Mike Swoboda

Michael Emil "Mike" Swoboda (September 29, 1938 – September 6, 2008) was the mayor of Kirkwood, Missouri for two periods (20002008).

He was wounded on February 7, 2008, when Charles "Cookie" Thornton went on a shooting rampage at a meeting in the city hall. Swoboda, who was one of the targets of the rampage, was taken to St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in critical condition.

Swoboda was shot in the lower jaw, with the bullet exiting from his cheek, and was also shot in the back of his head. He received a surgery on February 7 and a second on February 8, which lasted three hours. On February 13, he opened his eyes, and on the 15th his condition was upgraded to serious. On February 23, his condition was upgraded to satisfactory. However, on September 6, 2008, Swoboda died in hospice after a rapid health decline shortly before his 70th birthday. According to Swoboda's son, cancer was an additional factor that contributed to his father's health decline.