Carl Stokes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carl Stokes
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| United States Ambassador to Seychelles | |
| In office September 7, 1994 – May 12, 1995 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | F. Stephen Malott |
| Succeeded by | Brent E. Blaschke |
| 51st Mayor of Cleveland | |
| In office November 13, 1967 – November 8, 1971 |
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| Preceded by | Ralph S. Locher |
| Succeeded by | Ralph Perk |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Carl Burton Stokes
June 21, 1927 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | April 3, 1996 (aged 68) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Resting place | Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 5 |
| Parents | Charles Stokes Louise Stone |
| Relatives | Louis Stokes (Brother) |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota Cleveland–Marshall College of Law |
| Occupation | Politician Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1945–1946 |
| Rank | Private |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |  World War II Victory Medal |
Carl Burton Stokes (June 21, 1927 – April 3, 1996) was an American politician and diplomat. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Stokes served as the 51st mayor of Cleveland, Ohio. He was elected on November 7, 1967. He took office on January 1, 1968. He was one of the first black elected mayors of a major U.S. city.
Contents
Carl Stokes: A Trailblazer
Growing Up in Cleveland
Carl Stokes was born in Cleveland, Ohio. This was in the Central neighborhood. His father, Charles Stokes, died when Carl was only two years old. His mother, Louise Stone, raised Carl and his brother, Louis Stokes. Louis also became a politician. They grew up in the Outhwaite Homes, a public housing project.
Carl was a good student. However, he left high school in 1944. He started working at Thompson Products. When he was 18, he joined the U.S. Army. He served in World War II. After his service, he returned to Cleveland in 1946.
Education and Early Career
In 1947, Carl earned his high school diploma. He was inspired by civil rights activist Paul Robeson. Carl decided he wanted to work in public service. He attended several colleges. In 1954, he earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota.
He continued his education in law. In 1956, he graduated from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He became a lawyer in Ohio in 1957. While studying law, he worked as a probation officer. He also served as an assistant prosecutor for four years. Later, he became a partner in a law firm.
Becoming Mayor
Stokes served in the Ohio House of Representatives. He first ran for mayor of Cleveland in 1965. He lost that election by a small margin. Two years later, in 1967, he ran again. This time, he won! His victory gained national attention. He became the first black mayor of one of the ten largest cities in the United States.
Carl Stokes was a very inspiring speaker. He could get both black and white voters to support him. He won the election with 50.5% of the votes. He defeated Seth Taft, who was the grandson of former President William Howard Taft. At that time, Cleveland was mostly white. About 37% of the population was black. Many local business leaders also supported him.
As mayor, Carl Stokes made important changes. He opened up city hall jobs to more black people and women. He was known as a strong leader and a reformer. He had a clear vision for the city. He started a program called "Cleveland: Now!". This program used public and private money. Its goal was to improve Cleveland's neighborhoods.
Despite some tough challenges during his first term, Stokes was reelected in 1969. He also played a key role in helping Cleveland's Cuyahoga River. The river caught fire in June 1969. This event brought national attention to industrial pollution. Stokes worked to restore the river.
In 1971, Stokes received the "NNPA Award." This was the highest honor from the National Newspaper Publishers Association.
After His Time as Mayor
After being mayor, Carl Stokes gave many lectures at colleges. In 1972, he became the first black anchorman in New York City. He worked for WNBC-TV. While there, he won an Emmy Award. This award was for a piece about a play starring James Earl Jones on Broadway.
In 1980, he returned to Cleveland. He worked as a legal counsel for the United Auto Workers. In 1983, Stokes became a municipal judge in Cleveland.
Later, President Bill Clinton appointed him as a U.S. Ambassador. This was in 1994. He served as Ambassador to the Republic of Seychelles. Stokes received many awards for his public service. He also received 12 honorary degrees. He traveled abroad for the White House on many goodwill trips. In 1970, he was elected the first black president of the National League of Cities.
Stokes was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus while serving as Ambassador. He returned to Cleveland for medical care. He passed away at the Cleveland Clinic. His funeral was held at Cleveland Music Hall. He was buried at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland.
His Lasting Impact
Carl Stokes left a strong legacy. The U.S. Federal Courthouse Tower in downtown Cleveland is named after him. It is called the Carl B. Stokes Federal Court House Building. Many other places in Cleveland are also named in his honor. These include the CMHA Carl Stokes Center and Stokes Boulevard.
In 2006, the Western Reserve Historical Society opened an exhibit. It was called Carl and Louis Stokes: from Projects to Politics. This exhibit showed the brothers' early lives. It also showed their service in World War II and their rise in politics.
One of Stokes' most important achievements was his work to save the Cuyahoga River. The National Park Service recognized his efforts. They said he was "ahead of his time." His work reminds us to think about how we can solve problems to benefit everyone.
