Mayor William D. Becker’s Last Photo Before Losing His Life to a Plane Crash
William Dee Becker served as the 35th Mayor of St. Louis, until 1943 when a plane crash ended his life. A Harvard University graduate, he also attended the St. Louis Law School. Upon graduation, he went into private law practice for 15 years and served a 12-year term on the city’s Court of Appeals.
Aboard a military glider during a test run, Becker was among ten passengers who lost their lives after the aircraft crashed. It successfully took off but its left wing collapsed mid-air causing the glider to spin out of control.
