Ben F. Gross (1921 – August 13, 2012) was an American politician, union leader, and civil right activist who was the first African-American to serve as mayor of Milpitas and the first African-American mayor to lead a predominantly white city in California.
Gross was born in 1921 in McGehee, Arkansas during the Jim Crow era.[1][2] He is a graduate of Lake Village High School in Lake Village, Arkansas where he helped to organize protests against segregation.[1] In 1948, he joined the U.S. Army and in 1949, he moved to Richmond, California where he worked at the Ford Motor Company plant.[1] In 1950, he became the first African American elected to local union's (local 560) bargaining committee.[1] In 1954, he was named the union's housing committee chairman and after Ford moved the plant to Milpitas in 1955, he developed Sunnyhills, one of the earliest integrated communities in California.[1] In 1961, he was elected to the Milpitas City Council and on April 19, 1966, he was appointed mayor, the first African-American to be elected to a predominantly white city in California (In 1960, Milpitas was 94% white).[2] While mayor, he aggressively resisted efforts by neighboring San Jose to annex Milpitas.[3] He served until April 16, 1968 when his successor, Robert E. Browne, was sworn in as mayor. He remained on the City Council until 1971.[1] He was named chairman of Local 560’s civil rights committee and participated in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963), the Selma to Montgomery marches (1965), and the Poor People's March to Washington (1969).[3] In 1971, he moved to Detroit where he served as the Assistant Director of the Civil Rights Department for the UAW.[3] He retired in 1986 but continued to serve as an arbitrator.[4]
gross, 1921, august, 2012, american, politician, union, leader, civil, right, activist, first, african, american, serve, mayor, milpitas, first, african, american, mayor, lead, predominantly, white, city, california, mayor, milpitas, californiain, office, apri. Ben F Gross 1921 August 13 2012 was an American politician union leader and civil right activist who was the first African American to serve as mayor of Milpitas and the first African American mayor to lead a predominantly white city in California Ben F GrossMayor of Milpitas CaliforniaIn office April 19 1966 April 16 1968Preceded byW D Denny WeisgerberSucceeded byRobert E BrowneCity Council of Milpitas CaliforniaIn office 1961 1971Personal detailsBorn1921McGehee Arkansas USDiedAugust 13 2012 age 91 Detroit Michigan USBiography EditGross was born in 1921 in McGehee Arkansas during the Jim Crow era 1 2 He is a graduate of Lake Village High School in Lake Village Arkansas where he helped to organize protests against segregation 1 In 1948 he joined the U S Army and in 1949 he moved to Richmond California where he worked at the Ford Motor Company plant 1 In 1950 he became the first African American elected to local union s local 560 bargaining committee 1 In 1954 he was named the union s housing committee chairman and after Ford moved the plant to Milpitas in 1955 he developed Sunnyhills one of the earliest integrated communities in California 1 In 1961 he was elected to the Milpitas City Council and on April 19 1966 he was appointed mayor the first African American to be elected to a predominantly white city in California In 1960 Milpitas was 94 white 2 While mayor he aggressively resisted efforts by neighboring San Jose to annex Milpitas 3 He served until April 16 1968 when his successor Robert E Browne was sworn in as mayor He remained on the City Council until 1971 1 He was named chairman of Local 560 s civil rights committee and participated in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom 1963 the Selma to Montgomery marches 1965 and the Poor People s March to Washington 1969 3 In 1971 he moved to Detroit where he served as the Assistant Director of the Civil Rights Department for the UAW 3 He retired in 1986 but continued to serve as an arbitrator 4 Gross died in Detroit on August 13 2012 1 References Edit a b c d e f g McCarthy Guy February 22 2013 City of Milpitas Tribute to Former Mayor Ben F Gross Civil Rights Union Leader Patch a b UAW Black History Month Spotlight Ben Gross uaw org Retrieved November 7 2021 a b c Ruffin II Herbert G February 17 2009 BEN GROSS 1921 blackpast org Kurhi Eric August 14 2012 Benjamin Gross Milpitas civil rights leader and groundbreaking black mayor dies at 91 The Mercury News Preceded byW D Denny Weisgerber Mayor of Milpitas California1966 1968 Succeeded byRobert E Browne This article about a mayor in California is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ben F Gross amp oldid 1102291370, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
