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Floyd J. McCree
Floyd J. McCree (March 29, 1923 – June 15, 1988), was a Michigan politician. He was the first African American mayor of Flint, Michigan.[2] Early lifeFloyd Joel Mcree was born in Webster Grove, Missouri, on March 29, 1923, the son of Jordan Daniel McCree, Sr. and Minnie Blackwell.[3] He went to high school in St. Louis and attended Lincoln University, Jefferson City.[1] McCree served in the South Pacific in World War II in the army, rising to the rank of staff sergeant. After leaving the army, he was hired iat the Buick foundry in Flint, becoming a foreman. He was later promoted to supervisor of maintenance.[1] Political lifeMcCree was elected to the Flint City Commission in 1958 which selected him as mayor for the years 1966–68. During his time as mayor, he pushed for open housing[further explanation needed] and employment equal opportunity. In 1967, he was involved in trying to end the violence in Detroit during the 1967 riots. In the same year, after the City Commission refused to adopt an open housing ordinance, he threatened to resign as mayor. Other prominent African-Americans joined in threatening to resign from public boards. The open housing law was later adopted in a charged contested referendum. McCree continued serving on the City Commission until 1970.[1] In 1970, he was a Michigan state representatives candidate for the 82nd district.[4] In 1971, McCree took office as Genesee County Register of deeds.[1][5] 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.[6]
McCree continued to be elected County Register, but he died on June 15, 1988, before the primary election.[1][3][7] LegacyOn April 4, 2022, a bronze statue of McCree by the artist Joe Rundell was unveiled in front of the Flint City Hall. It was financed by a fundraising campaign by the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.[8] References
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