University of California Berkeley Regional Oral History Office University of California The Bancroft Library Berkeley, California University of California Black Alumni Series Lionel Wilson ATTORNEY, JUDGE, AND OAKLAND MAYOR With an Introduction by Professor Edward J . Blakely Interviews Conducted by Gabrielle Morris in 1985, 1990 Copyright (c) 1992 by The Regents of the University of California Since 1954 the Regional Oral History Office has been interviewing leading participants in or well-placed witnesses to major events in the development of Northern California, the West, and the Nation. Oral history is a modern research technique involving an interviewee and an informed interviewer in spontaneous conversation. The taped record is transcribed, lightly edited for continuity and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewee. The resulting manuscript is typed in final form, indexed, bound with photographs and illustrative materials, and placed in The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, and other research collections for scholarly use. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete narrative of events. It is a spoken account, offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is reflective, partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. ************************************ All uses of this manuscript are covered by a legal agreement between The Regents of the University of California and Lionel Wilson dated August 29, 1990. The manuscript is thereby made available for research purposes. All literary rights in the manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved to The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley. No part of the manuscript may be quoted for publication without the written permission of the Director of The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley. Requests for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to the Regional Oral History Office, 486 Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720, and should include identification of the specific passages to be quoted, anticipated use of the passages, and identification of the user. The legal agreement with Lionel Wilson requires that he be notified of the request and allowed thirty days in which to respond. It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Lionel Wilson, "Attorney, Judge, and Oakland Mayor," an oral history conducted in 1985 and 1990 by Gabrielle Morris, Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 1992. Copy no. San Francisco Examiner January 29, 1998 Lionel Wilson, tenacious builder and Oakland's first black mayor He immediately set out to rally a diverse community around a sin A the giant in ... law Athletic, political skills gle goal: rebuilding city, espe the downtown. With a talent Born in New Orleans, he moved cially and as a for federal aid, he began politics,' says toddler to Oakland, a city that attracting that included was almost as segregated as the a construction spree and the political successor South his parents left behind. A a new City Center complex he Convention Center. By Zachary Coile gifted student, graduated from Lionel will be remem OF THE EXAMINER STAFF McClymonds High School in West "I think for Oakland at age 16. bered for setting a pace, being Friends and who political rivals, for Early on he showed an athletic an African American man mer staffers and color lines as Oakland's first family members prowess that belied his lean, 5-foot- broke mourned the of and for the passing Lionel Wil 7-inch frame. He played semi-pro black mayor, getting son, the soft-spoken former judge basketball and two of development of downtown going who years Negro dominated Oakland politics League baseball. His brother Har again," said Wilson Riles Jr., a for for more than a decade as the city's old said a New York Yankees scout mer Oakland councilmember. first black mayor. told him Lionel would have been Mr. Wilson, who warily agreed signed by the team but for one fact Strong leader during '89 quake to run for mayor in 1977 and was his race. The most pressing crisis of his even more reluctant to office came the 1989 Loma leave the He later attended UC-Berkeley, during post 14 years later, died Friday at where he earned bachelor's and Prieta quake, which flattened his Oakland in home after a 10- master's degrees in economics be much of Interstate 880 West month battle with cancer. He was fore serving as an officer in the Oakland, killing 42 commuters. 82. U.S. Army Air Corps in North Af "He was very much in charge, A centrist was who sought unity rica and Europe. making sure assistance being above those who needed said party politics, the three- After graduating from Hastings given to it," term Democratic friend and consul mayor was re College of Law, he became a civil Bill Patterson, a membered for breaking color barri rights In he was al lawyer. 1960, ap tant to Mr. Wilson. "He had ers and for his devotion to building pointed Alameda County's first the for uni Oakland's ready laid groundwork skyline. black Municipal Court the judge by (in the city), and people Gov. Pat Brown. Four ty Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris, years later, rallied around him." he broke new ground again- as the in who defeated him in a three-way He lost in a mayoral primary county's first black Court race in 1991, praised his Superior mostly because of concerns predecess- , 1992, judge. and or for opening up politics to minor about his age and his costly Though initially he the Los ity politicians in the East Bay. reluctant, unsuccessful bid to force was drafted into politics in 1977 in return to Oak '^Lionel Wilson, a giant both in Angeles Raiders to an attempt to wrest control of law and politics, blazed trails over City land. Hall away from conservatives led bis one which many have followed, includ Supervisor Mary King, by the powerful Knowland of ing myself," Harris said in a state family, time chief of staff who was chair the one-time owners of the Oak ment. "This is a tremendous loss his last two campaigns, 'remem land for the Tribune. He was swept into and others, city." ; bered that while she. office by an odd coalition that in stone-faced in A highly private man, Mr. Wil wept, the mayor was cluded white liberals, Black Pan ' son kept his illness hidden from all defeat '''- : -''T^-*' ther members and labor and but his closest friends. His wife of busi "He was like Muhammad All, ness interests. want to see many years, Dorothy, didn't an King said. "You never he nounce his death, and some friends him lose a fight Maybe fought and ^ family members found out one too many." . he is about his passing through media In addition to his wife, Harold,; : his brothers, inquiries. ,. survived by The Alarneda County coroner's Kermit, Julius and Warren; sister, Lio office said the death was reported Marie Anderson; sons, Robin, several by his doctor Wednesday. He will nel Jr. and Stephen; and be Services are being cremated Feb. 3. grandchildren. planned. San Francisco Chronicle January 29, 1998 page 1 of /? Lionel Wilson / From Page 1 Jackie Robinson broke the before "I think people will of and he was denied Ex-Mayor color barrier, Lionel's mayoralty as a transition in league pro opportunities major period," said former City Manager Dies fessional sports. Henry Gardner. "It was a transi Oakland, from the Instead, he graduated tion as far as what was happening at Berke University of California in the political culture. But Lionel First black to hold post, from Hastings ley, earned a degree was hardly a transition mayor. He Law and became a clear about his he served three terms College of the was very what In he be civil rights lawyer. 1960, agenda was. He had very strong first black By Rick DelVecchio came Alameda County's feelings about the importance of Governor Edmund G. Hall to minorities and Chronicle judge when opening City StqffWriter him to the (Pat) Brown appointed women, and all minorities, not just Former Oakland Mayor Lionel bench. African Americans." and Wilson, a fiery competitor He was elected to the first of Wilson was a centrist who who brought in 1977, compassionate judge his three terms as mayor brought to politics the old-fash to black justice and opportunity ending a long reign of Republican ioned values bred into him from felt shut out for was residents who had control of Oakland City Hall. It his West Oakland childhood. He generations, a turning point in Oakland's politi got along with the local kids who . at his time when has died cal history, coming at a had become radicalized and and home. whites were fleeing the city formed the Black Panther Party. civil Wilson, Oak blacks energized by the rights As the head of a local anti-poverty were de land's first and anti-war movements program in the 1960s, he helped fu black mayor, manding a role in decision-mak ture party co-founder Bobby Scale was 82 and had ing. get a job at the agency. for been suffering As mayor, he was a pioneer And he mixed equally well from cancer. affirmative action in local govern with business leaders who repre Lionel Wilson a Wilson had ment, and used his skills as nego sented the old guard. Wilson was the not discussed his health even with tiator to make a mark on city's as concerned with the city's deteri of down close friends and family members, economy the skyline orating economy as with civil still incom who were shocked yesterday when town Oakland, though rights and affirmative action.