Charles Jordan (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Jordan
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Jordan in 2012
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| Portland City Commissioner | |
| In office March 1974 – September 27, 1984 |
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| Preceded by | Lloyd Anderson |
| Succeeded by | Dick Bogle |
| Constituency | Portland, Oregon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 1, 1937 Longview, Texas |
| Died | April 4, 2014 (aged 76) Portland, Oregon |
| Occupation | City Commissioner; municipal parks director (Austin, TX, and later Portland, OR) |
| Known for | Charles Jordan Community Center |
Charles Ray Jordan (September 1, 1937 – April 4, 2014) was an important leader in Portland, Oregon. He served as a Portland City Commissioner from 1974 to 1984. He made history as the first African-American city commissioner in Portland. Today, the Charles Jordan Community Center is named in his honor.
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Early Life and Education
Charles Jordan was born in 1937 in Longview, Texas. He finished high school at Palm Springs High School in 1956. He then earned a basketball scholarship to Gonzaga University. In 1961, he graduated with a degree in Education, Sociology, and Philosophy. He also continued his studies at Loma Linda University and the University of Southern California.
A Career in Public Service
Charles Jordan dedicated his life to helping communities. He worked in parks and recreation in Palm Springs during the 1960s. Later, he moved to Portland in 1970. There, he helped with a federal program called the Model Cities Program. This program aimed to improve city neighborhoods.
Becoming a City Commissioner
In March 1974, Charles Jordan was chosen to join the Portland City Council. In Portland, members of the city council are called "commissioners." He was appointed to fill a spot left by Commissioner Lloyd Anderson. Mayor Neil Goldschmidt wanted to appoint the first Black member to the City Council. Charles Jordan became that person.
This was a very important moment for Portland. He was the city's first African-American city commissioner. He was later elected to the council seat in November 1974. He was re-elected two more times, in 1976 and 1980.
During his time as commissioner, he oversaw different city departments. He was in charge of the police bureau for a few years. During this time, there was an incident involving two police officers. This led to discussions about fairness and how the police force was managed. As a result, a new committee was formed in 1982. This committee, called the Portland Internal Investigations Auditing Committee (PIIAC), was created to help make sure police actions were fair.
In 1984, Charles Jordan left his role as commissioner. He moved to Austin, Texas, to become the director of parks and recreation there. He was succeeded by Dick Bogle, who was also African-American.
Leading Portland Parks and Recreation
Charles Jordan returned to Portland in 1989. He became the Director of Portland Parks & Recreation. He led this department for 14 years. Under his leadership, Portland gained 44 new places for recreation. These included parks, community centers, and other fun facilities.
In 2012, Portland honored Charles Jordan for his many contributions. The University Park Community Center in Portland's Portsmouth neighborhood was renamed the Charles Jordan Community Center. This center helps people of all ages enjoy sports, classes, and community events. It is a lasting tribute to his work.
