Harold Moss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harold Moss
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| Member of the Pierce County Council from the 4th District |
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| In office January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Dennis P. Flanagan |
| Succeeded by | Timothy M. Farrell |
| 34th Mayor of Tacoma | |
| In office January 1, 1994 – January 1, 1996 |
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| Preceded by | Jack Hyde |
| Succeeded by | Brian Ebersole |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Harold Gene Moss
October 1, 1929 Gilmer, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | September 21, 2020 (aged 90) Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Lewis College of Business |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
Harold Gene Moss (October 1, 1929 – September 21, 2020) was an important American politician and businessman. He served as the 34th mayor of Tacoma, Washington. Harold Moss made history as the first African American person to be a member of Tacoma's city council. He was also the city's first African American mayor. Later, he became the first African American member of the Pierce County Council. His wife, Bil Moss, also served on the Tacoma City Council.
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Early Life and Education
Harold Moss was born in Gilmer, Texas, on October 1, 1929. His family later moved to Detroit during a time known as the Great Migration. This was when many African Americans moved from the Southern United States to the North.
Moss attended the Lewis College of Business. He arrived in Tacoma while serving in the United States National Guard during the Korean War.
A Career in Public Service
Harold Moss became involved in politics in the 1950s. He joined the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The NAACP is a group that works for equal rights for African Americans. Moss served two terms as the president of his local NAACP branch.
He also served on Tacoma's first Human Relations Commission. This group worked to improve relationships between different people in the city. In 1968, Moss helped create the Tacoma Urban League. This organization helps people in urban areas, especially those facing challenges. He was key in getting public money for its Urban Services Center.
Working and Entering Politics
Besides his public service, Moss worked as a dental technician. He also owned a small business called Northwest Porcelain Studios. In 1968, he left his business to work for the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. He helped run the Central Area Employment Office. His job was to find jobs for people in Tacoma who needed help.
In 1969, Harold Moss first tried to get elected to the Tacoma City Council. He was not successful that time. However, a year later, in October 1970, he was appointed to a council seat. He was then elected to a full term in 1971. During this time, he continued to work full-time for the Urban League.
In 1975, the national leader of the Urban League asked Moss to step down from his elected position. This was because the Urban League was a non-profit group. Holding both roles could have caused problems for the organization's status.
Return to City Council and Mayor
By 1983, Moss was no longer working with the Urban League. He ran for city council again that year but did not win. In February 1987, he was appointed to fill an open spot on the council. He won a full term later that year and was reelected in 1991.
In January 1994, Tacoma's mayor, Jack Hyde, sadly passed away. Harold Moss was the deputy mayor at the time. He was then appointed mayor and served for two years. During his time as mayor, Tacoma started a youth curfew law. This law meant young people had to be home by a certain time at night.
Because the mayor is part of the city council, rules about how long someone could serve meant he couldn't run for mayor again in 1995. During this period, Moss also worked as a civil rights manager for the [[Washington State Department of Transportat |work=Seattle Times |date=January 25, 1994 |accessdate= February 6, 2009}}</ref>
Serving Pierce County
After his time as mayor, Moss was elected to the Pierce County Council. He served on the council from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2004. He was even the council chair from 2002 to 2004. He announced his retirement after this.
He ran for mayor of Tacoma again in 2001 but was not successful. In 2007, he came out of retirement to run for Tacoma City Council one more time, but he did not win.
In October 2019, the 34th Street Bridge was renamed in his honor. This was a special tribute because he was the city's 34th mayor.
Later Life
Harold Moss passed away in Tacoma on September 21, 2020. He was almost 91 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Harold Moss para niños
