Marion Barry

Marion Shepilov Barry, Jr. (born March 6, 1936) served as Democratic mayor of Washington, D.C from 1979 to 1991. He was forced to leave office as a result of a crack cocaine arrest, but afterward was elected to the D.C. council and ultimately the mayoralty, serving a new term from 1995 to 1999.

Barry was born in Itta Bena, Mississippi. He grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and graduated from LeMoyne College there. He joined the US civil rights movement and was elected the first chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.