Adlene Harrison

Adlene Nathanson Harrison (November 19, 1923 – February 19, 2022) was an American politician who served on the Dallas City Council from 1973 to 1977,^[1] and was acting mayor of Dallas in 1976.^[2][3] Harrison was elected as city councilwoman three times.^[4] She also served as regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency from 1977 to 1981 and as the first chair of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board. She was the first Jewish woman to serve as Mayor of a major U.S. city.^[5] She was Dallas' first Jewish mayor and first female mayor; Annette Strauss would follow her in both categories.^[6][1] Harrison, a Democratic city councilwoman, succeeded Wes Wise as mayor when he resigned to run for the United States Congress. Harrison was generally referred to as being a proponent for urban Populism.^[7] Her acting mayoral term had focuses in expanding her existing environmental policy work as well as seeking the growth of municipal historical preservation efforts.^[8] While Harrison seriously considered running for mayor in the following election cycle, she ultimately decided that her political efforts were needed elsewhere, such as in her following positions within Environmental Protection Agency.^[9] She served until the election of a new mayor, Robert Folsom, at the end of the year.

Adlene Harrison
Mayor of Dallas
Acting 1976
Preceded by	Wes Wise
Succeeded by	Robert Folsom
Personal details
Born	(1923-11-19)November 19, 1923 Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Died	February 19, 2022(2022-02-19) (aged 98) Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Missouri

Harrison died on February 19, 2022, at the age of 98.^[10]

References

1. Grigsby, Sharon (November 21, 2018). "Dallas' first female mayor is as ornery as ever — even at age 95". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
2. "History of Dallas Mayors". dallascityhall.com. City of Dallas Municipal Archives. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
3. "Adlene Harrison". Texas Legacy. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
4. "Dallas' First Woman Mayor Adlene Harrison Passes Away At 98". CBS News Texas. February 21, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
5. "Adlene Harrison becomes first Jewish female big-city mayor". Jewish Women's Archive.
6. Ragland, Janet (February 27, 2001). "SMU Women's Symposium Honors Five Dallas-Area Women". SMU.edu. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008.
7. Atkinson, Jim (January 1, 1977). "The Mayor's Race: Bob and Adlene and Garry and…?". D Magazine. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
8. "Adlene Harrison becomes first Jewish female big-city mayor". Jewish Women's Archive. February 11, 1976. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
9. Todd, David (October 17, 2000). "Adlene Harrison Interview, Part 1 of 2". Briscoe Center Digital Collections. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
10. Bailey, Everton Jr. (February 19, 2022). "Adlene Harrison, first woman to serve as Dallas mayor, dies at 98". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved February 20, 2022.