AUGUSTA — Stanley Sproul, Augusta mayor from January 1971 to January 1975 and simultaneously a legislator representing the capital city, died Wednesday.
A son, Roger Sproul, said his father died at the Maine Veterans Home’ on Cony Road, where he had been living for just over a year.
Stanley Sproul, 95, was born on a farm in Windsor and moved to Augusta in 1932, graduating from Cony High School in 1938. He was a pilot in the U.S. Navy.
He was mayor and chairman of the city building committee when the Augusta Civic Center opened in 1973, and he started the Mayfair neighborhood development on the east side of Augusta.
In 1974, he lost a bid to become the Republican gubernatorial nominee.
Sproul closed his law practice in 2005 after running it full time for about a dozen years, but had worked numerous other jobs in the life insurance and building materials industries.
Peter Thompson, who was Augusta mayor from 1981 to 1988, said Sproul was one of the people who inspired him to run for office.
“I had known Stanley and his family through church for quite a few years and worked with him somewhat after I joined the (Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce),” said Thompson. “He was always a genial gentleman. I thought he was a good mayor. He was very aware of the city and the city’s needs and was a good leader.”
Sproul and Thompson were members of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, and Sproul’s son Edward was ordained there. Sproul is survived by five children and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Arrangements are being handled by Knowlton, Hewins Roberts Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, with visiting hours 4-7 p.m. Monday at 1 Church St., Augusta, and a funeral service 10 a.m. Tuesday at Prince of Peace Church, 309 Eastern Ave., Augusta.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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