Clarence Harmon

Harmon was born to a Baptist family, and the only boy out of three children. His father was a cook on a railway, while his mother was a nurse. As a boy, Harmon was converted to Catholicism in order to attend the McBride High School, a boys-only institution. After graduating from it, he served in the US Army in the 101st Airborne Division and then got enrolled into Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University).[1]

Prior to serving as Mayor, Harmon had served as Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis's 30th Police Commissioner between the years 1991 and 1995, becoming the first African American to do so.[2] During the time as Police Commissioner his duty was to patrol Fox Park, St. Louis, which was crime infested, but in 30 days time, the city's crime dropped 47%.[1]

He defeated incumbent Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. in the Democratic Primary in 1997 and went on to win election by a wide margin in the general election.[3] Following his victory, Harmon shouted "Tear down the walls of isolation, St. Louis!", calling for the unity and racial healing.[4] Harmon was defeated for re-election in the 2001 Democratic Primary.[5]