At a height of 5 ft 10.5 in (1.79 m) and a weight of 195 pounds (88 kg), Bader helped Latrobe win an unofficial "United States Championship".

[2] In 1904, a storm washed away part of Steel Pier and many engineers stated that it could not be rebuilt but Bader and his company accepted the challenge to rebuild it.

His next major project was the paving of the five miles of Albany Avenue in Atlantic City to Pleasantville which is now part of the Black Horse Pike that passes by a field that bears his name.

[2] Bader's contracting business was successful for the next few years working several projects in Atlantic City and along the East Coast of the United States.

[2] Bader's Republican allies, including political boss and racketeer Nucky Johnson, convinced him to run for city commission in 1920.

[4] Despite the opposition of many others, he purchased land that became the city's municipal airport and high school football stadium; both of which were later named Bader Field in his honor.

[2] Bader, in November 1923, initiated a public referendum, during the general election, at which time residents approved the construction of a Convention Center.

Additionally, Atlantic City passed a "macintosh law" which required that anyone in beach attire had to wear a coat reaching at least to the knees.

[2] Originally given a good chance to recover because of his strong physique, Bader's condition worsened, and on the evening of January 29, 1927, he was given last rites by a priest.

[2][8] His body lay in state at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, of which he was a member, and it was then carried out in a five-mile-long procession down the White Horse Pike to Holy Cross Cemetery.

Mourners of diverse racial background mourned his death and all businesses in the city closed for two hours during the funeral as a mark of respect.