Freeman Bosley Jr. facts for kids

Freeman R. Bosley Jr. was an important American politician born on July 20, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri. He made history by becoming the 43rd mayor of St. Louis. From 1993 to 1997, he served as the city's first African-American mayor.

Freeman Bosley Jr.'s Early Life and Education

Freeman Bosley Jr. went to Central High School and finished in 1972. After high school, he continued his studies at Saint Louis University. He earned two degrees from the university in 1976. These degrees were in Urban Affairs and Political Science.

Law School and Student Leadership

Bosley then went on to Saint Louis University School of Law. He earned his law degree, called a Juris Doctor, in 1979. While he was a student at the university, he was a leader in student groups. He was president of the Black Student Alliance. He also led the Black-American Law Students Association. These groups were important during the Civil Rights Movement. They worked for fairness and equal rights for all people.

Freeman Bosley Jr.'s Career in Public Service

After finishing law school, Freeman Bosley Jr. started his career in law. He worked as a staff attorney for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. In this job, he helped people with issues related to buying things and dealing with utility companies. He also worked at a law firm called Boast and Jordan.

Becoming St. Louis Circuit Clerk

Later, Bosley was chosen for a very important role. He became the first African-American St. Louis Circuit Clerk. This position is part of the court system. He held this job for ten years.

Leadership in the Democratic Party

Bosley also became active in politics. He served as the Democratic Committeeman for the 3rd Ward. This meant he helped lead the Democratic Party in his local area. He then became the chairman of the St. Louis City Democratic Central Association. After that, he made history again. He became the first African-American chairman of the Democratic Party in St. Louis City.

Serving as Mayor of St. Louis

On April 6, 1993, Freeman Bosley Jr. was elected mayor. He won with a large number of votes. As mayor, he helped the city through some tough times. One big challenge was the Flood of 1993. This flood caused many problems for St. Louis.

Key Projects and Challenges as Mayor

During his time as mayor, Bosley also worked on other big projects. He helped with a plan to support Trans World Airlines, an airline company. He also played a part in bringing the Los Angeles Rams football team to St. Louis. The team moved from Anaheim, California, to St. Louis. During his time in office, two property tax increases were approved. After his term, he ran for re-election in 1997 but was not successful. He ran for mayor again in 2001 but was also defeated.