Thomas J. “Tom” Bradley was born on December 29, 1917, in Calvert, Texas. He moved with his family to Los Angeles around 1924, where he later attended UCLA on a track scholarship. After leaving UCLA in 1940, Bradley joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), becoming one of the few African American officers at the time. He served for 22 years, achieving the rank of lieutenant before retiring to pursue a career in law and politics. ?Los Angeles Sentinel

In 1963, Bradley was elected to the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 10th District. A decade later, on May 29, 1973, he made history by becoming the first African American mayor of Los Angeles, defeating incumbent Sam Yorty with 56% of the vote. Bradley served an unprecedented five terms as mayor, from 1973 to 1993, making him the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history. ?Wikipedia

During his tenure, Bradley focused on issues such as police reform, economic development, and international trade. He was instrumental in bringing the 1984 Summer Olympics to Los Angeles, an event that was both financially successful and showcased the city’s diversity. ?Los Angeles Sentinel

Bradley also ran for governor of California in 1982 and 1986 but was unsuccessful in both attempts. His narrow loss in 1982 led to the coining of the term “the Bradley effect,” referring to the discrepancy between voter opinion polls and actual election outcomes when a white candidate runs against a person of color. ?Wikipedia

Tom Bradley passed away on September 29, 1998, at the age of 80. His legacy continues to be honored in Los Angeles, with landmarks such as the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport named in his memory.