James B. Black Politician

James "Jim" Boyce Black (born March 25, 1935) is a member of the North Carolina Democratic Party, and a former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly who represented the state's 100th House district, including constituents in Mecklenburg County. An optometrist from Matthews, North Carolina, Black was elected to 11 (non-consecutive) terms in the House of Representatives, and served as Speaker of the House from January 1999 through the end of 2006, when scandal forced him to give up the leadership post. For the 2003-2004 legislative session Black was elected to serve as “Co-Speaker” with Republican Richard T. Morgan serving as the other Co-Speaker. He is tied with Liston B. Ramsey as longest-serving Speaker in state history.Black earned an O.D. from the Southern College of Optometry. He served in the United States Navy and in the United States Naval Reserve.