Pat McCrory grew up in Jamestown, Guilford County, North Carolina and attended Ragsdale High School, where he was President of the student body. He is married to Ann Gordon McCrory.
Pat graduated from Catawba College in 1978 with a B.A. degree in Political Science/Education. In that same year he received his North Carolina Teaching Certificate, and in 2001 Catawba College awarded McCrory an Honorary Doctorate Degree. After graduation, Pat worked for Duke Energy Corporation in various management positions and most recently served as Economic Development Consultant.
Pat began his political career in Charlotte in 1989 when he was elected as an At-Large City Council representative. He was reelected in 1991 and 1993, served as Mayor Pro Tem in 1993 and elected Mayor in 1995.
In December 2007, Mayor McCrory became the only Mayor in Charlotte history to be sworn in for a record seventh term.
Mayor McCrory has distinguished himself as a leader in the areas of public safety, economic development, housing and transportation. He has been nationally recognized for his leadership in developing Charlotte’s 25-year transportation and land-use plan.
Since Sept 2001, McCrory has been called upon by President Bush and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to serve on the Homeland Security Advisory Commission
Mayor McCrory has also testified in front of Congress six times on issues ranging from government efficiency to protecting our environment.
Pat McCrory is involved in many national organizations:
- Member, Homeland Security Advisory Council - appointed by President Bush
- Chair, U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Committee for the Environment
- Founder and first Chairman of the North Carolina Metropolitan Coalition because Mayor McCrory recognized the need for coordinated lobbying among North Carolina’s 25 largest cities
- Is the only elected official to serve on the national board of the Afterschool Alliance and is a featured Mayor in Harvard University’s Faith-based Executive Session
- Past President of the Republican Mayors and Local Officials (RMLO) organization
The Mayor has testified before Congress on environmental issues, transportation policy and privatization initiatives; and has been the guest on several national broadcasts, including National Public Radio, Lehrer News Hour, CBS This Morning, MSNBC, CNN and CNBC.
In 2003, the Mayor was the recipient of the national Homeownership Hero Award recognizing his innovative work in leading Charlotte to have one of the highest homeownership rates in the country
Mayor McCrory founded the Mayor’s Mentoring Alliance in 1995 and was presented the 2001 Governor’s Outstanding Local Official Award for his mentoring work. He is also involved with many local charity boards and serves as the honorary chair for the Charlotte chapters of the Alzheimers Foundation and Arthritis Foundation.
