James H. McGee
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James Howell McGee (November 8, 1918 – March 4, 2006) was an American politician of the Ohio Democratic party. He served as the first black mayor of Dayton, Ohio and was the city’s longest-tenured mayor to date.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
Biography
McGee was born in Berryberg, West Virginia, and was raised in Steubenville, Ohio. He graduated from Wilberforce University in 1937. After serving in the United States Army, he received a law degree from Ohio State University in 1948.<ref name=Wright>Template:Cite web</ref>
He moved to Dayton to practice law and worked with the NAACP in civil rights cases. He filed one of the first segregation cases after the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision.<ref name=First>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1959, he became the 23rd president of the Dayton Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People NAACP.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref>
McGee entered politics as an assistant to Rep. Rodney M. Love of Ohio working on the War on Poverty.<ref name=Wright/> in 1967, Dayton City Commissioner Don Crawford resigned to become the Dayton City Clerk and McGee was selected to fill his term.<ref name=Wright/> McGee won re-election to the seat in 1969.<ref name=First/>
In May 1970, Mayor Dave Hall resigned for health reasons. The City Commission deadlocked for two months with tie votes of 2-2 with McGee and Michael Liskany each receiving the vote of another commissioner. Liskany ultimately announced that he would drop out, allowing McGee to become mayor.<ref name=Mayor>Template:Cite news</ref>
McGee was re-elected in 1973 and 1977 before stepping down. After leaving politics, he continued with his legal practice.
Personal life
He met his wife, Elizabeth while he was in law school. They had two children.
McGee was a Prince Hall Freemason, holding membership in Ancient Square Lodge No. 40 of Dayton, Ohio,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
McGee died on March 4, 2006, in Trotwood, Ohio.<ref name=Wright/>
Legacy
In 1988, a major boulevard in Dayton was named for McGee. Formerly known as Western Avenue, in West Dayton, the road is now known as James H. McGee Boulevard from Germantown Street to Little Richmond Road.<ref name=Shadow>Template:Cite news</ref>
See also
References
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External links
- 1918 births
- 2006 deaths
- Mayors of Dayton, Ohio
- Ohio State University Moritz College of Law alumni
- People from Barbour County, West Virginia
- Wilberforce University alumni
- Ohio Democrats
- American civil rights lawyers
- African-American mayors in Ohio
- 20th-century mayors of places in Ohio
- 20th-century African-American politicians
- 21st-century African-American politicians