Bruce Bolling

Bruce Carlton Bolling (April 29, 1945 – September 11, 2012) was a politician and businessman in Boston, Massachusetts. He was a member of the Boston City Council and served as the council's first black president in the mid-1980s. He unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Boston in 1993.

Bruce Bolling
Bolling, circa 1984-1987
President of the Boston City Council
In office 1986–1987
Preceded by	Joseph M. Tierney
Succeeded by	Christopher A. Iannella
Member of the Boston City Council
In office September 1992 – 1994
Preceded by	Christopher A. Iannella
Succeeded by	Peggy Davis-Mullen and Richard P. Iannella
Constituency	At-large
In office 1984–1991
Preceded by	district created
Succeeded by	Anthony Crayton
Constituency	District 7
In office 1982–1984
Preceded by	Lawrence DiCara, Patrick F. McDonough, Rosemarie Sansone, and John W. Sears
Succeeded by	N/A
Constituency	At-large
Personal details
Born	(1945-04-29)April 29, 1945
Died	September 11, 2012(2012-09-11) (aged 67) Boston, Massachusetts, US
Nationality	American
Spouse	Joyce Ferriabough Bolling
Alma mater	M.Ed. Cambridge College

Early years

Bolling was educated at Boston English High School, Lindsey Wilson College, and received a master's degree in education from Antioch University (now Cambridge College).^[1] He was from "the city's most politically successful black family. His father, Royal L. Bolling, was a state senator and his brother, Royal L. Bolling Jr., served as state representative."^[1]

Political career

Around 1980, Bolling worked "in the administration of Mayor Kevin White in a variety of capacities, including positions in the Office of Public Safety and as a manager of a Little City Hall."^[1] In November 1981, he was elected to the Boston City Council, in the final election when all seats were at-large. He was subsequently re-elected to four two-year terms as the representative for District 7 (Roxbury). He was council president in 1986 and 1987 — "the first Black elected president of the Boston City Council."^[2] He lost his position on the council following the November 1991 election, when he unsuccessfully sought an at-large seat.^[3] He returned to the council in September 1992, following the death of at-large member Christopher A. Iannella, as Bolling had finished fifth in the election for four at-large seats.^[4][5] Bolling ran for Mayor of Boston in 1993,^[6] finishing fifth in the preliminary election.

Bolling (third from right) next to Mayor Raymond Flynn (center), with several Boston City Council members (ca.1984–1987)

Later years and legacy

From 2000 until his death, Bolling was director of MassAlliance, a firm specializing in small business development.^[7] He died of prostate cancer on September 11, 2012.^[8] He was 67.

In 2015, the Ferdinand Building in then-Dudley Square (now Nubian Square) was renamed the Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building in his honor.^[9][10] The dedication ceremony was attended by his brother, Royal L. Bolling Jr., Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, and other Massachusetts politicians.^[11]