May 26, 2003

Former New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial was named President of the National Urban League May 15, a move which the New Orleans Times-Picayune said makes him "one of the most prominent African-Americans in the country."

Morial, a 45-year old Democrat was President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors from June 2001 to June 2002.

The civil rights organization, which Morial will now head, was created in 1910 to empower African-Americans to enter the social and economic mainstream.

Morial left the New Orleans mayor's post last May following an unsuccessful bid to have voters approve, in a referendum, a third term.

According to news reports, Morial beat out 450 candidates for the prominent position. Notables who have led the organization include Vernon Jordan, one of former President Bill Clinton's confidants and John Jacob, a senior vice-president of Anheuser-Busch.

Morial received a five-year contract as approved by the 43-member board and will move to New York with his wife, New Orleans television reporter Michelle Miller, and his one-year old son, Mason.

Morial is the son of New Orleans first black mayor, the late Ernest N. Morial, who also was a Conference President serving in that capacity 1985-1986.