Jim Usry

From Hoopedia

James Leroy Usry (born February 2, 1922, in Athens, Georgia – February 25, 2002 in Absecon, New Jersey) played for the Renaissance Five and the Dayton Rens. He later became the first African American Mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Usry graduated from Atlantic City High School and earned a bachelor's degree in 1946 from Lincoln University. In 1971, he earned a master's degree from Glassboro State College.

From 1946 to 1951, he was a professional basketball player with the barnstorming New York Renaissance and National Basketball League's Dayton Rens. In the 1950-51 season he played with the Saratoga Harlem Yankees of the American Basketball League.

Some sources claim that Usry played for the Harlem Globetrotters, but his name does not appear on the Globetrotter's all-time roster.

A Republican, Usry served as mayor from 1984 to 1990, after defeating Mayor Michael J. Matthews in a recall election. From 1952 to 1984, Usry was an educator in the Atlantic City School District, where he served as assistant superintendent from 1977 to 1984. On March 20, 1987, Usry was nominated by President Ronald Reagan for a two-year term on the National Advisory Council on Educational Research and Improvement. On July 28, 1989, Usry was arrested with 13 other political leaders following an investigation into municipal corruption. He was charged with bribery, conspiracy, official misconduct and accepting unlawful gifts. All the major charges against Usry were later dropped when he pleaded guilty to improper reporting of campaign contributions and agreed to do 60 hours of community service with the Salvation Army. In 1990, Usry was succeeded as mayor by Jim Whelan.

The James L. Usry Child Day Care Center in Atlantic City is named for him.