Vincent Schoemehl  | American Politician 7-24-25 

Vincent C. Schoemehl Jr. served as the 42nd mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, from 1981 to 1993, holding office for three terms. Born on October 30, 1946, in St. Louis, he was among the youngest mayors of the city at the time of his first election. During his tenure, Schoemehl focused on historic preservation and urban design, notably saving the Cupples Warehouses from demolition and promoting public-private partnerships that led to over 600 successful rehabilitation projects. He also launched Operation Brightside, a beautification program, and Operation Safestreet, a home safety initiative.

Schoemehl was defeated in the 1992 Democratic primary by Lieutenant Governor Mel Carnahan in his attempt to become Governor of Missouri. His legacy includes the relocation of the NFL St. Louis Cardinals to Phoenix, Arizona, and the expansion of Lambert Airport, which involved the eminent domain destruction of the Carrolton neighborhood for noise abatement. He later returned to public service in 2003 as a member of the St. Louis School Board, resigning in November 2005.

After his mayoralty, Schoemehl served as president and CEO of Grand Center, Inc., an organization focused on the revitalization of the Grand Center arts and entertainment district in St. Louis. He retired from this position in 2011. In 2023, he was contemplating a return to the St. Louis mayor’s office.