Cosby, Laken, Jr.
(born: December 6, 1930 - died: June 11, 2014)Laken Cosby, Jr., born in Alabama, was a graduate of Louisville Central High School. In 1988, he became the first African American chairman of the Jefferson County School Board. Cosby was also appointed to the Kentucky Board of Education in 1994 by Governor Brereton Jones, which he served as vice chairman for three terms. In 2002, Cosby was not reappointed to the board by Governor Patton.
Cosby was the son Maudie B. Garrison Cosby and Laken Cosby, Sr. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He was also the owner of the Laken Cosby Real Estate Company.
For more see "Cosby is Jefferson County board's first black chairman," in 1988 Kentucky Directory of Black Elected Officials, Seventh Report, by the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, p. 36; M. Pitsch, "Longtime advocate of school reform replaced on board," Courier-Journal, 5/11/2002, News section, p. O1A; and A. Wolfson, "Laken Cosby Jr., civil rights leader, dies at 83," Courier-Journal, 6/14/2014, online obituary.