Mervyn Dymally | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 52nd district | |
| In office December 7, 2002 – December 1, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Carl Washington |
| Succeeded by | Isadore Hall III |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 31st district | |
| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Charles H. Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Walter R. Tucker III (redistricted) |
| 41st Lieutenant Governor of California | |
| In office January 6, 1975 – January 8, 1979 | |
| Governor | Jerry Brown |
| Preceded by | John L. Harmer |
| Succeeded by | Mike Curb |
| Member of the California Senate from the 29th district | |
| In office January 2, 1967 – January 6, 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Vernon Sturgeon |
| Succeeded by | Bill Greene |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 53rd district | |
| In office January 7, 1963 – January 2, 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Montivel Burke |
| Succeeded by | Bill Greene |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mervyn Malcolm Dymally May 12, 1926 Cedros, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Died | October 7, 2012 (aged 86) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Amentha Wilkes Alice Gueno |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | California State University, Los Angeles (BA) California State University, Sacramento (MA) United States International University (PhD) |
Mervyn Malcolm Dymally (May 12, 1926 – October 7, 2012) was an American politician from California. He served in the California State Assembly (1963–1966) and the California State Senate (1967–1975) as the 41st lieutenant governor of California (1975–1979) and in the U.S. House of Representatives (1981–1993). Dymally returned to politics a decade later to serve in the California State Assembly (2003–2008).[1]
Dymally was the first Trinidadian to serve California as state senator and lieutenant governor. He was one of the first persons of Dougla (mixed African and Indian) origin to serve in the U.S. Congress.
In 1974, he and George L. Brown became among the first African Americans elected to statewide state office since Oscar Dunn did so during Reconstruction.[2]
Dymally was the second African-American to hold statewide office in California, following Wilson Riles who served as California Superintendent of Public Instruction starting in 1971.
- ^ Mervyn Dymally profile, JoinCalifornia.com; accessed September 23, 2021.
- ^ "George L. Brown, 79; First Black to Hold Statewide Office in U.S." Los Angeles Times. 2006-04-05. Retrieved 2008-09-15.