Carl Stokes

Carl Stokes - Former Mayor of Cleveland, Birthday and Personal Life

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Carl Stokes's Personal Details

Carl Stokes was an American politician and the 51st mayor of Cleveland

InformationDetail
BirthdayJune 21, 1927
Died onApril 3, 1996
NationalityAmerican
FamousDemocrats, Leaders, Political Leaders, Former Mayor of Cleveland
IdeologiesDemocrats
SpousesRaija Kostadinov, Shirley Edwards
Known asCarl Burton Stokes
ChildrensCarl Stokes Jr., Cordell Stokes, Cordi Stokes, Cynthia Stokes, Sasha Kostadinov (stepson)
Cause of death
  • Cancer
Birth PlaceCleveland, Ohio, U.S.A
Political IdeologyDemocrat
GenderMale
FatherCharles Stokes
MotherLouise (Stone) Stokes
Sun SignGemini
Born inCleveland, Ohio, U.S.A
Famous asFormer Mayor of Cleveland
Died at Age68

Carl Stokes's photo

Who is Carl Stokes?

Carl Stokes was an American politician and 51st mayor of Cleveland. His selection as the mayor of Cleveland, Ohio signifies a new era in the political arena of America. Hailing from a poor economical background, Carl was an alumnus of prestigious University of Minnesota Law School. He started his career by working as the assistant city prosecutor of Ohio bar. His political career began when he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. As a mayor of Cleveland, he played a crucial role in creating employment opportunities for African-Americans and women. He skilfully dealt with the difficult situation during the movement of white residents in Cleveland. In his autobiography “Promises of Power”, he admitted that the incident of Glenville Shootout that resulted in the death of six black civilians ruined his effort to build a sense of unity in solving racial discrimination in Cleveland. As part of the television station WNBC, he was the first black anchorman of the New York City. As the recipient of a number of honorary degrees and civic awards, this powerful politician represented America during several goodwill trips around the world. The National League of Cities voted him its first black president -elect in 1970.

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Childhood & Early Life

Born as Carl Burton Stokes in a black family of Cleveland, Carl was the second son of Charles, a laundryman and Louise Stokes, a cleaning woman. He lost his father when he was very young.

His mother raised Carl and his brother Louis in a public housing project for the poor. It was his mother who stressed about the value of education during his early childhood. Though he was a good student but left the high school in 1944 and worked for Thompson Products for a brief period.

Later, he joined the U. S. Army and served in occupied Germany during the World War II. After his discharge from the Army in 1946, he attended West Virginia College.

Next, he studied psychology at the Cleveland College of Western Reserve University. For three years, he worked as an agent for Ohio’s State Department of Liquor Control.

In 1954, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in law from the University of Minnesota Law School. Later, he attended the Cleveland-Marshall Law School from where he earned his JD degree in 1956. At that time, he also worked as a probation officer in Cleveland.

Career

In 1957, he joined the Ohio bar where he served as assistant city prosecutor. During this time, he was actively involved in various civil rights activities. At the same time, he was also an active member of the Democratic Party.

After leaving the post of assistant city prosecutor in 1962, he set up Stokes, Stokes - a law firm together with his brother Louis Stokes. In the same year, he was elected as the first black Democrat to the Ohio House of Representatives and won office in Cuyahoga County.

He worked for the committees of judiciary, industry and labour and public welfare. After serving here for three terms, he lost the Cleveland mayoral election in 1965. He won this election in 1967 by defeating Seth Taft who was the grandson of President William H. Taft.

At that time, racial discrimination in Cleveland was an issue of serious concern in America. During his tenure as mayor, he took initiatives to improve the economic condition of Cleveland. As part of his job, he took steps to increase the income tax of this city.

His plans such as establishing schools, housing projects, zoo and other city projects for the overall improvement of Cleveland won voter approval. It was Carl who worked for opening City Hall jobs for black people.

He took several steps to improve the condition of the poor and disadvantaged section of the society. He also worked hard for the reorganization of the police department of Cleveland.

‘Cleveland: Now!’, announced on May 1, 1968, was an initiative by him to rehabilitate the neighbourhood areas in Cleveland. To make the plan successful, he convinced the local businessmen of Cleveland to cooperate in a fundraising programme that aimed to preserve the inner peace of the city.

But his effort became futile when it came to light that the Glenville Shootout of 1968 was funded by ‘Cleveland: Now!’ This incident ruined his reputation and donations for his plan dried up.

He left the mayor’s post in 1971. After that, he shifted to New York City and the next year, he served the television station WNBC as an anchorman. After returning to Cleveland in 1980, he practised as a labour lawyer. He served as general counsel for the United Auto Workers. From 1983 to 1994, he served as a municipal judge in Cleveland.

In 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed him as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Seychelles.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1958, he tied the nuptial knot with Shirley Edwards whom he divorced in 1973. They had three children - Carl Jr., Cordi and Cordell.

He married Raija Kostadinov, a former Finnish model in 1981. With Raija, he had a daughter, Cynthia and a stepson, Sasha Kostadinov. They got divorced in 1993. He married for the third time in 1996.

While working as the Ambassador to the Seychelles, he was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. He breathed his last in Cleveland.

Trivia

This influential American politician used to deliver newspapers and work in local stores to support his family while he was very young.

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Carl Stokes biography timelines

  • // 21st Jun 1927
    Born as Carl Burton Stokes in a black family of Cleveland, Carl was the second son of Charles, a laundryman and Louise Stokes, a cleaning woman. He lost his father when he was very young.
  • // 1946
    Later, he joined the U. S. Army and served in occupied Germany during the World War II. After his discharge from the Army in 1946, he attended West Virginia College.
  • // 1954 To 1956
    In 1954, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in law from the University of Minnesota Law School. Later, he attended the Cleveland-Marshall Law School from where he earned his JD degree in 1956. At that time, he also worked as a probation officer in Cleveland.
  • // 1957
    In 1957, he joined the Ohio bar where he served as assistant city prosecutor. During this time, he was actively involved in various civil rights activities. At the same time, he was also an active member of the Democratic Party.
  • // 1958 To 1973
    In 1958, he tied the nuptial knot with Shirley Edwards whom he divorced in 1973. They had three children - Carl Jr., Cordi and Cordell.
  • // 1962
    After leaving the post of assistant city prosecutor in 1962, he set up Stokes, Stokes - a law firm together with his brother Louis Stokes. In the same year, he was elected as the first black Democrat to the Ohio House of Representatives and won office in Cuyahoga County.
  • // 1962 To 1967
    He worked for the committees of judiciary, industry and labour and public welfare. After serving here for three terms, he lost the Cleveland mayoral election in 1965. He won this election in 1967 by defeating Seth Taft who was the grandson of President William H. Taft.
  • // 1968
    But his effort became futile when it came to light that the Glenville Shootout of 1968 was funded by ‘Cleveland: Now!’ This incident ruined his reputation and donations for his plan dried up.
  • // 1st May 1968
    ‘Cleveland: Now!’, announced on May 1, 1968, was an initiative by him to rehabilitate the neighbourhood areas in Cleveland. To make the plan successful, he convinced the local businessmen of Cleveland to cooperate in a fundraising programme that aimed to preserve the inner peace of the city.
  • // 1971 To 1994
    He left the mayor’s post in 1971. After that, he shifted to New York City and the next year, he served the television station WNBC as an anchorman. After returning to Cleveland in 1980, he practised as a labour lawyer. He served as general counsel for the United Auto Workers. From 1983 to 1994, he served as a municipal judge in Cleveland.
  • // 1981 To 1996
    He married Raija Kostadinov, a former Finnish model in 1981. With Raija, he had a daughter, Cynthia and a stepson, Sasha Kostadinov. They got divorced in 1993. He married for the third time in 1996.
  • // 1994 To 1996
    In 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed him as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Seychelles.
  • // 3rd Apr 1996
    While working as the Ambassador to the Seychelles, he was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. He breathed his last in Cleveland.

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Carl Stokes's FAQ

  • What is Carl Stokes birthday?

    Carl Stokes was born at 1927-06-21

  • When was Carl Stokes died?

    Carl Stokes was died at 1996-04-03

  • Where was Carl Stokes died?

    Carl Stokes was died in Cleveland, Ohio

  • Which age was Carl Stokes died?

    Carl Stokes was died at age 68

  • Where is Carl Stokes's birth place?

    Carl Stokes was born in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A

  • What is Carl Stokes nationalities?

    Carl Stokes's nationalities is American

  • What is Carl Stokes ideologies?

    Carl Stokes's ideologies is Democrats

  • Who is Carl Stokes spouses?

    Carl Stokes's spouses is Raija Kostadinov, Shirley Edwards

  • Who is Carl Stokes childrens?

    Carl Stokes's childrens is Carl Stokes Jr., Cordell Stokes, Cordi Stokes, Cynthia Stokes, Sasha Kostadinov (stepson)

  • What is Carl Stokes's cause of dead?

    Carl Stokes dead because of Cancer

  • What is Carl Stokes's political ideology?

    Carl Stokes's political ideology is Democrat

  • Who is Carl Stokes's father?

    Carl Stokes's father is Charles Stokes

  • Who is Carl Stokes's mother?

    Carl Stokes's mother is Louise (Stone) Stokes

  • What is Carl Stokes's sun sign?

    Carl Stokes is Gemini

  • How famous is Carl Stokes?

    Carl Stokes is famouse as Former Mayor of Cleveland