Robert Linn, 95, Longest-Serving Mayor

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The New York Sun

Robert P. Linn, recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as America’s longest-serving mayor, died Saturday at age 95.


Linn was in his 15th term as mayor of Beaver, Pa.


Linn was sworn into office on January 2, 1946. He didn’t even want the job – then known as burgess – but went along with a group of Republicans who wanted to unseat the incumbent. Linn even took out a newspaper ad urging people to vote for his opponent.


In a 2002 interview with the Beaver County Times, Linn said he tried to be the borough’s biggest booster.


“This is still one of the best places you can be,” Linn said. “I’ve always tried to be Beaver’s biggest booster … Beaver has so much going for it.”


Linn was officially recognized as the longest-serving mayor in the United States in 1995, his 49th year as mayor.


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