Charles Jordan (politician)
Charles Ray Jordan (September 1, 1937 – April 4, 2014) was a Portland City Commissioner from 1974 until 1984. He was the first African-American city commissioner in Portland, Oregon, and is the namesake of the Charles Jordan Community Center.
Charles Jordan | |
|---|---|
 Jordan in 2012 | |
| Portland City Commissioner | |
| In office March 1974 – September 27, 1984 | |
| Preceded by | Lloyd Anderson |
| Succeeded by | Dick Bogle |
| Constituency | Portland, Oregon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 1, 1937 Longview, Texas |
| Died | April 4, 2014 (aged 76) Portland, Oregon |
| Occupation | City Commissioner; municipal parks director (Austin, TX, and later Portland, OR) |
| Known for | Charles Jordan Community Center |
Early life
Jordan was born in 1937 in Longview, Texas. He graduated from Palm Springs High School in 1956 and received a basketball scholarship to Gonzaga University. Graduating in 1961, Jordan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, Sociology, and Philosophy and later attended graduate studies at both Loma Linda University and the University of Southern California.[1]
Career
During the 1960s, Jordan served in the parks and recreation department for the City of Palm Springs and became an assistant to the City Manager. In 1970, Jordan moved to Portland to help with the federal anti-poverty Model Cities Program.[1]
City Council
Portland mayor Neil Goldschmidt appointed Jordan to an empty seat on the city council in March 1974.[2] Jordan was the first African-American city commissioner in Portland[3] (members of the city council are called "commissioners" under Portland's city commission government form). He was elected to the council seat in November 1974, for a two-year term,[4] and re-elected in 1976 and 1980.[5] In 1977, Goldschmidt appointed Jordan Portland's police commissioner,[6] a post he held until 1981.[7] In 1984, Jordan resigned his council seat and became the director of parks and recreation for the city of Austin, Texas.[8][9]
Jordan was succeeded as Commissioner by Dick Bogle, who was also African-American.
Portland Parks and Recreation
Jordan returned to Portland in 1989 as Director of Portland Parks & Recreation, and he would guide the department for 14 years. During Jordan's time at the parks department, Portland acquired 44 new recreational facilities.[3]
In 2012, Portland honored Jordan by renaming University Park Community Center in Portland's Portsmouth neighborhood the Charles Jordan Community Center.[10]
References
- "Charles R. Jordan". The History Makers. September 20, 2004. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- Noles, B.J. (March 14, 1974). "Jordan takes post as Portland commissioner". The Oregonian. p. 1.
- Griffin, Anna (April 4, 2014). "Charles Jordan remembered: Portland's first African-American commissioner and longtime parks director was 'a giant in this city'". The Oregonian. Portland: Oregonian Media Group. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- "Stays On [photo and caption only]". The Oregonian. November 6, 1974. p. A43.
- Heinz, Spencer (October 10, 1983). "Two-term limit sought for City Council". The Oregonian. p. B8.
- Maynard, Rosemary (February 10, 1977). "Jordan dealt police in City Hall job shuffle". The Oregonian. p. 1.
- Redden, Jim (October 14, 2014). "Police change has spotty history". Portland Tribune. Portland: Pamplin Media Group. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- Aaron, Mesh (April 4, 2014). "Former City Commissioner Charles Jordan Dies at 77". Willamette Week. Portland: Zusman and Meeker. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- Painter Jr., John (October 23, 1984). "Record field seeks vacated City Council seat". The Oregonian. p. B1.
- Hall, Chase G. (June 29, 2012). "Charles Jordan to be honored in rededication of University Park Community Center in Portsmouth". The Oregonian. Portland: Oregonian Media Group. Retrieved December 19, 2014.