H. Carl McCall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
H. Carl McCall
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|---|---|
| 52nd Comptroller of New York | |
| In office May 7, 1993 – December 31, 2002 |
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| Governor | Mario Cuomo George Pataki |
| Preceded by | Ned Regan |
| Succeeded by | Alan Hevesi |
| Member of the New York Senate from the 28th district |
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| In office January 1, 1975 – December 31, 1980 |
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| Preceded by | Sidney von Luther |
| Succeeded by | Leon Bogues |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Herman Carl McCall
October 17, 1935 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Cecilia McCall (divorced) Joyce Brown
(m. 1983) |
| Education | Dartmouth College (BA) Andover Newton Theological School (MDiv) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1959 |
Herman Carl McCall (born October 17, 1935) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. He served as the New York State Comptroller, which is like the state's chief financial officer. He was also a New York State Senator. In 2002, McCall ran for Governor of New York.
He made history as the first African-American person to be elected New York State Comptroller. He also led the Board of Trustees for the State University of New York (SUNY) for a time.
Contents
Early Life and Education
McCall was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in an area called Roxbury. He was the oldest of six children. His family faced challenges, and his mother had health issues, so relatives and welfare helped support them.
School Days and College
McCall went to Roxbury Memorial High School in Boston, where he was the president of his class. He then attended Dartmouth College with scholarships. He graduated in 1958 with a bachelor's degree in government. McCall also studied at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Later, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School.
Early Career Steps
In the 1960s, McCall worked as a high school teacher and a bank manager. He taught for a short time in Boston before joining the Army. He also helped start a church in Boston. By the late 1960s, McCall moved to New York City. The Mayor of New York, John Lindsay, chose him to lead the Commission Against Poverty.
Political Journey
Serving in the State Senate
McCall was elected three times as a State Senator. He represented areas like Harlem and the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1975 to 1980.
He left the Senate when President Jimmy Carter appointed him to be part of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations. This role had the rank of Ambassador.
In 1982, McCall tried to become the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York but was not successful. However, Governor Mario Cuomo then appointed McCall to be the state's Commissioner of Human Rights from 1983 to 1984.
Before becoming Comptroller, McCall worked in the private sector for Citicorp. He was also appointed to the New York City Board of Education, where he served as President from 1991 to 1993.
New York State Comptroller Role
In 1993, the New York State Legislature chose McCall to finish the term of the previous state comptroller, Edward Regan. The state comptroller manages the state's money and audits its spending. McCall was then elected to a full term as comptroller in 1994. He won re-election in 1998.
Running for Governor in 2002
In 2002, McCall decided to run for Governor of New York against the current Republican Governor, George Pataki. McCall was the preferred candidate of many Democrats. He faced a tough challenge from Andrew Cuomo during the primary election.
McCall won the Democratic nomination for governor. He was supported by Senator Chuck Schumer. Senator Hillary Clinton also showed support for McCall during his campaign.
Letters Controversy
In October 2002, during his campaign, McCall released letters he had written. These letters were on state letterhead and were sent to companies where the state pension fund owned a lot of stock. In the letters, he asked them to look at resumes of his relatives and other people seeking jobs.
Some people criticized these letters. They felt it looked like he was using his official position to help people get jobs. McCall defended his actions, saying he never tried to use his public role for personal gain. He did say he regretted how the letters "appeared" to others.
Election Results
McCall was defeated by Governor Pataki in November 2002. He received 33% of the vote. Some people thought the controversy about the letters might have affected the results. Others believed that Governor Pataki's popularity after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, played a role in his victory.
Later Career and Contributions
After his time as Comptroller, McCall continued to be involved in public service and business. He served on the Board of the New York Stock Exchange from 1999 to 2003. He also served on the boards of other organizations, including the Apollo Theater Foundation.
In 2007, McCall was appointed to a special panel. This panel helped interview and recommend candidates to replace Alan Hevesi as state comptroller after he left his position.
In May 2009, a financial firm run by McCall, Convent Capital, was part of an inquiry. This inquiry by the state Attorney General's office looked into how some financial deals were made with the state pension fund.
McCall joined the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees in October 2007. He was appointed chairman of the board in October 2011. He announced his retirement from this role in April 2019.
Personal Life
McCall's first marriage ended in divorce. In 1983, he married his second wife, Joyce F. Brown. Joyce Brown is a former psychology professor and was a Deputy Mayor of New York City. She is currently the president of SUNY's Fashion Institute of Technology. They do not have children together.
McCall is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Awards and Recognition
McCall has received nine honorary degrees. In 2003, he was given the Nelson Rockefeller Distinguished Public Service Award.
On February 14, 2020, the main administrative building for SUNY in Albany was renamed the H. Carl McCall SUNY Building. This was done to honor his many contributions to SUNY and New York State.
