Harvey B Gantt

Principal Partner, Gantt Huberman Architects, PLLC. Harvey Gantt was the first African-American elected to the office of Mayor in Charlotte. In 1974 Gantt was chosen to fill the seat of Fred Alexander, the first black on the City Council, when he was elected to the N.C. Senate. Gantt was then elected to Council in 1975 for the 1976-77 term. He was again re-elected At-Large for the 1977-79 term. In 1981-83 he served as Mayor Pro Tem and served as Mayor from 1983-87. A native of Charleston, South Carolina Gantt became the first black to enter the previously all-white Clemson University in South Carolina. He graduated with honors in 1965. Later he earned a master's in city planning at MIT and returned to Charlotte to establish Gantt Huberman Architects. Gantt had two unsuccessful attempts to unseat U.S. Senator Jesse Helms.