George L. Forbes facts for kids

George Lawrence Forbes, born on April 4, 1931, is an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. From 1974 to 1989, Forbes served as the leader of the Cleveland City Council. He also led the Cleveland branch of the NAACP. Today, he is mostly retired from being a lawyer.

Early Life and Education

George Forbes was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1931. His father was a sharecropper, someone who farms land owned by another person. Forbes served in the United States Marine Corps. After his military service, he attended Baldwin-Wallace College. He used the G.I. Bill to pay for his studies. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957.

Later, he went to Cleveland State University College of Law. He earned his law degree in 1961. After passing the Ohio bar exam, he began his career as a lawyer.

Family Life

George Forbes is married to Mary Forbes. They have three daughters named Lauren, Mildred "Mimi," and Helen Forbes Fields. He also has three grandchildren: William, Camille, and Brandon.

Leading the Cleveland City Council

In 1963, George Forbes became a councilman for Ward 27 in Cleveland. At that time, he was one of ten African American members. The council had thirty seats in total. He played a key role in helping Carl Stokes become mayor. Stokes was the first African American mayor of a major U.S. city. In 1967, Forbes led "Operation Registration." This program helped African Americans register to vote.

During his time on the City Council, Forbes also helped start a law firm in 1971. It was one of the largest law firms owned by minorities in Ohio. The firm is now known as Forbes, Fields & Associates Co., L.P.A.

Forbes was elected president of the City Council in 1973. He took office in 1974. He was a very skilled politician. He even helped train Michael R. White, who later became Cleveland's mayor.

Forbes was known for speaking his mind, especially about issues affecting African Americans and people in need. His strong opinions sometimes led to arguments. He once had a physical confrontation with another councilman, Jeff Johnson. Johnson recalled that Forbes swung a chair, which hit his shoulder.

Author Edward P. Whelan described Forbes as someone who caused strong feelings. Some people saw him as a hero for the city. Others saw him as a difficult and divisive person.

Mayoral Election Campaign

In 1989, Mayor George Voinovich decided not to run for a fourth term. Forbes then entered the race for mayor. It was a very competitive election. He won the primary election. However, he lost the general election to his former student, Michael R. White.

The campaign was difficult. Both candidates made harsh accusations. White accused Forbes of improper investments. Forbes accused White of being a "slum landlord." After the election, Forbes decided to leave politics. He returned to working as a private lawyer.

Forbes later shared that he believed his strong personality on a local radio show contributed to his loss. He said that race was often a topic on his show.

After His Time in City Council

In 1992, Forbes returned to public life. He was elected president of the Cleveland branch of the NAACP.

In 1995, Governor Voinovich appointed Forbes to a state commission. This commission oversaw the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Forbes resigned from this commission in 2005. This happened after it was revealed that his daughter worked for a company. This company managed a fund for the BWC that lost a lot of money. His daughter, Mildred "Mimi" Forbes, was a human resources manager for the company.

Community Involvement

George Forbes was a long-time member of the Board of Trustees for Baldwin-Wallace College.

He received the Louis Stokes Community Visionary Award. The city of Cleveland renamed a summer and winter camp after him. It is now called Camp George L. Forbes. This camp provides free overnight stays for Cleveland's youth. It is located in Highland Hills.

In late 2008, Forbes helped reach an agreement with African American ministers. This agreement led them to stop their efforts to cancel Cleveland's Domestic Partner Registry ordinance.

On June 20, 2009, Forbes received the highest award for service from the NAACP.

See also

• List of Baldwin-Wallace College people