Ernie Renzel

Ernest H. Renzel (August 7, 1907 – September 15, 2007)[4][5] was an American politician who served as the mayor of San Jose, California, from 1945 until 1946.

[6][4] His grandfather, Conrad Renzel, was a San Jose baker who gradually expanded his South First Street bakery into a grocery store in the 1860s.

He served as student body president of the high school, joined the Rotary Club and held a perfect attendance record.

[6][7][4] Renzel held a wide range of interests throughout his life including economics, athletics and classical Greek philosophy.

[10] Renzel became an important advocate for the establishment and development of a new airport to serve San Jose and the surrounding region.

In 1939, Renzel led a group that negotiated an option to buy 483 acres (195 ha) of the Stockton Ranch from the Crocker family, to be the site of San Jose's airport.

[6][7] Renzel was honored for his work in establishing Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport with a bust of his image, which was dedicated in Terminal C in 1994.

[6] Their departure left six of the seven city council seats open during the 1944 San Jose municipal election.

[6] The committee's campaign manager, lawyer Harvey Miller, convinced Ernie Renzel, as well as Albert J. Ruffo and four other important San Josean figures, to run as an anti-Bigley ticket.

[6] He was actively involved in several San Jose metropolitan area and Santa Clara County nonprofit groups throughout his lifetime.