Mayor of Pensacola 1936-1943 and Manager of the San Carlos Hotel During Eventful Times in the City

One of the most colorful periods in Pensacola occurred while L. Conner Hagler served as mayor of the city: President Franklin D.

Roosevelt visited, a movie was filmed here, and the New York Giants came for spring training .As the manager of Hotel San Carlos for 20 years and as mayor, Hagler was in the middle of exciting times. The hotel was the center of social and civic activities in Pensacola.

Hagler was born Feb. 25, 1890, in Attalla, Ala., where he received his education. He served in the Navy during World War I. In 1920, he came to Pensacola, where he worked for the Liquid Carbonic Co. and traveled through Florida and Alabama. In 1922, he married Bess Harberson of Pensacola and they stayed briefly in the San Carlos, which had just been purchased by Bess' father. Later he was named manager of the hotel and held that position until his death.

When Harberson bought the hotel, it had 150 rooms. In 1927 he remodeled it and added two wings for a total of 246 rooms. The hotel's balcony was used by city officials and others to view parades and many of the city's Mardi Gras balls and other dances were held in the San Carlos Ballroom. Many civic clubs and others met for lunch at the San Carlos. The Pensacola Historical Society was organized in the hotel and long before Harberson and Hagler took over the hotel, the Pensacola Music Study Club had its first meeting there.

In 1936 Hagler was appointed to fill a vacant City Council seat. Subsequently, he was appointed as mayor, was elected for succeeding terms and remained in that position until his death.

In July 1938, a crew arrived to film "Wings of the Navy," a major motion picture. The Hollywood entourage had 35 suites at the San Carlos for its 12-day stay while filming. Later the world premier was at the Saenger Theater in Pensacola. That same year, Hagler, a longtime baseball fan, welcomed the Giants for spring training. But the highlights of Mayor Hagler's tenure may have been visits by President Roosevelt in 1938 and twice in 1940. Eleanor Roosevelt returned to Pensacola alone in 1942 for three days, staying at the hotel.

The Haglers' moved to North Hill around 1926. They were the parents of three sons and a daughter. In addition to being manager of the San Carlos and mayor of the city, Hagler was vice president of the Pensacola Baseball Club, member and officer of Barcelona Street Wharf Co., officer of the Camp Walton Boat Co., director of the American National Bank, Pensacola Chamber of Commerce and on the executive board of the Florida Hotel Men's Association. L.C. Hagler died on Aug. 12, 1943 and is buried in St. John's Cemetery 4 North Section 49.