Celebrate Black History Month Feb. 3 at City Hall
On January 15, 1973, Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy took the oath of office as Orlando’s first African-American City Council member. He served two terms until 1980.
An advocate of higher education, Kennedy was the organizer of the Orlando Negro Chamber of Commerce, President of the Jones High School Parent-Teacher Association and instrumental in the organization of the Orange County Parent-Teacher Council. He also worked with many organizations, including Meals on Wheels, the United Negro College Fund and the NAACP.
Kennedy died in 2000 at age 86.