"Lyman Parks, first black mayor of Grand Rapids, dies at 92". By Jim Harger | The Grand Rapids Press November 04, 2009, 8:48AM
Lyman S. Parks, the man who served as Grand Rapids first black mayor in the 1970s, died this morning at a suburban Chicago hospital, according to his granddaughter, Grand Rapids City Clerk Lauri Parks.
Parks, 92, was hospitalized this past weekend after suffering a stroke, Lauri Parks said. He and his wife, Cleo, had been living at an independent living facility in Lisle, Ill., she said.
He arrived in Grand Rapids as a pastor in 1966 and became mayor in 1971.
Parks in 1968 sought his congregation's support to represent the Third Ward on the Grand Rapids City Commission and won the election by more than 1,000 votes, becoming the city's first black commissioner.
The commission appointed him mayor three years later. Two years after that, he won re-election as mayor, besting 10 other opponents.
Over the years, Parks has been honored in many ways. In 2003, he was bestowed the "Giants among Giants" award.
The late President Ford described Parks as a man of character and honesty and said he worked closely with Parks.
City leaders regarded Parks as a changing influence.
He lost his re-election bid for mayor in 1976 and returned to full-time ministerial duties at First Community AME Church. He retired from the church in 1985, and the couple moved to Chicago. While there, Parks served as minister at Chicago's Greater Institutional AME Church until his second retirement and subsequent return to Grand Rapids in 1999.
He and his wife had eight children.
(taken from: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/11/former_grand_rapids_mayor_lyma.html)
Lyman S. Parks, the man who served as Grand Rapids first black mayor in the 1970s, died this morning at a suburban Chicago hospital, according to his granddaughter, Grand Rapids City Clerk Lauri Parks.
Parks, 92, was hospitalized this past weekend after suffering a stroke, Lauri Parks said. He and his wife, Cleo, had been living at an independent living facility in Lisle, Ill., she said.
He arrived in Grand Rapids as a pastor in 1966 and became mayor in 1971.
Parks in 1968 sought his congregation's support to represent the Third Ward on the Grand Rapids City Commission and won the election by more than 1,000 votes, becoming the city's first black commissioner.
The commission appointed him mayor three years later. Two years after that, he won re-election as mayor, besting 10 other opponents.
Over the years, Parks has been honored in many ways. In 2003, he was bestowed the "Giants among Giants" award.
The late President Ford described Parks as a man of character and honesty and said he worked closely with Parks.
City leaders regarded Parks as a changing influence.
He lost his re-election bid for mayor in 1976 and returned to full-time ministerial duties at First Community AME Church. He retired from the church in 1985, and the couple moved to Chicago. While there, Parks served as minister at Chicago's Greater Institutional AME Church until his second retirement and subsequent return to Grand Rapids in 1999.
He and his wife had eight children.
(taken from: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/11/former_grand_rapids_mayor_lyma.html)
"Lyman Parks, first black mayor of Grand Rapids, dies at 92". By Jim Harger | The Grand Rapids Press November 04, 2009, 8:48AM
Lyman S. Parks, the man who served as Grand Rapids first black mayor in the 1970s, died this morning at a suburban Chicago hospital, according to his granddaughter, Grand Rapids City Clerk Lauri Parks.
Parks, 92, was hospitalized this past weekend after suffering a stroke, Lauri Parks said. He and his wife, Cleo, had been living at an independent living facility in Lisle, Ill., she said.
He arrived in Grand Rapids as a pastor in 1966 and became mayor in 1971.
Parks in 1968 sought his congregation's support to represent the Third Ward on the Grand Rapids City Commission and won the election by more than 1,000 votes, becoming the city's first black commissioner.
The commission appointed him mayor three years later. Two years after that, he won re-election as mayor, besting 10 other opponents.
Over the years, Parks has been honored in many ways. In 2003, he was bestowed the "Giants among Giants" award.
The late President Ford described Parks as a man of character and honesty and said he worked closely with Parks.
City leaders regarded Parks as a changing influence.
He lost his re-election bid for mayor in 1976 and returned to full-time ministerial duties at First Community AME Church. He retired from the church in 1985, and the couple moved to Chicago. While there, Parks served as minister at Chicago's Greater Institutional AME Church until his second retirement and subsequent return to Grand Rapids in 1999.
He and his wife had eight children.
(taken from: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/11/former_grand_rapids_mayor_lyma.html)
Lyman S. Parks, the man who served as Grand Rapids first black mayor in the 1970s, died this morning at a suburban Chicago hospital, according to his granddaughter, Grand Rapids City Clerk Lauri Parks.
Parks, 92, was hospitalized this past weekend after suffering a stroke, Lauri Parks said. He and his wife, Cleo, had been living at an independent living facility in Lisle, Ill., she said.
He arrived in Grand Rapids as a pastor in 1966 and became mayor in 1971.
Parks in 1968 sought his congregation's support to represent the Third Ward on the Grand Rapids City Commission and won the election by more than 1,000 votes, becoming the city's first black commissioner.
The commission appointed him mayor three years later. Two years after that, he won re-election as mayor, besting 10 other opponents.
Over the years, Parks has been honored in many ways. In 2003, he was bestowed the "Giants among Giants" award.
The late President Ford described Parks as a man of character and honesty and said he worked closely with Parks.
City leaders regarded Parks as a changing influence.
He lost his re-election bid for mayor in 1976 and returned to full-time ministerial duties at First Community AME Church. He retired from the church in 1985, and the couple moved to Chicago. While there, Parks served as minister at Chicago's Greater Institutional AME Church until his second retirement and subsequent return to Grand Rapids in 1999.
He and his wife had eight children.
(taken from: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/11/former_grand_rapids_mayor_lyma.html)
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