George Carroll (judge)
George Carroll | |
---|---|
![]() Judge George D. Carroll | |
Judge of the Bay Municipal Court | |
In office 1965–1985 | |
Appointed by | Pat Brown |
Mayor of Richmond, California | |
In office 1964–1965 | |
Preceded by | Gay Vargas |
Succeeded by | David Pierce |
Personal details | |
Born | Brooklyn, New York | January 6, 1922
Died | January 14, 2016 Richmond, California | (aged 94)
George Carroll (January 6, 1922 – January 14, 2016) was an American lawyer and civic figure, based in Contra Costa County, California.[1] He served as the first black lawyer as well as the first African American to be elected to city council in Richmond.[2] He later became the first black mayor of any large American city.[1][2]
Early life & education
[edit]Carroll was born on January 6, 1922, in Brooklyn, New York.[3][1] Later he served in the United States Military during World War II and subsequently attended college and law school by use of the G.I. Bill. He relocated to Contra Costa County, California, in 1954.[1]
Career
[edit]Carroll Richmond opened his own private practice after relocating to Richmond in 1954, and he became the city's first black attorney.[4][1]
In 1961, Carroll became the first African American elected to the city council, where he served until 1964.[2]
In 1964, Carroll became the first black mayor of Richmond;[2] by doing so, he also was the first African American mayor of any large American city.[1][5] Afterwards, George Carroll became the first black judge in Contra Costa when he was appointed to the Bay Municipal Court by Governor Pat Brown in 1965.[1][2]
Personal life
[edit]Carroll died in his sleep on January 14, 2016, in Richmond, California, at the age of 94.[6]
The Richmond Courthouse and a park in the Pt. Richmond District are named in his honor.[1][7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Richmond courthouse named for retired judge George Carroll, contracostatimes.com, February 24, 2009; accessed January 17, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Richmond's Black History Corner, city of Richmond, California website; accessdate January 17, 2016.
- ^ "Richmond Courthouse renamed for Judge Carroll". George Miller Website. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
- ^ Katrina Cameron (January 14, 2016). "George Carroll, first black Richmond mayor and Contra Costa County judge, dies at 94". Contra Costa Times. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ "Richmond courthouse named for retired judge George Carroll". East Bay Times. August 15, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Richmond's first black mayor George Carroll dies at 94 Archived 2016-01-18 at the Wayback Machine, richmondstandard.com; accessed January 17, 2016.
- ^ Parks and park facilities, city of Richmond website, accessdate January 17, 2016.
External links
[edit]
- African-American judges
- American judges
- Mayors of Richmond, California
- 1922 births
- 2016 deaths
- African-American mayors in California
- Richmond City Council members (California)
- California city council members
- Lawyers from Brooklyn
- American military personnel of World War II
- 20th-century African-American politicians
- African-American men in politics
- 20th-century American politicians
- Military personnel from New York City
- 20th-century American judges
- African Americans in World War II
- 21st-century African-American lawyers
- United States judge stubs