Floyd J. McCree

Floyd J. McCree
Register of Deeds
In office
1971 – 1988[1]
Succeeded by Jeffrey Brohn
Constituency Genesee County, Michigan
82nd / 20th City Commission Mayor of the City of Flint, Michigan
In office
1966–1968
Preceded by Harry K. Cull
Succeeded by Donald R. Cronin[2]
City Commissioner of the City of Flint, Michigan
In office
1958 – 1970[1]
Personal details
Born 1923
Webster Grove, MO
Died 1988
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Leeberta[1]
Children Melvin P., Byron, Anita and Marsha[1]
Alma mater Lincoln University[1]

Floyd J. McCree was a Michigan politician. He was the first African American Flint City Mayor.[2]

Early life

In Webster Grove, Missouri McCree was born in 1923. He went to high school in St. Louis and attended Lincoln University, Jefferson City. He served in the South Pacific in World War II in the Army rising to the rank of staff sergeant. After leaving the service, he was hired in at the Buick foundry in Flint becoming a foreman. He was latter promoted to supervisor of maintenance.[1]

Political life

McCree was elected the Flint City Commission in 1958. The Flint City Commission selected him as Mayor for the years 1966-68. Durinng his time as Mayor, he pushed for open housing and employment equal opportunity. In 1967, he was involved in trying to end the violence in Detroit during the racial disturbances. That same year after the City Commission refused to adopt an open housing ordinance, he threatened to resign as Mayor. Other prominent black joined in threatening to resign from public boards. The open housing law was later adopted in a charged contested referendum. He continue serving on the City Commission until 1970.[1] In 1970, he was a Michigan state representatives candidate for the 82nd District.[3] He was the first African American Flint City Mayor. He ran for Mayor under a new charter that directly elected a strong mayor in 1975 and 1979 losing both times to James W. Rutherford.

Election McCree votes Rutherford votes
1975 20,474 20,679
1979 12,902 20,738

[4]

He was later elected Genesee County Register of deeds.[5] He died before the 1988 election.[6]

Political offices
Preceded by
 Register of Deeds of Genesee County, Michigan
?-1988		 Succeeded by
Jeffrey Brohn
Preceded by
Harry K. Cull		 Mayor of Flint
1966-68		 Succeeded by
Donald R. Cronin

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Narvaez, Alfonso (June 18, 1988). "F.J. McCree, Early Black Mayor". The New York Times (New York City: The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/18/obituaries/fj-mccree-early-black-mayor.html. Retrieved 2011-01-20. 
  2. ^ a b "List of Flint City Mayors". Political Graveyards.com. Lawrence (Larry) Kestenbaum. http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/MI/ofc/flint.html. Retrieved 2009-02-09. 
  3. ^ "Index to Politicians: Mccornack to Mccullis -- McCree, Floyd J. Entry". Political Graveyards.com. Lawrence (Larry) Kestenbaum. http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/mccorquodale-mccuiston.html#S6102IP9V. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
  4. ^ Raymer, Marjory (2007-08-09). "Two white candidates make history". The Flint Journal (Booth Newspapers). http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/decision2007/2007/08/two_white_candidates_make_hist.html. Retrieved 30 March 2009. 
  5. ^ Fonger, Ron (2008-04-03). "Genesee County Register of Deeds Melvin McCree announces retirement, day after judge appoints guardian to oversee him". The Flint Journal (Booth Newspapers). http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2008/04/genesee_county_register_of_dee.html. Retrieved 30 March 2009. 
  6. ^ Mickle, Bryn (17 April 2008). "Former Register of Deeds Jeffrey Brohn claims arrest intended to keep him from running for office again". The Flint Journal (Booth Newspapers).