Bradley, Tom

Bradley, Tom

(Thomas Bradley), 1917–98, African-American politician, b. Calvert, Tex. A sharecropper's son who became (1940) a Los Angeles police officer, he earned (1956) a law degree from Southwestern Law School and entered (1961) private practice. A Los Angeles city councilman (1963–73), he was elected the city's first black mayor in 1973. A liberal Democrat, he was reelected four times and served until 1993, during a period of Los Angeles's expansion. He ran unsuccessfully for governor of California in 1982 and 1986.

Bradley, (Thomas J.) Tom

(1917– ) lawyer, mayor, policeman; born in Calvert, Texas. Educated as a lawyer, he served in the Los Angeles Police Department from 1940–62. He had a private law practice from 1961–63, and served on the city council from 1963–73. He was elected mayor in 1973. He declined to run for a fifth term in 1993, announcing plans to return to the practice of law.