Lucien E. Blackwell
Encyclopedia
Lucien Edward Blackwell (August 1, 1931 – January 24, 2003) was a United States Congressman
who represented West Philadelphia
and parts of Delaware County, Pennsylvania
from 1991 to 1995. He was a Democrat
.
on August 1, 1931. After attending public schools, Blackwell joined the United States Army
, serving in the Korean War
in 1953. Blackwell was a boxing
champion during his years in the Army. Blackwell attended the West Philadelphia High School.
leader, serving as president of the Local 1332, International Longshoremen’s Association from 1973 to 1991. Blackwell's professional political career began with election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
where he served from 1973 to 1975.
from 1974 to 1991. In City Council, Blackwell served for several terms as Chairman of the City Council Finance Committee, where he led the charge to divest pension
funds from businesses doing business in South Africa. Blackwell also sponsored the Philadelphia's first law to create opportunities for minorities and women to compete to obtain city contracts. Blackwell was also heavily involved in legislation to create the Pennsylvania Convention Center
and in passing the law that broke Philadelphia's long-standing building height limit, allowing for the construction of Philadelphia's One Liberty Place. Blackwell was perhaps best known for his fiery oratory on the Council floor and for serving as a mentor to the former Philadelphia Mayor (and Council President) John F. Street
. During his City Council tenure, Blackwell was an unsuccessful candidate for mayor of Philadelphia in both 1979 and 1991.
to the One Hundred Second
Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Representative William H. Gray, and reelected to the succeeding Congress. In Congress, Blackwell was a member of the United States House Committee on the Budget
and a reliable advocate for President Bill Clinton
's economic policies. Blackwell was ultimately an unsuccessful candidate for renomination to the One Hundred Fourth
Congress in 1994, losing the primary to Chaka Fattah
, and served as lobbyist following his tenure in Congress.
On January 24, 2003, Blackwell died at the age of 71. A mural reading "Thank you, Mr. Blackwell", can be seen at 42nd Street and Haverford Avenue in West Philadelphia. Blackwell's widow, Jannie L. Blackwell
, is a member of the Philadelphia City Council
, and his son, Thomas W. Blackwell
, was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
.
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
who represented West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though there is no official definition of its boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Line Avenue to the northwest, Cobbs Creek to the southwest, and...
and parts of Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
from 1991 to 1995. He was a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Early life
Blackwell was born in Whitsett, Fayette County, PennsylvaniaFayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....
on August 1, 1931. After attending public schools, Blackwell joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, serving in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
in 1953. Blackwell was a boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
champion during his years in the Army. Blackwell attended the West Philadelphia High School.
Pennsylvania politics
Blackwell was a powerful Philadelphia unionTrade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader, serving as president of the Local 1332, International Longshoremen’s Association from 1973 to 1991. Blackwell's professional political career began with election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
where he served from 1973 to 1975.
Philadelphia City Council
Blackwell was best known as a vibrant member of the Philadelphia City CouncilPhiladelphia City Council
The Philadelphia City Council, the legislative body of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consists of ten members elected by district and seven members elected at-large. The council president is elected by the members from among their number...
from 1974 to 1991. In City Council, Blackwell served for several terms as Chairman of the City Council Finance Committee, where he led the charge to divest pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
funds from businesses doing business in South Africa. Blackwell also sponsored the Philadelphia's first law to create opportunities for minorities and women to compete to obtain city contracts. Blackwell was also heavily involved in legislation to create the Pennsylvania Convention Center
Pennsylvania Convention Center
The Pennsylvania Convention Center is a multi-use public facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which is designed to accommodate conventions, exhibitions, conferences and other events.-History:...
and in passing the law that broke Philadelphia's long-standing building height limit, allowing for the construction of Philadelphia's One Liberty Place. Blackwell was perhaps best known for his fiery oratory on the Council floor and for serving as a mentor to the former Philadelphia Mayor (and Council President) John F. Street
John F. Street
John Franklin Street was the 97th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. He was first elected to a term beginning on January 3, 2000, and was re-elected to a second term beginning in 2004...
. During his City Council tenure, Blackwell was an unsuccessful candidate for mayor of Philadelphia in both 1979 and 1991.
United States House of Representatives
Blackwell was elected as a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the One Hundred Second
102nd United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President:Dan Quayle * President pro tempore: Robert Byrd - Majority leadership :* Majority Leader: George Mitchell* Majority Whip: Wendell Ford- Minority leadership :...
Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Representative William H. Gray, and reelected to the succeeding Congress. In Congress, Blackwell was a member of the United States House Committee on the Budget
United States House Committee on the Budget
The U.S. House Committee on the Budget, commonly known as the House Budget Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress...
and a reliable advocate for President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's economic policies. Blackwell was ultimately an unsuccessful candidate for renomination to the One Hundred Fourth
104th United States Congress
The One Hundred Fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1995 to January 3, 1997, during the third and...
Congress in 1994, losing the primary to Chaka Fattah
Chaka Fattah
Chaka Fattah is the U.S. representative for , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
, and served as lobbyist following his tenure in Congress.
On January 24, 2003, Blackwell died at the age of 71. A mural reading "Thank you, Mr. Blackwell", can be seen at 42nd Street and Haverford Avenue in West Philadelphia. Blackwell's widow, Jannie L. Blackwell
Jannie L. Blackwell
Jannie L. Blackwell is a Democratic Councilwoman representing the Third District on the City Council of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She has served since 1991...
, is a member of the Philadelphia City Council
Philadelphia City Council
The Philadelphia City Council, the legislative body of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consists of ten members elected by district and seven members elected at-large. The council president is elected by the members from among their number...
, and his son, Thomas W. Blackwell
Thomas W. Blackwell
Thomas W. Blackwell was a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 190th District since 2005. He and his wife live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and have 4 children. He lost the 2008 primary election and was succeeded by fellow Democrat Vanessa Brown...
, was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
.