Atlantic City in Atlantic County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
James L. Usry
— 1922-2002 —
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, October 10, 2010
1. James L. Usry Marker
Inscription.
James L. Usry. . Born in Athens, Georgia, this educator, mayor, professional athlete and longtime Atlantic City resident was affectionately known as “Big Jim.” He was a 6' 6" giant of a man who never raised his voice. Jim was a classroom teacher and school principal, rising to the position of Assistant Superintendent of the Atlantic City public schools, and a visionary of the Martin Luther King, Jr. School Complex. Usry graduated from Lincoln University in 1946 with a B.A. and received a Masters Degree in 1971 from Glassboro State College (Rowan University). A U.S. Army Military Policeman, he was one of the first African-American professional basketball players to don the uniform of the Harlem Renaissance. Later, he became Atlantic City’s first African-American mayor and the President of the National Association of Black Mayors. Above all, he was a positive role model for three generations of Atlantic City children who knew him as “Pop Pop” Usry. , [Seal of the] City of Atlantic City, Incorporated March 1854.
Born in Athens, Georgia, this educator, mayor, professional athlete and longtime Atlantic City resident was affectionately known as “Big Jim.” He was a 6' 6" giant of a man who never raised his voice. Jim was a classroom teacher and school principal, rising to the position of Assistant Superintendent of the Atlantic City public schools, and a visionary of the Martin Luther King, Jr. School Complex. Usry graduated from Lincoln University in 1946 with a B.A. and received a Masters Degree in 1971 from Glassboro State College (Rowan University). A U.S. Army Military Policeman, he was one of the first African-American professional basketball players to don the uniform of the Harlem Renaissance. Later, he became Atlantic City’s first African-American mayor and the President of the National Association of Black Mayors. Above all, he was a positive role model for three generations of Atlantic City children who knew him as “Pop Pop” Usry.
[Seal of the] City of Atlantic City, Incorporated March 1854.
Erected 2009 by City of Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Location. 39° 21.639′ N, 74° 25.931′ W. Marker is in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in Atlantic County. Marker is at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and No. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, on the right when traveling west on Atlantic Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1700 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City NJ 08401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . James L. Usry. (Submitted on October 19, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
Additional keywords.
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, October 10, 2010
2. James L. Usry Marker
New York "Rens" basketball; WWII Veteran; 92nd Infantry Division; Republican Party.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,229 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 19, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
