Maynard Jackson was the first African-American mayor of a major southern city. Born in Dallas, Texas, Jackson and his family moved to Atlanta in 1945 when his father became the pastor of a local church. Jackson’s mother taught French at Spelman College. His maternal grandfather, John Wesley Dobbs, was a civil rights activist and the founder of the Georgia Voters League.
Jackson attended Morehouse College and graduated in 1956 when he was only 18. He went on to Boston University to work on a law degree, which he did not compete. After working several jobs, he finished his law degree in 1964 at North Carolina Central University.
Jackson eventually moved back to Georgia and in 1968 ran against Herman Talmadge for Senate where he lost. However, he won the majority of votes from the city of Atlanta and became a force to be reckoned with in the city’s politics. The next year, he became vice-mayor of Atlanta, and four years later was elected mayor. He was only 35 years old at the time of his election.
Jackson served as mayor of Atlanta from 1973-1981 and again from 1990-1994. While mayor he was instrumental in providing more contract work to black-owned businesses and expanding Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. He also sought to add more black police officers to the city’s police force and to make sure that more African-Americans were promoted in the department. During his term in the 1990s, he worked closely with Andrew Young and Billy Paine to bring the Olympics to the city.
Jackson retired from public life in 1994 due to health problems. He continued to be active in business and started his own security and bond company. There was discussion in 2003 of him running for the U.S. Senate but poor health caused him to withdraw from the race. Jackson died later that year in Washington D.C. In his honor, the city of Atlanta renamed Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Jackson attended Morehouse College and graduated in 1956 when he was only 18. He went on to Boston University to work on a law degree, which he did not compete. After working several jobs, he finished his law degree in 1964 at North Carolina Central University.
Jackson eventually moved back to Georgia and in 1968 ran against Herman Talmadge for Senate where he lost. However, he won the majority of votes from the city of Atlanta and became a force to be reckoned with in the city’s politics. The next year, he became vice-mayor of Atlanta, and four years later was elected mayor. He was only 35 years old at the time of his election.
Jackson served as mayor of Atlanta from 1973-1981 and again from 1990-1994. While mayor he was instrumental in providing more contract work to black-owned businesses and expanding Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. He also sought to add more black police officers to the city’s police force and to make sure that more African-Americans were promoted in the department. During his term in the 1990s, he worked closely with Andrew Young and Billy Paine to bring the Olympics to the city.
Jackson retired from public life in 1994 due to health problems. He continued to be active in business and started his own security and bond company. There was discussion in 2003 of him running for the U.S. Senate but poor health caused him to withdraw from the race. Jackson died later that year in Washington D.C. In his honor, the city of Atlanta renamed Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.