Dates in office: April 12, 1927 - April 12, 1931
Born: 1865
Died: October 10, 1952

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Walter Crowder Dean came to Oklahoma Territory shortly after it was opened for settlement.  He settled first in Ardmore and then moved to Oklahoma City where he established the Dean Jewelry Company. 
Dean did not campaign for the Mayor’s seat, and instead stated publically that voters could choose him if they wanted to. As one that never saw himself as politician, Ward returned to retail as a Receiver for a failing Oklahoma City department store and remained an Executive and Advisor with the company until early 1952.
Dean was a proponent of the adoption of the Mayor-Council-Manager form of city government in which City policies are set by the Mayor and Council and a professional City Manager oversees administrative functions. Dean was the first Mayor elected after the 1926 vote that approved the new City Charter establishing this form of government. 
The adoption of the new form of government restored public confidence in the City’s leadership during Mayor Dean’s term.   The City was able to pay off its debts, reduce taxes, balance its budget, and begin operating on a cash basis as prescribed by the Oklahoma Municipal Budget Act.