joined the U.S. Navy. He served on two aircraft carriers, the USS Bunker Hill and USS Bennington. These ships were part of a torpedo squadron in the Pacific Ocean. He took part in important battles in the Philippines, Iwo Jima, Guam, Palau, Formosa (now Taiwan), and Okinawa. For his brave service in the Navy, Asher received two Air Medals. He also earned other awards for his time during the war.

After the war, he first attended the University of Tennessee. Later, he moved to the University of Georgia. There, he earned both his bachelor's degree and his law degree. He even helped raise money for the university's sports teams.

His Career Journey

Asher worked as a lawyer in Atlanta until 1954. Then, he moved to Florida to become an assistant football coach at Stetson University. After coaching, he became a business owner in Daytona Beach. He owned and managed several hotels and businesses, like the Safari Beach Motel.

In the early 1960s, Fort Lauderdale became a very popular place for college students during Spring Break. However, it became too crowded. Bud Asher and other leaders in Daytona Beach saw an opportunity. They started a plan to invite some of these students to Daytona Beach instead.

In 1962, Asher and other local business people visited colleges. They gave out postcards and brochures to promote Daytona Beach. They even hired airplanes to drop ping-pong balls onto college campuses. Each ball said, "Get on the Ball and Come to Daytona Beach." This tradition is still remembered today.

This campaign worked very well. Daytona Beach became a major Spring Break spot. Some people thought Asher was only promoting the city for college parties. But his efforts earned him the nickname, "Father of Spring Break," in Daytona Beach.

His Political Work

Bud Asher also served as a district judge in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, for two years.

In 1983, he was elected as a city commissioner for District 2. He held this important job for twelve years, from 1983 to 1995.

Bud Asher was first elected Mayor of Daytona Beach in 1995. The previous mayor, Paul Carpenella, did not get enough votes to run again. Asher worked hard for his first mayoral campaign. He won the election by about 600 votes. He officially became mayor on November 7, 1995. He was re-elected three more times in 1997, 1999, and 2001. He retired from being mayor in 2003.

Football Coaching

Bud Asher loved football and coached for over sixty years. He did this while also working in business and politics. He coached high school football teams in Volusia County. These included New Smyrna Beach High School, Spruce Creek High School, and Father Lopez Catholic High School. He also coached a midget league team called the Daytona Beach Bulldogs.

He was involved with Bethune-Cookman University for more than 40 years. He coached their football team and advised their presidents. He also coached professional teams like the Jacksonville Sharks and the Daytona Beach ThunderBirds.

For over 30 years, he worked as a talent scout. He looked for talented players for both the NFL and college football teams. He scouted for NFL teams like the San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Oakland Raiders.

In 2000, he was inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame. For the last two years of his life, he was a sports commentator on WNDB 1150 radio.

His Passing

Bud Asher passed away from prostate cancer at his home in Daytona Beach on July 5, 2013. He was 88 years old. He was survived by his wife, Dawn Ioviero Asher, and his children, Marybeth Asher-Lawson and Baron "Ron" Asher. He also had a stepdaughter, Wendy Fiore Bentley, and five grandchildren. His funeral included full military honors and a special flyover.