The first African American elected as mayor in the state of Washington was William Amos Craven. Appointed in 1975 and later elected in 1976 as mayor of the town of Roslyn, Washington. He served until 1979.
Craven was raised in Roslyn. His grandfather moved from Texas to Roslyn to work in the coal mines in the area. The presence of Black miners in Roslyn can be traced back to 1888 when disgruntled white, miners called for a strike. Roslyn's population swelled to 22 percent African American when 300 the miners arrived. Workers would come from Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. By 1975, except for Craven's family, Roslyn had only one other black resident.
He held several jobs in Roslyn including grave digger and school janitor. In the early 1970s he served on the Roslyn city council. When the position of mayor came open, his fellow council members appointed him to the post on June 10, 1975. On September 16, 1976 he was elected major. Of the 305 votes cast Craven garnered 272. He became the first African American to be elected mayor in the state.
In July 2001, the Thirtymile Fire swept through the area. Craven and his wife Virginia Lee provided a place to mourn the four firefighters who died in the forest fire - one of which was their 30-year-old son, Tom.
Craven and his wife still reside in Roslyn.
Sources: Blackfacts.com; HistoryLink.org; Mtsgreenway.org
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Additional events listed at CAAA.WA.Gov/events
 Kick back and enjoy a day made just for dads — with good food, music, games, giveaways, and real conversations about fatherhood. Bring the family along and celebrate the day your way.
Jun 15, 2025, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Spokane Valley, 12928 E Mansfield Ave #1, Spokane Valley, WA 99216
 Juneteenth at NAAM: A Movement for Joy
June 19, 2025 10am - 5pm
Location: Northwest African American Museum (NAAM)
Admission: Free & open to all
Juneteenth is more than a day of remembrance—it is a declaration of Black joy as resistance. At the Northwest African American Museum, we honor this powerful legacy with a celebration that is bold, vibrant, and full of life: Juneteenth: A Movement for Joy.
Come out and celebrate Black freedom, culture, and creativity with us. Bring your friends, your family, and your joy—this is a space for all generations.
Learn more at: https://www.naamnw.org/juneteenth
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