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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 383 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 383

  Honoring and recognizing the achievements of Carl Stokes, the first 
African-American mayor of a major American city, in the 40th year since 
               his election as Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 15, 2007

 Mr. Reid (for Mr. Obama (for himself, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Voinovich)) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                            on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Honoring and recognizing the achievements of Carl Stokes, the first 
African-American mayor of a major American city, in the 40th year since 
               his election as Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio.

Whereas Carl Stokes was a pioneer in cultivating a positive climate for African-
        Americans to seek election to public office and made great strides 
        toward improving race relations in a tumultuous period of United States 
        history;
Whereas Carl Stokes was born on June 27, 1927, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Charles 
        and Louise Stokes;
Whereas Carl Stokes rose from poverty in Outhwaite Homes, Cleveland's first 
        federally funded housing project for the poor, to be elected to the 
        highest political office in Cleveland;
Whereas Carl Stokes earned his bachelor's degree from the University of 
        Minnesota in 1954 and graduated from the Cleveland-Marshall College of 
        Law in 1956, and was admitted to the Ohio State Bar in 1957;
Whereas, in 1962, Carl Stokes was elected to the Ohio General Assembly and 
        served 3 terms as the first African-American Democrat to serve from 
        Cuyahoga County;
Whereas, in 1967, relying on his ability to mobilize support that transcended 
        racial divides, Carl Stokes was elected Mayor of Cleveland and became 
        the first African-American mayor of a major American city;
Whereas, after declining to run for a 3rd term as Mayor of Cleveland, Carl 
        Stokes became the first African-American to appear daily as an anchorman 
        on a New York City television outlet, WNBC-TV;
Whereas Carl Stokes served as a municipal judge in Cleveland from 1983 to 1994, 
        completing a political career encompassing each branch of government; 
        and
Whereas Carl Stokes maintained his dedication to public service throughout his 
        life, serving as Ambassador to the Seychelles and representing the White 
        House on numerous goodwill trips abroad until his death in 1996: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the pioneering career of Carl Stokes, who 
        helped expand political opportunity for minorities by becoming 
        the first African-American mayor of a major American city; and
            (2) commemorates the 40th anniversary of the election of 
        Carl Stokes as the Mayor of Cleveland and the first African-
        American mayor of a major American city, one of the most 
        significant events in the American Civil Rights movement.
                                 <all>
```