|
Event |
Description |
First Appointed African-American Male
Council Member |
Cleophas Anthony "C.A." Galloway, appointed March, 1967 by Mayor J. Erik Jonsson upon the resignation of Council member Joe G. Moody and completed Moody's term. Mr. Galloway (1905-1995) was a realtor and co-partner in a real estate firm. |
First Elected African-American Male
Council Member | George L. Allen, appointed 1968, elected in 1969, serving 1968-1975. Allen (1909-1991) was president of a life insurance firm and a Certified Public Accountant. Among many accomplishments, Allen played a role in the desegregation of Dallas' schools and public facilities, and pushed for an important open housing ordinance and a public accommodations ordinance. The George L. Allen Courts Building [Dallas County] is named for him. |
|
First Female Council Member |
Calvert Collins (1922-2015) was an advocate for education and healthcare as a longtime philanthropist. Collins ran for City Council in 1957 after getting a phone call from then-Mayor Robert L. Thornton asking if she would run. She was a believer in homeowners’ rights, was elected after a runoff, and served two terms from 1957-1961. |
| First Hispanic Council Member | Anita Martinez, served 1969-1973. She fought to build a recreation center for West Dallas and pushed for numerous improvements, including library branches and street repair in low-income neighborhoods. |
First Appointed Woman Mayor
|
Adlene Harrison (1976). Harrison served as Mayor for three months in 1976 to complete the term of Wes Wise, who resigned; she also served on the City Council from 1973-1977. |
First Elected Woman Mayor
| Annette Strauss (1987-1991). Strauss (1924-1999) was elected mayor in 1987 and re-elected to a second term in 1989. |
|
First African-American Mayor |
Ron W. Kirk, 1995-2002. |