DAVID E. LONG (1930-1936) #48As part of #KCParks125, we are featuring all 104 Park Board Commissioners in order of their service.David E. Long (1874-1955) was born in Jackson County, Missouri in a rural area which is now about 9th and Bennington in the Sheffield area in northeast Kansas City. His father, born in Kentucky, was a Confederate Civil War veteran.David went into the real estate business. His company the Farm City Investment Company purchased and sold property and was involved in real estate developments in the city. One such area was around 36th and Main Street as it evolved from primarily residential to more commercial in the 1920s.Mr. Long was appointed to the Park Board in June 1930 by Mayor Bryce Smith upon the resignation of Frank Niles. He became Park Board President when Joseph Guthrie, who had become Park Board President after Franks Niles’ resignation, resigned from the Board in late August 1930. One of Mr. Long’s suggestions while on the Board was to name 71st Street as Gregory after the first Mayor of Kansas City William Gregory. Mr. Gregory had been a property owner near Mr. Long’s father in eastern Kansas City.When Park Board members were appointed it was usual to identify them with their political party. When a Republican mayor was in office, the three-member Park Board would be more likely to have two Republican members and one Democratic. The reverse was true with Democratic mayors. Mr. Long was a Democratic member of the Park Board and was aligned with the Pendergast faction of the Democratic Party. In addition, he was a close friend of Tom Pendergast. While Mr. Long was appointed to the Park Board in 1930 by the Mayor, the City Manager H. F McElroy, a close ally of Tom Pendergast, had strongly suggested Mr. Long for the position. Mr. Long remained on the Park Board until 1936 at which time he was appointed presiding judge of the Jackson County Court by Governor Guy Parks, an ally of Tom Pendergast. In 1939, as the influence of Tom Pendergast was collapsing, Judge Long was brought up on several charges of “corruptly allowing claims” of funds against the county court. More on @KCMOPARKS Facebook page.