Clarence Harmon

Clarence Harmon (born 1940) was the 44th Mayor of St. Louis (from 1997 to 2001), and the city's second African-American mayor.

Clarence Harmon
44th Mayor of St. Louis
In office April 15, 1997 – April 17, 2001
Preceded by	Freeman Bosley, Jr.
Succeeded by	Francis Slay
30th Police Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis
In office January 1992 – January 1995
Appointed by	Vincent C. Schoemehl
Preceded by	Robert Scheetz
Succeeded by	Ron Henderson
Personal details
Born	1940 (age 80–81) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Janet Kelley
Children	4
Alma mater	Webster University Truman State University
Profession	Lawyer, politician, police chief

Early life and education

Harmon was born to a Baptist family, and the only boy out of three children. His father was a cook on a railway, while his mother was a nurse. As a boy, Harmon was converted to Catholicism in order to attend the McBride High School, a boys-only institution. After graduating from it, he served in the US Army in the 101st Airborne Division and then got enrolled into Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University).[1]

Career

Prior to serving as Mayor, Harmon had served as Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis's 30th Police Commissioner between the years 1991 and 1995, becoming the first African American to do so.[2] During the time as Police Commissioner his duty was to patrol Fox Park, St. Louis, which was crime infested, but in 30 days time, the city's crime dropped 47%.[1]

He defeated incumbent Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. in the Democratic Primary in 1997 and went on to win election by a wide margin in the general election.[3] Following his victory, Harmon shouted "Tear down the walls of isolation, St. Louis!", calling for the unity and racial healing.[4] Harmon was defeated for re-election in the 2001 Democratic Primary.[5]

References

1. Jeannette Cooperman (November 29, 2012). "A Conversation with Clarence Harmon". St. Louis Magazine.
2. https://web.archive.org/web/20100805052200/http://www.slpva.com/historic/stlpoliceblackhistory.html
3. "Former Police Chief Elected St. Louis Mayor". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 3, 1997. p. 22.
4. Jo Mannies (April 16, 1997). "Harmon Urges Unity Speech Calls for Regional, Racial Healing". St. Louis Post-Dispatch – via Questia.
5. D.J. Wilson (January 3, 2001). "The New Wisdom of Boz". Riverfront Times. Retrieved September 13, 2019.

• St. Louis Public Library
• Schlinkmann, Mark (April 18, 2001). "Slay Is Sworn in as St. Louis' 45th Mayor". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. A1.