Ret. Senator Ed Vincent
LOS ANGELES – Ed Vincent, who was elected the first black mayor of Inglewood before serving in the state Legislature, has died. He was 78.
It was with great sadness that Senator Roderick D. Wright (D-Inglewood) relayed to Members of the California State Senate during the final night of the 2011-12 Legislative Session the news that Senator Ed Vincent (Ret.) passed away earlier today.
Wright had the honor of knowing Senator Vincent for over forty years, as both a friend and mentor. He ran Senator Vincent’s campaign when he was elected the first African-American mayor of Inglewood in 1983 and later succeeded him when term limits forced Vincent to retire from the State Senate.
“Ed Vincent was a great friend, and someone I respected so much as a legislator. I will miss him and I send my heartfelt condolences to his wife, Marilyn, and his children, grandchildren and extended family.”
Vincent became Inglewood’s mayor in 1983 and remained in that role for 13 years before entering state politics. He served in the Assembly from 1996 to 2000 and the state Senate from 2000 and 2008 before being forced out by term limits.
The Democrat also played football for the University of Iowa and the Los Angeles Rams, served in the U.S. Army and worked for the Los Angeles County Probation Department.
