Des Moines Register: Thomas Urban, who served as one of the youngest mayors of Des Moines and helped revitalize the Des Moines Botanical Garden, died Friday at the age of 86. “He clearly was an asset to the city of Des Moines both in his role as mayor and later in his role as a business leader to the community. It’s a loss to the community,” said Fred Weitz of Des Moines, Urban’s longtime friend and travel partner. In 1968, at age 33, Urban began his term as mayor of Des Moines during a period of civil unrest over the Vietnam War and racial equality. He was awarded a plaque for his service to the Des Moines Black community upon his retirement as mayor.