Harvey Gantt Elected Mayor

November 1983

In a story Harvey Gantt tells often, he remembers coming to Charlotte for the first time, with a young wife and infant son. It was late at night, and he had an important job interview the next day. Because of his skin color, he struggled to find a motel that would put him up for the night.

Ten years later, he was elected mayor of the city. He became Charlotte's first and only African-American mayor, and he served two terms.