WJMZ salutes Mayor James Talley for proving that African-Americans can lead at the highest levels and in one of South Carolina's largest cities.

James Talley was born in Spartanburg, the youngest of eight children in a family that was poor but loving. Talley would rise above the poverty he was born into to win an athletic scholarship to Livingstone College in North Carolina. After Livingstone, he joined the U.S. Navy. Eventually, he would return to Spartanburg to begin his career in education. Talley was a teacher and a principal, first at all-black Carver High School then at Spartanburg High. Talley spent 27 years in education. But he would have an even larger impact on Spartanburg as a politician.

Talley chose to enter politics in 1979, and he would lose his first bid to become a city councilman. He came back to win a council seat in 1981, and served a decade on council where he was one of the leading voices for more African American participation in city government. Talley helped usher in an era of single-member districting in Spartanburg, which helped elect more African Americans to public office.

Talley served two terms as mayor, winning easy re-election in 1994 and 1997. His Share the Vision program is widely regarded as an innovative solution to mass participation in the political process. And Talley helped set the stage for the emergence of Spartanburg's downtown Renaissance Project, which is the cornerstone of new development in the city.

During this Black History Month, WJMZ salutes Mayor James Talley, for his vision, energy and trailblazing spirit.