Introduction
Frederick Herman Baden the Elder, also known as Fred Baden (May 4, 1934—December 17, 2009), was an American democratic party politician. He was the Pineville City, Louisiana, councilor from 1966 to 1970 and mayor from 1970 to 1998.
Background
Baden was born on May 4, 1934, in Pineville, Louisiana, to Herman Phillip Baden and Maude Hammonds Baden. He had three sisters—Linnie Mae Baden Murray, Luella Baden Gatlin, and Vivian Odelia Baden Nugent.
At the age of 18, he served his community as a volunteer fireman and worked as an auxiliary policeman. Fred became a plumber attaining the level of Master Plumber by age 28.
Baden was elected Pineville City Alderman in 1966. In 1970, he ran for Mayor and was elected, a position he served until 1998. During his first term, he built a new Municipal Complex that housed the City Hall offices, the Police Department, the City Court, and a Central Fire Station behind City Hall. He was also instrumental in helping to establish the apartment complex for the elderly located on Highway 28 East. He collaborated with Congressman Gillis William Long to purchase the old Pineville Post Office on Main Street to be converted into a Pineville Senior Citizens Center.
Personal life
Baden was married to Roxann Babb Baden and had three children—Leah Lynn Baden, Andrea Louise Baden Broussard, and Frederick Herman Baden.
Death
Baden passed away on December 17, 2009, at Rapides Regional Medical Center, in Alexandria, Louisiana. He was 75.