William B. Hartsfield

William Berry Hartsfield Sr. (March 1, 1890 – February 22, 1971) was an American politician who served as the 49th and 51st mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. His tenure extended from 1937 to 1941 and again from 1942 to 1962, making Hartsfield the longest-serving mayor of his native Atlanta, Georgia.

Early career Hartsfield worked as a clerk while reading law for the law firm of Rosser, Brandon, Slaton & Phillips beginning in 1916. He entered politics in 1922 by winning a city alderman seat.

Hartsfield served as president of the National League of Cities in 1953.

Race The New York Times called Hartsfield a "racial moderate," highlighting his slogan "Atlanta is a city too busy to hate", which Hartsfield often repeated during the civil rights struggles of the 1950s. While residents of these suburbs rejected annexation in a 1947 referendum, legislation was passed which annexed these communities in 1952, tripling Atlanta's area, and adding 100,000 new residents to the city.

Legacy Willie B., a gorilla that became a popular attraction at Zoo Atlanta for decades, was named for Hartsfield.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is named in Hartsfield's honor as well as a later mayor, Maynard Jackson, who led the modernization of the airport in the 1970s.