Wilson Goode facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilson Goode
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| 95th Mayor of Philadelphia | |
| In office January 2, 1984 – January 6, 1992 |
|
| Preceded by | Bill Green |
| Succeeded by | Ed Rendell |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Woodrow Wilson Goode Sr.
August 19, 1938 Seaboard, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Velma Goode
(m. 1960) |
| Children | W. Wilson Goode Jr. |
| Education | Morgan State University (BA) University of Pennsylvania (MPA) Eastern University (DMin) |
Woodrow Wilson Goode Sr. (born August 19, 1938) is an American politician. He was the first African American to become Mayor of Philadelphia. He served as mayor from 1984 to 1992. During his time as mayor, a difficult event known as the MOVE incident happened in 1985. Before becoming mayor, Goode was a community leader. He also led the state's Public Utility Commission and worked as a managing director for the City of Philadelphia.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Woodrow Wilson Goode Sr. was born in Seaboard, North Carolina. His family moved to Philadelphia in 1953. They settled in the Paschall neighborhood. He was a very good student at John Bartram High School. After high school, he went to Morgan State University. He graduated from there in 1961.
While at Morgan State, he was part of the Reserve Officers Training Corps. He then joined the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant. He worked in the military police. After his military service, he returned to Philadelphia. He worked in building maintenance and as an insurance adjuster. In 1967, he joined the Philadelphia Council for Community Development. By 1971, he became its executive director. He also earned a master's degree in Public Administration in 1968. This was from the University of Pennsylvania.
Working for the City
Goode became involved in public service. He was appointed to the state Public Utility Commission (PUC). This commission helps oversee utility companies. He was the first African American to serve on the PUC. He worked to protect consumers. He also made sure the PUC spent money wisely.
Later, he became the managing director for the City of Philadelphia. This was under Mayor Bill Green. This role involved overseeing many city departments.
Becoming Mayor of Philadelphia
In 1983, Mayor Green decided not to run again. Woodrow Wilson Goode Sr. decided to run for mayor. He won the Democratic primary election. He then won the general election. He became the 95th Mayor of Philadelphia. He was the first African American to hold this important position.
The MOVE Incident
A challenging event happened during Mayor Goode's first term. In 1985, police tried to deal with a group called MOVE. This group lived in a house in West Philadelphia. Neighbors had complained about them. Police tried to remove the group from the house.
During this event, police used tear gas. Members of MOVE then fired at the police. In a final effort, police dropped a bomb onto the house's roof. This caused a large fire. The fire spread quickly. It burned down nearly four city blocks. Eleven people died in the fire. Also, 240 people lost their homes. This was a very difficult time for the city.
Second Term as Mayor
In 1987, Mayor Goode ran for reelection. He won the Democratic primary again. He then faced former Mayor Frank Rizzo in the general election. Rizzo had switched to the Republican Party. Goode won the election closely. He served a second term as mayor.
Life After Being Mayor
After leaving the mayor's office, Goode continued to serve. He worked for the United States Department of Education. He also earned a special degree called a Doctor of Ministry. He became a minister and a professor at Eastern University.
He is also a leader in helping faith-based programs. He is the CEO of Amachi. This program helps mentor children whose parents are in prison. For his work, he received the Purpose Prize. This award honors people over 60 who work to solve important social problems.
See also
In Spanish: Wilson Goode para niños
