1917 – Born in Calvert, Texas

1924 – Moved to Los Angeles

1937 – Elected student body president at the mostly white Polytechnic High School

1937 – Attended UCLA with a major in Education, became a track star, and helped break the color barrier in college athletics

1938 – Became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, and later, the fraternity’s national President

1940 – Joined the Los Angeles Police Department for $170 a month

1941 – Married Ethel Mae Arnold, a beautician with her own shop

1949 – Volunteered for the successful LA City Council campaign for Edward Roybal

1950 – Formed and headed the first ever LAPD Community Relations Department

1956 – Graduated from Southwestern Law School and passed the California Bar Exam

1958 – Rose to rank of Lieutenant in the LAPD

1962 – Retired from the LAPD and began to practice law

1963 – Elected to the LA City Council representing the Tenth District

1967 – Re-elected to the LA City Council

1969 – Won LA mayoral primary, but lost runoff against Sam Yorty

1973 – Won LA mayoral primary and runoff and made history by becoming the first African American mayor of a major U.S. city elected with an overwhelming white population

1976 – Became co-chair of the Democratic National Convention

1977 – Elected to a second term as Mayor of Los Angeles

1981 – Elected to a third term as Mayor of Los Angeles

1982 – Won Democratic gubernatorial primary, but lost general election to George Deukmejian

1984 – Brought the Summer Olympics to Los Angeles, marking the height of his popularity

1985 – Elected to a fourth term as Mayor of Los Angeles

1986 – Won Democratic gubernatorial primary, but lost general election to George Deukmejian

1989 – Elected to a record fifth term as Mayor of Los Angeles

1992 – Los Angeles civil unrest erupted and exploded for three days, the lowest point of his career

1993 – Retired after five decades of public service as a police officer, City Councilman and Mayor

1996 – Suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak for the rest of his life

1998 – Died at the age of 80 after suffering from a heart attack