Carl Stokes; A strong and graceful pioneer.(NEWS) From: Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) | Date: April 6, 1996 | COPYRIGHT 1996 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

Cleveland is awash in memories of Carl Burton Stokes, but in the rest of the country his passing this week was pretty much back-page news. His biggest triumphs had long belonged to history and, besides, they were milestones of an era that many Americans might prefer to forget.

The black big-city mayor has become almost commonplace, from Tom Bradley and Coleman Young to Marion Barry, David Dinkins and Sharon Sayles Belton. It is a little shocking to realize it was less t...