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Former mayor made a mold that's still not broken

A Mensa member, Warren Andrews had an effect on the city that reverberates today among local politicians who follow his lead.

By LORRI HELFAND, Times Staff Writer
Published December 23, 2007

Warren Andrews, Largo mayor from 1973 to 1979, maintained political clout. Two mayoral candidates in 2000 said he was an inspiration.
	[Jim Damaske | Times (2000)]

Largo never had a mayor like Warren Andrews.

He baffled colleagues with his ornate vocabulary. He won over political foes. He led Largo through tumultuous times and helped shape the city for years to come.

Andrews, mayor for six years during the 1970s, died Thursday under the care of Hospice House Woodside. He was 87.

Believing elected officials and administrators were almost adversaries in a well-run government, Andrews wasn't known for going with the flow.

But former Mayor Bob Jackson said Andrews helped push Largo to the next level during tough times.

"Largo lived up to the reputation it had at the time of being rowdy town," said Jackson, who calls Andrews his mentor. "He added class to it."

Longtime civic and business leader George Feaster likewise said Andrews "brought a professional climate to Largo as mayor."

Andrews, an electrical engineer for General Electric, joined the commission in 1973. He oversaw a revamping of city regulations that helped the city catch up with growth of the 1960s and early 1970s, Jackson said.

Andrews also saw a need to preserve open space, Jackson said, and suggested Largo buy the old county fairgrounds where Largo Central Park now sits.

A member of Mensa, Andrews was also known for confusing colleagues by using big words.

At one commission meeting, Andrews called the need for a temporary driveway for the Largo Library "ephemeral." When asked to explain, he replied: "What I mean is the existence of an access road to that property would be evanescent."

Other times he was more direct. After learning the city manager, city clerk and administrative assistants went to a topless bar hours after city leaders banned topless dancing at certain establishments, Andrews said, "The kindest comment that could be made was that it was a stupid and inconsiderate thing to do."

Virgil Sturgis, who served on the commission with Andrews, said he was not initially a supporter of Andrews, but came to both support and befriend him. Andrews "had a straightforward approach to fixing things," Sturgis said.

Some city meetings, however, didn't end until 2 a.m., Sturgis said, because Andrews wanted everyone to have a chance to share their views.

Andrews, who started the city's Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, also was respected as a man of faith.

"He was just a super human being," said Commissioner Mary Gray Black, who served with Andrews. "He was close to God."

Andrews stepped down in 1979, citing the effect of politics on his family.

"I will say that I would be willing to stand toe-to-toe with my critics, but it's not worth what it is doing to my family," Andrews said then.

Andrews kept open running for public office again and in 1994 he made a close but unsuccessful run for the Pinellas County School Board.

During that campaign, Andrews favored teaching of creationism in public schools. His opponent, Linda Lerner, who disagreed with that perspective, defeated him with 51 percent of the vote.

Caroldine Andrews, 85, said she and her husband enjoyed traveling when outside the political spotlight. They toured North America by van and went overseas to destinations like Australia and New Zealand.

Andrews, a former president of the Largo Rotary Club and the Greater Largo Chamber of Commerce, was awarded the city's first-ever Humanitarian Award at the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast in 1989.

Caroldine said her husband of 65 yearssuffered a stroke about two weeks ago.

A native of Birmingham, Ala., he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War and worked as a civilian engineer for the U.S. Air Force.

The couple moved to Largo in 1960 from Miami. In recent years, they moved to Belleair Bluffs and then to Seminole.

After retiring from General Electric Co., he worked as a substitute teacher in Pinellas public schools, teaching Spanish, math and science.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a sister, Myrna Fortner of Birmingham, and two grandchildren. The Andrews' son and daughter died several years ago, Caroldine said.

IN REMEMBERANCE

Services

Visitation will be held at 3 p.m. today at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Largo with a service at the church at 4 p.m.

Donations

Memorial donations may be made to the church. Moss Feaster Funeral Home, Serenity Gardens, is in charge of the arrangements.

[Last modified December 22, 2007, 21:18:40]