Farewell, Mayor Charlie Wheeler. You made Kansas City a better place to live

Charles Wheeler was smart, energetic, opinionated, ambitious. He loved Kansas City. He remained full of ideas on how to make this a better community, until his death Wednesday at age 96.

Wheeler wore several hats during his long political career but will be best remembered for his two terms as Kansas City’s mayor, from 1971 until 1979. His were solid years of progress, from the opening of a new airport terminal to the construction of Kemper Arena, where Republicans held their 1976 national convention.

Wheeler — colorful, quotable, a doctor and a lawyer — stood in the middle of all of it. Today, the city’s downtown airport bears his name.

After leaving City Hall, Charlie remained an active participant in local and state politics, to mixed results. He ran again for mayor, and county executive, and state treasurer, and governor, losing every time.

He surprisingly won a state Senate seat in 2002. Well, maybe not a big surprise: Wheeler had ideas, and integrity, and that instantly-recognizable high-pitched voice, which he used often. He often popped up at ribbon-cuttings and groundbreakings and endorsement events.

No one who met him, or covered him, will ever forget him.

Charlie Wheeler made Kansas City better. We send condolences to the family, and offer congratulations for his public life, well lived.