ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — In 1989, voters elected Rockford’s first Black mayor, Charles Box.
When Rockford Mayor John McNamara decided to step down, he planned for Box, who was then City Administrator, to succeed him. Box said he had to be convinced to pursue the job.
“People, who I really respected, [believed] that I could do the job. My hometown, my family was here. We had a family business here. And I thought I could do a good job,” he said.
Box went on to serve as mayor for 12 years, until 2001.
He said he felt the gravity of becoming the city’s first Black mayor.
“It puts pressure on you, because you want to do a good job,” he said. “A lot of people helped me become mayor, from my church and in the community. I didn’t want to let them down.”
Current Mayor Tom McNamara, son of John McNamara, said he believes Box’s impact on the city’s youth was immeasurable.
“When you look at young [Black] people in our community back in ’89 and ’90, and all through his 12 years, it showed them that they too could be mayor of Rockford,” McNamara said.