Carl Stokes was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised by his mother after his father died when he was three years old. He dropped out of high school but later earned his GED and bachelor's degree. Stokes was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives and later became the first African American mayor of Cleveland, one of the ten largest cities in the U.S. at the time. He received numerous honors for his public service career and contributions before his death.

1. Carl Stokes
By William Tracy

2.  Bornin Cleveland.
 Dad died when he was three.
 Dad was a laundryman.
 Mom raised him.
 Dropped out of high school in 1944.

3.  Worked briefly at Thompson Products. Then
joined the Army at age 18. After his discharge
in 1946, Stokes returned to Cleveland and
earned his high school diploma in 1947. He
earned his bachelor degree from University of
Minnesota in 1954.
FUN FACT-He was a probation officer while
studying law.

4.  Elected to the Ohio House of Representatives
in 1962, he served three terms.
 His brother Louis Stokes represented
Cleveland in the U.S House of Representatives
for three decades.
 Carl Stokes was the first African American
mayor of one of the ten biggest states in the
U.S.

5.  He was awarded 12 honorary
degrees, numerous civic awards, and
represented the United States on numerous
goodwill trips abroad by request of the White
House. In 1970, the National League of Cities
voted him its first black president-elect.
There are many buildings, monuments and a
street named for his memory within the City
of Cleveland including the CMHA Carl Stokes
Center, Stokes Boulevard, and the eponymous
Carl Stokes Brigade club.