Lionel Wilson
Encyclopedia
Lionel J. Wilson was an African American
political figure and a member of the Democratic Party. He was the first African American mayor of Oakland, California
, serving three-terms as mayor of Oakland from 1977 until 1991.
He attended UC Berkeley
.
He lost the 1990 mayoral election to Elihu Harris
after making an expensive and unsuccessful bid to return the then Los Angeles Raiders
to Oakland.
Wilson was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity. He, along with Allen Broussard
, was also part of the coterie
that used to gather at the pharmacy
of William Byron Rumford
, another important African American
in Northern California
politics.
Prior to his involvement in politics, Wilson was a professional baseball
player. In 1946, he pitched for the Oakland Larks as part of the short-lived West Coast Negro Baseball League.
In 2002, Aspire Public Schools founded a small 6-12 grade school called Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy in Oakland. The high school located in Oakland was named after Lionel Wilson in his honor. Lionel Wilson as a show of respect has a large portrait located inside of the school.
Lionel Wilson died on February 23, 1998 of cancer
; he was 82.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
political figure and a member of the Democratic Party. He was the first African American mayor of Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, serving three-terms as mayor of Oakland from 1977 until 1991.
He attended UC Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
He lost the 1990 mayoral election to Elihu Harris
Elihu Harris
Elihu Mason Harris is a former U.S. Democratic Party politician and college administrator. He served as the 46th mayor of Oakland, California from 1991 to until 1999. He served for 12 years as a member of the California State Assembly before his election as Oakland mayor...
after making an expensive and unsuccessful bid to return the then Los Angeles Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
to Oakland.
Wilson was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity. He, along with Allen Broussard
Allen Broussard
Allen Broussard was an African-American judge who rose to become a justice of the California Supreme Court.He was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana on April 13, 1929, the son of Clemire and Eugenia Broussard. At the age of 16, he moved with his family to California...
, was also part of the coterie
Coterie
Coterie may refer to*Clique*The Coterie, a British society* Dōjinshi* A family group of black-tailed and Mexican prairie dogs...
that used to gather at the pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
of William Byron Rumford
William Byron Rumford
William Byron Rumford was an American pharmacist and politician. He was the first African American elected to any public office in Northern California.-Family background:...
, another important African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
in Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
politics.
Prior to his involvement in politics, Wilson was a professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. In 1946, he pitched for the Oakland Larks as part of the short-lived West Coast Negro Baseball League.
In 2002, Aspire Public Schools founded a small 6-12 grade school called Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy in Oakland. The high school located in Oakland was named after Lionel Wilson in his honor. Lionel Wilson as a show of respect has a large portrait located inside of the school.
Lionel Wilson died on February 23, 1998 of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
; he was 82.