James R. Ford

Who is James R. Ford?

James R. Ford is an American educator, politician, businessman and community activist. In 1972, Ford became the first black mayor of Tallahassee, Florida, and the first black mayor of a U.S. state capital city.

Ford attended Florida A&M University, where he earned his B.S. in 1950 and his M.Ed. in 1959. He served in both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army. He worked in the Leon County public school system from 1950 to 1987 as a teacher and its first black administrator, presiding over the county's first integrated school staff.

In 1972, Ford became Tallahassee's first black mayor, the first black mayor of a state capital city. He was elected to subsequent terms as mayor in 1976 and 1982. In addition, he served fourteen consecutive years as a Tallahassee city commissioner. In this office, he played a key role in establishing the Minority Business Department, the Frenchtown Area Development Authority and the Affirmative Action Office, and worked to eliminate segregated practices in the city government and to secure employment for blacks.

Ford is also active in the business community. He built WAMN Radio Station, becoming Tallahassee's first black manager of a radio station.