Crawford, Don L.
(born: 1921 - died: 2000)In 1961, Don Crawford became the first African American to be elected a Dayton, OH City Commissioner. He was also the first person to be both a commission clerk and executive assistant to the commission. Crawford was recognized for his public speaking ability. He retired from the commision in 1990.
Born in Clinton, KY, Crawford was a mathematics and physics graduate of Kentucky State University. He left Kentucky for Dayton after his college graduation; there he was a high school mathematics teacher and basketball coach before joining the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1946, he became a social work administrator and later was more involved in local politics. A park and Don Crawford Plaza were named in his honor.
For more see A. Robinson, "Ex-commissioner Crawford dies," Dayton Daily News, 12/14/2000, p. 1B; and MS-332 Don L. Crawford Papers at Wright State University Special Collections and Archives (see overview).