Lottie Shackelford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lottie Shackelford
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| 68th Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas | |
| In office January 1987 – December 1988 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Prince |
| Succeeded by | Floyd Villines |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 30, 1941 |
| Nationality |  American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Philander Smith College |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Known for | Serving the longest tenure as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) |
Lottie H. Shackelford was born on April 30, 1941. She is an American politician who made history in 1987. She became the first woman to be the Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton chose her to join the Board of Directors for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). This made her the first African-American woman to hold that important role. She has also served as the longest-running vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) for 20 years.
About Lottie Shackelford
Her Education Journey
Lottie Shackelford studied Business Administration at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree there. She also spent time learning at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, which is a very famous school.
Her Political Career
Lottie Shackelford started her political work in 1978. She was elected to the Board of Directors for the City of Little Rock, Arkansas. She was chosen by the city's voters three more times before she became the first woman Mayor of Little Rock.
As Mayor, she helped connect minority-owned businesses with opportunities. She also held important leadership roles at the National League of Cities. She traveled to many countries, including those in Europe, Asia, and Africa, to share ideas about how local governments can help their communities grow.
For many years, Shackelford has worked with the Democratic Party at both the state and national levels. She was the Secretary, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Arkansas State Democratic Committee. She was also elected Secretary of the National Association of State Democratic Chairs.
She served as Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas, from January 1987 to December 1988. She was the first woman and the second African American to hold this position. Since the early 1980s, she has been a member of the DNC. She helped lead important committees, like the Platform Committee in 1984 and the Rules Committee in 1988. She is still part of the Resolutions Committee today.
Shackelford has also given advice to people running for president. She worked on teams that helped new presidents get started in the White House. In 1993, President Clinton chose her to be a US Delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in Vienna, Austria.
As the DNC Vice Chair of Voter Registration and Participation, Shackelford travels a lot. She shares the Democratic Party's message and helps people get involved in politics. She often takes part in political discussions in other countries, like Azerbaijan, Russia, and Taiwan. She has also watched elections in places like Romania.
Awards and Recognition
Lottie Shackelford has received many awards for her hard work and leadership:
- She was listed in the Registry of Outstanding Men and Women by Esquire magazine.
- She was named Woman of the Year by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper.
- In 1993, she was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.
- In 1998, she received the Mary Church Terrell Award from Delta Sigma Theta.
- In 2016, she was inducted into the Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame.
