Lottie Shackelford

Lottie Lee Holt Shackelford (born April 30, 1941) is an American politician. Shackelford was the first woman and first Black woman appointed mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas in 1987. She remains the only Black female who has ever held this position. She served as mayor until 1991. Throughout the 1980s, Shackelford worked extensively with the Democratic National Committee, beginning with her work on Bill Clinton’s campaigns. in 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed her to the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), making her the first African-American woman to serve in that role. She was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 1993. Throughout the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s she has remained an active member of the Democratic Party, partially through her work on the Democratic National Committee.Additionally, she is the longest serving vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), having held the office for over 20 years.