The Key West Citizen

STUART, Fla., Dec. 20.-(AP).- New York's Mayor William O'Dwyer married former model Elizabeth Sloan Simpson in a brief ceremony in Stuart, Florida, this morning. The Reverend Timothy Geary performed the service in Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church. The ceremony lasted eight minutes. After the ceremony, the newlywed O'Dwyers drove from the little wooden church through the center of the town of 2500 persons. They boarded a fifty-foot yacht, on which they will spend their honeymoon. A two-man crew makes up the rest of the party. Hundreds of persons gathered around the church to catch a glimpse of the New York mayor and his bride before and after the ceremony. A perfect rainbow formed in the sky as the church filled up. This is considered a sign of good luck. Inside the church, invited guests sat in the first two pews, which were blocked off by white satin ribbons. Newsmen were in the third pew. Each pew was decorated with a spray of white gladioli. A white canvas runner stretched from the altar to the church entrance, where an overflow crowd gathered. This is William O'Dwyer day in the little Florida town. Stuart has proclaimed New York city's mayor a "permanent honorary mayor" of the town. A banner over one of the streets reads: "10,000 welcomes, Mayor O'Dwyer and bride, from (Continued On Page Two)

O'DWYER MARRIES
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Martin County Chamber of Commerce.

The general manager of the New York athletic club, David Martin, was the best man for New York's 59-year-old mayor. Mrs. Edward Bernecker was matron of honor for the 33-year-old bride. Mrs. Bernecker is the wife of a former New York City commissioner.

This was O'Dwyer's second marriage. His first wife died a few years ago after a long illness.

Both O'Dwyer and his bride were deeply moved and exchanged vows in voices hardly above a whisper.

O'Dwyer's voice could not be heard in the first row as he answered after Father Geary, "I, William O'Dwyer, take thee, Elizabeth Sloan Simpson, for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

Miss Simpson repeated the same words in a slightly firmer voice.

She stood erect and looked at the priest as he blessed the ring, first in Latin, then in English.

Best man Martin handed the ring to O'Dwyer. Miss Simpson turned and the ring was placed on her finger.

She smiled dazzlingly. They whispered to each other something no one could hear.

Father Geary told O'Dwyer: "Repeat after me: 'With this ring I thee wed ...'".

No kiss was exchanged inside the church.

The couple turned, linked arms and walked slowly down the aisle, nodding to friends and shook hands with one guest.

They emerged from the church and faced a bombardment of photographers' flashbulbs.

Christmas holly is supposed to represent the master of the house.