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completed his Ph.D. degree at
Southern Illinois University. A year after returning from the Rockefeller Foundation Superintendent Training Program, Herenton became the Deputy Superintendent of Memphis City Schools. In 1979, Herenton became the first African-American superintendent of Memphis City Schools. During Herenton's 12-year tenure as MCS superintendent, ambitious programs aimed at creating opportunities and services to disadvantaged youth, as well as expanding teacher freedoms, were implemented. However, he was mired in controversy after accusations of sexual harassment from a female teacher surfaced in 1988, leading to his divorce, an admission of an affair, and an out-of-court settlement. Further criticism of his performance as superintendent, as well as an impending mayoral campaign, led him to resign in 1991.
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announcement just over 90 days after his fifth re-election. Herenton stated that he was departing office in order to seek the position of superintendent of
Memphis City Schools, amidst speculation that he was stepping down in advance of a run for Congress or because of impending legal troubles from an ongoing criminal investigation at City Hall. He later stated that he would not leave the office of mayor unless he got the position as the superintendent of schools. Herenton said that he only ran for re-election in 2007 to protect the city of Memphis from the other main candidates, Herman Morris and Councilwoman Carol Chumney. When the stated day came, Herenton failed to step down as Mayor and said he would serve out his term until 2011.
31:
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and wear the sign declaring "I AM A MAN" resulted in threats of termination and ostracism from school district leadership and fellow teachers. But in 1969 Herenton was appointed principal of Bethel Grove
Elementary and at 28 became the youngest principal ever hired in Memphis. Three years later, he
260:
During his tenure, some critics referred to him as "King Willie", after he was televised saying he didn't care whether
Memphians voted for him or not. Another scandal ensued when he started a second chance program for first time offenders, allegedly connected to his relationship to a female felon.
321:
In
September 2009, Herenton attracted controversy with his statement in a radio interview that Congressman Steve Cohen "really does not think very much of African-Americans" and that "'s played the black community well." Herenton's campaign manager, Sidney Chism, who is African American, told the
283:
On March 20, 2008, Herenton announced that he would be stepping down from his position as
Memphis' mayor, effective July 31, 2008. This move angered many politicians in the city, including Councilwoman Carol Chumney, who had run for mayor of Memphis in the October 2007 election. He made this
958:
232:
In April 1991, more than 3000 predominantly
African-American citizens of Memphis gathered in the Mid-South Coliseum and selected Herenton as the consensus candidate for the 1991 mayoral election. On October 3, Herenton became the first
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that the
Memphis-area congressional seat held by Cohen, who is Jewish, "was set aside for people who look like me. It wasn't set aside for a Jew or a Christian. It was set aside so that blacks could have representation." The
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Herenton was praised for putting the city on solid financial footing and presiding over the redevelopment of downtown
Memphis, an influx of private capital investment, and the arrival of two professional sports teams: the
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Willie
Wilbert Herenton was born to Ruby Lee Harris in Memphis, Tennessee. Raised by a single mother, Herenton was encouraged at a young age to pursue his dreams of becoming a Golden Gloves boxer. Herenton graduated from
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in the Democratic primary. On June 25, 2009, Herenton announced his resignation as Mayor, effective July 10. On July 6, he announced that he would delay his retirement until July 30.
287:
In April 2009, Herenton formed an exploratory committee to run in the 2010 US Congressional Election for the 9th District of Tennessee, presumably intending to challenge incumbent
194:(formerly Memphis State University) with a masters in Educational Administration. However, segregation forced Herenton to leave Memphis to attain his doctorate in education at
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331:(NJDC) criticized Herenton for these remarks, stating that his comments were "unacceptable in a Democratic primary or anywhere in our political discourse."
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with 22% of the vote, behind Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission, Paul Young, who was elected mayor.
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Despite Herenton's attempts to isolate Cohen from the African-American voters, Cohen received endorsements from both President
173:(born April 23, 1940) is an American politician from Memphis, Tennessee. He was elected as the first elected African-American
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Herenton went on to win five consecutive mayoral elections. He was elected to his fifth term in office on October 4, 2007.
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On April 5, 2018, Herenton announced his intention to run for mayor of Memphis for a 6th term, challenging the incumbent
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177:. He was elected to five consecutive terms and abruptly resigned the position mid-way through his fifth term in 2009.
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Herenton has four children; he and his first wife are divorced. His grandson Willie played college basketball at
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602:"Race, Power, and Political Emergence in Memphis (Race and Politics Series , Vol 1) - PDF Free Download"
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478:"The mother of former mayor and superintendent Willie Herenton is remembered for her role in history"
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711:"Herenton says he'll stay put in mayor's office if he doesn't get city schools' superintendent job"
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358:. Strickland won the election, and Herenton conceded to Strickland on the night of the election.
214:, Herenton marched in solidarity with the sanitation workers; however, the choice to march with
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870:"Cohen Gets Black Caucus Support, Herenton Gets Busy as Finish Nears | Politics Beat Blog"
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was appointed as mayor pro tempore. Lowery served for three months before losing to
1010:"This UM basketball player has historic roots and took an unusual route to college"
342:. Cohen won the Democratic primary election, with Herenton taking 20% of the vote.
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738:"Herenton says he ran for re-election to protect Memphis from Chumney, Morris"
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On February 6, 2023, Herenton joined the race to succeed Strickland. Herenton
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served as interim mayor in 1982). Herenton won his first term by defeating
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941:"Jim Strickland will serve second term as Mayor of Memphis | FOX13"
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He resigned from office on July 30, 2009. Memphis City Council Chairman
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Memphis Commercial Appeal coverage of Mayor Herenton's political career
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Ex-Mayor of Memphis Starts Bid for Congress, Invoking Race in Campaign
318:—a majority African-American and heavily Democratic-leaning district.
800:"Herenton Delays Retirement, Threatens Lawsuit | The Daily Buzz"
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in a special election to serve out the remainder of Herenton’s term.
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In 2010, Herenton announced that he would run against Congressman
190:
with a bachelors of science in Elementary Education and from the
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Broach, Jessica Holley, Kendall Downing, Janice (5 April 2018).
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After graduating from Le Moyne-Owen, Herenton began working at
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959:"Former Memphis mayor Willie Herenton announces bid for 2023"
528:
Dr. M. L. King Jr. Ave. Dedication 3 of 4 - Memphis TN.mov
858:, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), September 18, 2009.
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as a fifth-grade teacher in Memphis. During the 1968
903:"Willie Herenton will run for Memphis Mayor in 2019"
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by Robbie Brown, New York Times, September 13, 2009.
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award; however, he was not selected for this honor.
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984:"Memphis election results: Mayor and City Council"
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345:
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578:"Willie Herenton's Political Rebirth in Memphis"
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16:Former mayor of Memphis, Tennessee (born 1940)
1111:African-American people in Tennessee politics
627:"Memphis's Mayor Elicits Admiration, Disdain"
925:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
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428:"Willie Herenton re-elected Memphis mayor"
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1101:21st-century African-American politicians
1096:20th-century African-American politicians
655:Charlier, Tom; Maki, Amos (2008-03-20).
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56:January 1, 1992 – July 30, 2009
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316:Tennessee's 9th congressional district
276:Herenton was long-listed for the 2008
890:Luttrell Cohen Win Most-Watched Races
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1106:African-American mayors in Tennessee
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1131:Southern Illinois University alumni
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396:"Memphis Chooses First Black Mayor"
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549:"Herenton, schools may be a match"
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329:National Jewish Democratic Council
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625:Baird, Woody (February 8, 2004).
821:"It's Wharton and "One Memphis""
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237:to be elected mayor of Memphis (
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764:"Herenton May Run for Congress"
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682:Perrusquia, Marc (2008-03-23).
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657:"Herenton to step down July 31"
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547:Goetz, Kristina (22 Mar 2008).
346:2019 and 2023 Mayoral Campaigns
684:"Herenton: It's about schools"
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314:in the Democratic Primary for
1:
868:Baker, Jackson (2010-07-27).
798:Baker, Jackson (2009-07-06).
454:"Willie W. Herenton (1941- )"
452:Watson, Elwood (2007-08-08).
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356:2019 Memphis mayoral election
1141:University of Memphis alumni
1126:Mayors of Memphis, Tennessee
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196:Southern Illinois University
154:Southern Illinois University
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1116:LeMoyne–Owen College alumni
576:Harp, Lonnie (1995-09-27).
503:"Home • Herenton for Mayor"
306:2010 congressional campaign
175:Mayor of Memphis, Tennessee
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340:Congressional Black Caucus
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780:. The Commercial Appeal
216:Martin Luther King, Jr.
171:Willie Wilbert Herenton
99:Willie Wilbert Herenton
907:www.wmcactionnews5.com
432:www.wmcactionnews5.com
249:in 1991 by 146 votes.
553:The Commercial Appeal
192:University of Memphis
188:Le Moyne-Owen College
145:University of Memphis
208:Memphis City Schools
202:Memphis City Schools
136:LeMoyne-Owen College
1136:Tennessee Democrats
1008:Kaufman, Michelle.
239:J.O. Patterson, Jr.
1048:Political offices
856:NJDC defends Cohen
644:CityMayors profile
507:Herenton for Mayor
400:The New York Times
115:Memphis, Tennessee
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1070:Succeeded by
743:Commercial Appeal
716:Commercial Appeal
689:Commercial Appeal
662:Commercial Appeal
394:Ap (1991-10-05).
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223:Mayor of Memphis
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79:Myron Lowery
74:Succeeded by
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1091:1940 births
563:PressReader
312:Steve Cohen
289:Steve Cohen
278:World Mayor
62:Preceded by
1085:Categories
1067:1992–2009
994:2024-01-18
969:2024-01-18
912:2019-08-15
876:2010-08-13
830:2023-09-15
806:2010-08-13
784:2010-08-13
749:2008-03-27
722:2008-03-27
695:2008-03-23
668:2008-03-21
611:2019-08-15
587:2021-10-05
558:2023-04-05
534:2019-08-15
512:2019-08-15
488:2019-08-15
463:2019-07-30
438:2019-07-30
413:2019-07-30
381:References
126:Democratic
105:1940-04-23
458:BlackPast
408:0362-4331
243:incumbent
228:Elections
132:Education
52:In office
988:WREG.com
921:cite web
606:epdf.pub
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338:and the
81:(acting)
354:in the
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256:Tenure
245:mayor
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