Ted Berry

About

Former politician and member of the Charter Party of Cincinnati, Ohio. He's most renowned for becoming the first African American to be elected mayor of Cincinnati in 1972. Prior to this, he served as a morale officer in the Office of War Information during World War II. He also served on the NAACP Ohio Committee for Civil Rights Legislation, where he worked tirelessly to promote equal employment and fair housing. 

Before Fame

Despite being born into poverty, he thrived as a student and graduated from Woodward High School as the class valedictorian, becoming the first African American to ever earn the title in all of Cincinnati. He then sought employment at various steel mills to pay his way through the University of Cincinnati and subsequently its law school. After being admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1932, he became the first black assistant prosecuting attorney in Hamilton County's history.

Trivia

In the year 1979, he was granted the William Roberg Ming Advocacy Award by the NAACP. They bestowed this honor upon him in recognition of the great sacrifices (both personal and financial) he made throughout his years working in the legal field.

Family Life

He was married to his wife Johnnie Mae Berry. Together, they had a daughter named Tiffany Berry and a son named Theodore Newton Berry (nicknamed Chico). 

Associated With

Before being elected Cincinnati mayor, he was appointed to lead the Office of Economic Opportunity's Community Action Programs by former President Lyndon B. Johnson. These programs included Head Start, the Job Corps, and Legal Services.