Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Charles Edward Jr. LUCAS
Charles Edward Lucas Jr., 82, of West Chester, PA who became the borough's first Mayor after being elected as Burgess, died Friday November 1, 1996 at Chester County Hospital of complications from heart problems.
Mr. Lucas, a Republican, was elected Burgess of West Chester in 1958 then on September 1, 1961, his title was changed to mayor by act of the Pennsylvania State Legislature and he was reelected in 1962. An article described it as a tough job because "Everybody, well, nearly everybody, knows him and has the privilege of `bending his ear' night and day." That is no exaggeration. Ask the Mayor or any of his predecessors. And the pay for this is the munificent sum of $1,000 a year!"
In 1966, he was named the borough's Citizen of the Year by the West Chester Chamber of Commerce.
Through a 37-year association with the American Automobile Association of Chester County, from which he retired in 1983, he was a leader in promoting the county's post-World War II highway development.
Mr. Lucas also was responsible for developing the county's first tourism promotions in the 1960s.
A native of West Chester, he moved to Morrisville, Bucks County, with his family as a teenager and graduated from Morrisville High School in 1931.
While in high school, he became a correspondent for the Trenton Times and the Morrisville Herald.
He later attended the University of Pennsylvania, then worked as a reporter for the Daily Local News in West Chester.
Mr. Lucas served in the Army during World War II before joining the American Automobile Association of Chester County as assistant manager. He later became secretary-manager.
He was a director of civil defense in West Chester for 26 years and was instrumental in the creation of the Chester County Tourist Promotion Bureau in 1963.
He also served as chairman of several local charity groups, including the Easter Seal Society, a county cancer crusade, and the membership committee of the Greater Brandywine branch of the American Red Cross.
He was secretary of the Odd Fellows of Chester County from 1986 to 1994, former secretary of the Exchange Club, and an active member of the Chester County Historical Society and the Chester County Highway Task Force.
Mr. Lucas was a member of West Chester Masonic Lodge 322, Malvern Pocahontas Lodge 201, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge in Malvern. He also was a member of American Legion Post 134, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 106, the Fame Fire Company, and the United Methodist Church of West Chester.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Rachel Cloud Lucas (married 8/15/1942); children William R., Jeffrey A., Joan D. Gillis and Loraine C.; and seven grandchildren Tracey (Gillis) Hooker, Kelley (Gillis)Perrupato, Ryan Gillis, Ben Lucas, Timothy Lucas, Brian Lucas and Brenda Lucas.
Funeral was held at 10 a.m. on election day 11/5/1996 at the United Methodist Church of West Chester, High and Barnard Streets. Burial in Longwood Cemetery, Kennett Square.
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