Ray Barrett, who served as the first Florissant Councilman for Ward 1, was honored by the City of Des Peres for that city’s popular Des Peres Park.

Barrett was first elected to the Florissant Council, under the current 1963 City Charter from 1963 to 1968. Along with history walk honorees, councilmen Don Bond, Hal Schuchmann and others, Barrett continued the work started by Mayor James Eagan to create the beautiful Florissant Park system that residents enjoy today.

Barrett was honored over this past weekend by the City of Des Peres, for transplanting there, the success he experienced in Florissant as part of the city council that prioritized and appreciated the value that park development brought to Florissant. A large monument was unveiled to dedicate the 1972 concept, success and popularity of Des Peres Park, to Ray Barrett.

After moving to Des Peres in 1969 to the house he still lives in, he ran for Des Peres mayor in 1972 solely on a platform to save the land that is now Des Peres Park, from becoming a big box parking lot.

The result of the election was a dead tie with Robert Heimsch. Rather than put residents of Des Peres through a run off election Ray agreed to step aside provided that Mayor Heimsch promised that Ray’s dream of developing Des Peres Park be fulfilled. Ray then served on the Des Peres Park commission.

Barrett said about his Florissant experience; “Tom, I have forgotten the details of the property acquisitions but the support,

appreciation, and enjoyment of the Florissant

residents I will never forget.”

A consummate entrepreneur and inventor Barrett founded the company that made Landshire Sandwiches that has been around since 1959. He also founded Biomedical Systems which is a worldwide company with headquarters in different hemispheres. Ray holds dozens of patents including the stripes on the Golf ball that Phil Michelson uses to line up putts.

Article written by Tom Schneider,

Florissant Mayor 2011-2019 and Councilman 1979-2011.