Dollarhide, first black mayor of Compton, succumbs

Born on March 11, 1923 in Earlsboro, Okla., the Dollarhide family moved to San Jose when he was 17.
Dollarhide enlisted in the service in January 1942 and served until 1945. After moving to Los Angeles, he was employed as a postal worker, attended college and studied law. He was elected as Compton’s first African American councilman in 1963.
A civil rights activist, Dollarhide worked with community organizations and served as president of the Compton branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for four years.’
Compton quickly grew to become a predominately African American city after the 1965 rioting in nearby Watts. By 1970, 70 percent of the city’s residents were black and 26 percent were white.
His election as mayor in the late ’60s made him the first black man to lead a California city. During his tenure, he instituted changes in anti-drug policies, labor and housing. He also lobbied for a new city hall and community facility-later renamed the “Dollarhide Neighborhood Center” in 1979.
After seeking a second term, Dollarhide was defeated in 1973 by Doris Davis, Compton’s first black female mayor. Dollarhide subsequently worked as a real estate agent and mortgage broker in the San Fernando Valley area.
He is survived by Patricia Kiriko, his adopted daughter, and many other relatives and friends. His wife, Eliza (Ruby), preceded him in death, as well as a daughter, Barbara Jean, at the age of 9.