Editing Max Lee Bear

{{Infobox Biography
| subject_name   =Max L. Bear
| image_name     =
| image_size     =
| image_caption  =
| date_of_birth  =[[January 7]], [[1872]]
| place_of_birth =Greenville, Alabama
| date_of_death  =[[January 3]], [[1956]]
| place_of_death =Pensacola
| occupation     =Businessman, politician
| religion       =[[Temple Beth-El|Jewish]]
| spouse         =[[Belle Rosenau]]
| parents        =[[Lewis Bear|Lewis]] and [[Henrietta Bear]]
| children       =Leonia Yetta, Elise Rosenau, Maxine
| signature      =Mlbear-sig.PNG
| signaturesize  =130px
}}
'''Max Lee Bear''' ([[1872]]-[[1956]]) was a prominent Jewish businessman who served as [[mayor of Pensacola]] from [[1936]] to [[1937]].

Born to [[Lewis Bear|Lewis]] and [[Henrietta Bear]] on [[January 7]], [[1872]], Max attended school in his native Greenville, Alabama and in Cincinnati, then attended the [[Wikipedia:Staunton Military Academy|Staunton Military Academy]] in Virginia, graduating in 1888. He married the former [[Belle Rosenau]] on October 12, 1899.

Joining his father's firm, the [[Lewis Bear Company]], as a traveling salesman, he quickly became a full partner. He was also president of the [[San Carlos Hotel]], the [[Pensacola Crockery Company]] and the [[Ball Book & Novelty Company]].

In 1914 Bear arranged to take a "joy ride" in an early airplane and said of the experience, "A man should not try to go up in an airship if he lets anything akin to fear possess him, for it is then one is really in danger. But I will have to confess that air traveling gives one a fine sensation."<ref>"Pensacola's early aviation." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 19, 2004.</ref>

Elected to the [[Pensacola City Council]] in {{date needed}}, he served as [[Mayor of Pensacola|mayor]] from [[1936]] to [[1937]], following the removal of office of [[H. Clay Armstrong]] and the sudden death of his replacement, [[W. L. Moyer]]. (Bear had been the only Council member to oppose removing Armstrong from office for his support of Republican presidential candidate [[Wikipedia:Alf Landon|Alf Landon]].).

Max was active in the [[Temple Beth-El]] congregation and served as its president for many years. He was chairman of the [[1931]] committee that planned construction of the new Temple atop [[Gage Hill]], and the building's Max Bear Auditorium is named for him.

[[Image:MardiGras-Priscus1916.jpg|thumb|right|Bear as King Priscus 1916]]
Bear was heavily involved with the [[Progress Club]], the [[Pensacola Yacht Club]] the [[Elks Club]] and the [[Knights of Pythias]]. He was named [[King Priscus]] of the [[1916]] [[Mardi Gras]] celebration, the first Jew to be given the honor.

He passed away on [[January 3]], [[1956]] and is buried at the [[Temple Beth-El Cemetery]].

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*S. B. Goodkind. [http://books.google.com/books?id=DssbCzisjvEC ''Eminent Jews of America: A Collection of Biographical Sketches of Jews who Have Distinguished Themselves in Commercial, Professional and Religious Endeavor''.] The American Hebrew Biographical Company, 1918.
*[http://www.flgenhistonline.com/counties/escambia/cemeteries/templebeth-el.htm Temple Beth-El Cemetery listings]
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}

{{start box}}
{{succession box | before = [[W. L. Moyer]] | title = [[Mayor of Pensacola]] | years = 1936&mdash;1937 | after = [[L. C. Hagler]]}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Mayors of the City of Pensacola|Bear, Max]] [[Category:Pensacola City Council members|Bear, Max]] [[Category:Jews|Bear, Max]] [[Category:People buried in the Temple Beth-El Cemetery|Bear, Max]]