List of mayors of Roanoke, Virginia facts for kids
A mayor is a very important leader in a city or town. They are like the head of the city government, working to make sure things run smoothly for everyone who lives there. This article tells you about the people who have been mayors of Roanoke, Virginia. Before Roanoke became a big city, it was a smaller town called Big Lick. This list includes the mayors from both the time of Big Lick and the City of Roanoke.
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Early Mayors of Big Lick
The town of Big Lick was where Roanoke is today. It had its own mayors even before it became the City of Roanoke. The very first mayor of Big Lick was John Trout. He started his job on February 28, 1874. After him, Samuel Griggs and William H. Startzman also served as mayors. The last mayor of Big Lick was Marshall Waid. He was mayor when Big Lick officially became the City of Roanoke on February 3, 1882.
Mayors of the City of Roanoke
When Big Lick became the City of Roanoke, Marshall Waid continued to serve as mayor. He was the first mayor of the new city. Since then, many different people have taken on this important role.
Notable Mayors and Their Terms
Over the years, some mayors served for a long time, and some even served more than once! For example, Joel H. Cutchin was mayor for almost ten years, from 1902 to 1912.
Another interesting fact is that some people were elected mayor multiple times, but not in a row. Sylvester P. Seifert was mayor from 1912 to 1912, and then again from 1930 to 1934. Roy L. Webber also served two separate times, first from 1949 to 1954, and then again from 1968 to 1975. David A. Bowers was mayor from 1992 to 2000, and then returned to the office from 2008 to 2016.
Noel C. Taylor holds the record for the longest continuous service as mayor of Roanoke. He was mayor for nearly 17 years, from October 1975 to June 1992.
Recent Mayors
In more recent times, Roanoke has had mayors like Ralph K. Smith and Nelson Harris. Sherman Lea, Sr. was the mayor from July 1, 2016, until January 1, 2025.
The Current Mayor
As of January 1, 2025, the current mayor of Roanoke is Joseph L. Cobb. He began his term on that date, taking on the responsibility of leading the city.
See also
