Wellington E. Webb
*Wellington Webb was born on this date in 1941. He is a Black (retired) politician, administrator, and the first African American Mayor of Denver, CO.
From Chicago, Ill, his family relocated to the Northeast section of Denver when he was a child. Wellington E. Webb was an all-conference basketball player at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado, in 1960. Four years later, he obtained his B.A. in sociology from Colorado State College at Greeley and his M.A. in sociology from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley in 1971. Webb was turned down twice for teaching positions in the Denver public schools. He was working as a forklift operator when he sought advice from his grandmother, Helen M. Gamble, who was active in the community affairs of northeast Denver. Following her advice, he went to work at the Denver City Hall.
His political career began through her mentoring with Webb about political involvement and leverage. In 1972, Webb was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives; five years later, President Jimmy Carter selected Webb as regional director of the U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare. In 1981, Colorado Governor Richard Lamm appointed Webb to his cabinet as executive director of the Department of Regulatory Agencies. In 1987, Webb was elected Denver city auditor, where his track record paved the way for his successful and historic mayoral bid in 1991. Webb pledged to walk the entire city, and the Denver media followed.
In his three terms as mayor of Denver, Webb focused on four major areas: parks and open space, public safety, economic development, and children. During his administration, there was a record 40 percent decrease in crime, and unemployment dipped below 2 percent. Webb's development projects included the new Denver International Airport, a new sports stadium, the expansion of the Denver Art Museum, and a new African American Research Library. Webb was president of the Democratic Mayors and the past president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Conference of Black Mayors.
He lectures often and was a guest lecturer at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Webb also works with his wife, former Colorado State Representative Wilma J. Webb.
In 2003, he founded Webb Group International to offer his experience and expertise to cities and businesses. Webb Group International specializes in the following:
• Working with mayors and city officials to build and finance hotel and convention centers.
• The management of convention centers or other public facilities
• Downtown economic projects
• Providing full representation of cities in Washington, D.C.
• Affirmative Action Ordinance for construction and professional service contracts reviewed and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.
