Mayor of Leadwood dies at 51

Crump remembered for his vision for his small town

DAN SCHUNKS, dschunks@dailyjournalonline.com

The City of Leadwood recently suffered a serious loss with the death of Mayor Robert Linn Crump, 51, who died Tuesday, Sept. 19, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He was born July 24, 1972, in Bonne Terre, to the late Lindell Wayne Crump and Jacqueline (Masson)Wilcox.

Crump was elected mayor of Leadwood in April, serving only five months in that capacity.

Robert Linn Crump

Mayor Pro Tem Ann Woods had known Crump since his childhood.

“He was always a good kid and always been respectful of me and my family,” she said. “I want his vision” and the board “is going to get it done.”

Crump recently state his vision included literally cleaning up the community, addressing nuisance properties and vacant lots.

“I want people to be proud of the way Leadwood looks and not having to remember how it used to be,” he said in a recent article.

City Clerk Amanda Queen commented on Crump’s dedication to his position as mayor.

“The mayor is only required to work three to four hours a month. And he was here every single day, as it turned into a 40-plus-hours job for him,” she said. “He was determined to figure everything out and fix it here. I think he did a lot of things [behind the scenes] that a lot of people didn’t get to see.”

Leadwood resident Travis Harrison said, just a couple of days before Crump went to the hospital, the mayor returned a call Harrison had made to the city that morning concerning a lift station near his house.

“I had never met the mayor in person yet, so we introduced ourselves with a very cordial, business-like greeting,” he said. “He wanted to assure me he would have someone down there to take care of the problem by the next day. He did! What impressed me most is that he did what he said he would do!”

Crump’s love of his hometown is echoed in a statement by his sister, Krista, who said he wanted “to make everyone proud to say ‘I live in Leadwood.’”

“He had big dreams for a small town, and I believe he would have made sure those things happened regardless of what it cost him,” she said.

Janice Hinson, of the American Hero Foundation recalled, “Our American Hero Foundation presented the idea of Leadwood as a Purple Heart City to Mayor Crump and his response without hesitation was yes, absolutely yes. He shared that he would be honored to dedicate the city as a Purple Heart City. He was working diligently to move forward with this project, He was very supportive of our US Military and veterans. Mayor Crump was a man of his word and he was doing great things for the City of Leadwood.”

The ceremony recognizing Leadwood as a Purple Heart City is scheduled to occur on the afternoon of Oct. 7 at Leadwood Park.

His family appreciated, respected, and loved Crump, calling him, “one of the most genuine people I have ever met in my life,” and “Robbie loved his family beyond any doubt and that included friends who had become family over the years.” “Robbie was the best big brother, uncle, father, and friend! The bond he had with his son is truly unlike anything you’ve ever seen.” But his family also realizes that with his passing, his vision for the city need not die, as one noted, “He had a heart as big as he was. We too will keep up with and help and support the future of Leadwood in his honor. We know that’s what he would want.” Said another, “We are losing a good, old soul that will truly be missed.”

Funeral services for Robert Linn Crump were scheduled to be held Friday evening at C.Z. Boyer funeral home in Desloge. His obituary may be found in the Thursday edition of the Daily Journal and online at www.dailyjournalonline.com.