James L. Flournoy

James L. Flournoy (December 12, 1915 – February 21, 2009) was an African American attorney and politician from California. He was notable for being first African American nominated by either party for partisan office in California.^[1][2]

Flournoy was born on December 12, 1915, in Como, Texas.^[3] He attended high school in Texarkana, and later graduated from Bishop College in Marshall, Texas in chemistry.^[3] He was later a math and science teacher and basketball coach.^[3] Flournoy served in the United States Army during World War II. He later moved to Southern California after the war, where he attended Southwestern University Law School.^[3]

In 1962, Flournoy ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the state Board of Equalization.^[3] In 1966, he lost the Republican primary for California's 31st Congressional district.^[3] During the 1968 presidential election, he served as national director of the Black Americans for Nixon-Agnew.^[4] In 1970, he ran for Secretary of State, but lost to Jerry Brown. In 1974, he ran for primary for state controller unsuccessfully.^[1] He later was appointed to the Workmen's Compensation Board by then-Governor Ronald Reagan.^[3] He later served as deputy director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles.^[3]

Flournoy was married to his first wife, Lovelia Johnson, who predeceased him in 1981.^[3] He was survived by two children.^[3] Flournoy died of heart failure on February 21, 2009, in Moreno Valley at the age of 93.^[1]