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Fred Ashton
Fred Ashton
Mayor of Easton, Pennsylvania
	In office; 1968–1976
Preceded by	George S. Smith
Succeeded by	Henry J. Schultz
Personal details
Born	March 7, 1931; Easton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	May 9, 2013 (aged 82); Seaside Heights, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Shirley Adams
Alma mater	Lafayette College; Temple University
Profession	American politician

Fred L. Ashton, Jr. (March 7, 1931 – May 9, 2013) was an American politician who served as the mayor of Easton, Pennsylvania, from 1968^[1] to 1976.^[3] Ashton also served as the first strong mayor of Easton, beginning with his inauguration for a second term in 1972.^[4] He was a member of the Republican Party.^[4]

Early life and education

Ashton was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, on March 7, 1931, to Fred L. Ashton Sr. and Jean Melick Ashton.^[5] He graduated from Easton Area High School in 1948.^[4] He enlisted in the United States Army, which stationed him in West Germany at the time of the Korean War in the early 1950s.^[4] Ashton received a bachelor's degree from Lafayette College in Easton in 1952 and a master's degree from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1955.^[4] Originally a licensed funeral director by profession, Ashton worked for the Schuylkill Haven Casket Company.^[3] He co-owned the Ashton Funeral Home with his brother, R. Kline Ashton, until 1970.^[3]

Career

Fred L. Ashton Jr. was elected to the Easton city council from 1963 to 1967.^[3] He was elected mayor of Easton as a Republican in 1967^[4] and took office in 1968, succeeding outgoing Mayor George S. Smith.^[1] He won re-election for a second term in 1971, becoming Easton's first strong mayor.^[4] As mayor, Ashton oversaw the construction of the city's new parking garage, which also houses the Easton Police Department, and a new fire station in the city's College Hill Residential Historic District.^[4] Larry Holmes Drive, a portion of Pennsylvania Route 611, was completed in downtown Easton during his tenure.^[4] More controversially, Ashton supported the Riverside Drive and Lehigh-Washington Street urban renewal projects covering a sizable area of downtown between Front (now Larry Holmes Drive) and Fifth streets and from Ferry to Washington streets,^[6] displacing a large number of businesses operated by the Lebanese American and Syrian American communities.^[4] Numerous historic buildings, including older colonial and pre-revolutionary structures were demolished and replaced by a fast food restaurant, movie theater, hotel, and gas station, which were constructed on the site.^[4] Years later, during a 1987 mayoral election campaign, Ashton defended his decision to tear down the historic buildings, arguing that the neighborhood had been blighted and, in his opinion, could not have been restored.^[4]

Ashton lost his bid for a third term in November 1975 and left office in January 1976.^[4] He was succeeded by Mayor Henry J. Schultz. He ran again for mayor in 1983, but lost that election.^[4] (Incumbent Republican Mayor Phil Mitman won re-election). Ashton announced his candidacy for mayor again in 1987, but dropped out of the race due to a conflict with his business schedule.^[4] In total, Fred Ashton ran for mayor during five different elections: 1967, 1971, 1975, 1985, and 1988.^[4]

Ashton lived in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, after leaving local politics.^[4] He and his wife were licensed brokers at Crossroads Realty in Lavallette, New Jersey, before his retirement.^[3]

Death

Ashton lived with his sister after Hurricane Sandy damaged his Seaside Heights home in October 2012.^[4] Ashton died at his sister's residence, in the Easton, Pennsylvania area, on May 9, 2013, at the age of 82.^[3] He was survived by his wife of 60 years, the former Shirley Adams; five children, and fourteen grandchildren.^[4] Ashton was buried in Easton Cemetery in Easton.^[4]