Larry Langford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Larry Langford
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| 30th Mayor of Birmingham | |
| In office November 13, 2007 – October 28, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Bernard Kincaid |
| Succeeded by | Carole Smitherman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 18, 1946 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | January 8, 2019 (aged 72) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Melva Langford |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1965-1970 |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Larry Paul Langford (born March 18, 1946 – died January 8, 2019) was an American politician. He served as the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, for one term. Later in his life, Mr. Langford was in the hospital. He had been released from a federal sentence due to health reasons.
Contents
About Larry Langford
His Early Life and School
Larry Langford was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 18, 1946. He went to A. H. Parker High School. After high school, he joined the United States Air Force. In 1972, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He studied social and behavioral sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Starting His Career
In the mid-1970s, Mr. Langford worked as a reporter for WBRC-6. This was a local TV station in Birmingham. He was the first African-American TV news reporter in the community. Later, he worked in public relations for a company that sold Budweiser. Before he became a politician, many people knew him from his work on television.
His Time in Politics
Larry Langford was a member of the Democratic Party. In 2002, he was elected to the county commission. He became the president of the commission. He was the first African-American to hold this position. He served for four years.
He also served as the mayor of Fairfield, Alabama. Before that, he was on the Birmingham City Council for one term.
Mr. Langford helped create Alabama Splash Adventure, which was first called Visionland Theme Park. This park is near Bessemer. He raised money and public interest for the park. The park was built using money from local towns and the county. Later, the park faced financial trouble and was sold.
After losing his position as county commission president, Mr. Langford decided to run for mayor of Birmingham. On June 5, 2007, he announced his plan. He surprised many people by becoming a top candidate. He won the election and became the mayor of Birmingham.
While he was mayor, Mr. Langford joined the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition. This group works to make communities safer by removing illegal guns.
Mr. Langford strongly supported building a domed stadium in Birmingham. He wanted it to replace Legion Field. This new stadium would be used for football games. He believed the stadium would be built no matter what.
Legal Challenges and Health
Facing Legal Issues
In 2007, Mr. Langford faced an investigation by the SEC. On April 30, 2008, the SEC filed a lawsuit against him. The lawsuit claimed he received money and benefits in exchange for county business.
On December 1, 2008, the FBI arrested Mr. Langford. He was charged with several offenses related to a long-running scheme. His trial ended on October 28, 2009. He was found guilty on many counts. This led to his automatic removal from his position as mayor.
Later Life and Health
After his conviction, Larry Langford was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. He was inmate #27349-001 at FMC Lexington. This is a federal prison hospital in Kentucky.
On April 27, 2015, Mr. Langford was taken from prison to a hospital. He had pneumonia. He asked to be released from prison early due to his health. On December 28, 2018, a federal judge reduced his sentence. He was released from prison because of his serious health problems.
Larry Langford passed away on January 8, 2019. He was 72 years old. He was buried at Elmwood Cemetery.
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Larry Langford
