April 30, 1941

Prominent African American political leader Lottie Shackelford was born in Little Rock. Following her graduation from Horace Mann High School in 1958, Shackleford enrolled in Philander Smith College with the intention of becoming a microbiologist. After the death of her father in 1963, she left school but returned to Philander when her oldest child was in high school, receiving a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1979. After serving on the Little Rock Board of Directors, Shackelford became the first female mayor of Little Rock in 1987, after being elected to the position by the board.