Flint, MI–Members of the Flint community gathered on a rainy afternoon April 5 to watch the unveiling of the newly installed Floyd J. McCree statue outside of Flint’s City Hall.

The ceremony began inside City Hall with remarks from Mayor Sheldon Neeley, McCree’s son Byron, and grandson Kyle McCree.

Before heading outside to unveil the statue, Mayor Neeley played a slide show commemorating some of Floyd J. McCree’s achievements.

The statue, sculpted by artist Joseph Rundell, was installed last week but remained covered by a tarp until the ceremony. Rundell created several of statues in Flint, most recognizing figures from Flint’s automotive history, but this is the first statue of an African American in the city, officials said. It is also arguably one of the most visible statues, standing directly next to the sign in front of City Hall.

As Mayor Neeley and family and friends of McCree pulled back the tarp, attendees applauded.

“It’s humbling. It’s wonderful. I can’t believe it. I only wish my dad and my family could be here to see it. I don’t even think he would believe it,” said Byron McCree. “The way things were back in his day, it’s a whole new world out there. I think he would be excited not only for himself but for future generations. ‘If I can do it, you can do it.’ This isn’t just for Floyd McCree, this is for the city of Flint, this is for Genesee County, all the firsts we have had here.”

Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley gives the history of Floyd J. McCree during a ceremony on April 4, 2022 at City Hall. McCree was a civil rights activist and Flint’s first Black mayor. A statue of McCree was erected outside of City Hall by sculpture artist Joe Rundell. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
Family members of Floyd J. McCree sit front row at a ceremony at Flint’s City Hall on April 4, 2022. Grandson Kyle McCree with his wife Camille Koger-McCree, and Byron McCree with his wife Phyllis McCree (from left) listen to Mayor Sheldon Neeley deliver remarks. The ceremony honored civil rights activist and Flint’s first Black mayor Floyd J. McCree, and ended with the unveiling of a bronze statue of McCree outside City Hall. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
A slideshow showing some of the history behind Floyd J. McCree, civil rights activist and Flint’s first Black mayor, before the unveiling of a bronzed statue of his likeness outside of Flint’s City Hall on April 4, 2022. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
Joseph Rundell and his daughter watch a slideshow commemorating Floyd J. McCree, a civil rights activist, and Flint’s first Black mayor, at City Hall in Flint, Mich. on April 4, 2022. The ceremony was held leading up to the reveal of a bronze statue of McCree that Rundell sculpted. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
Community members gather at the Floyd J. McCree statue unveiling ceremony at Flint’s City Hall on April 4, 2022. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
Byron McCree, the son of Floyd J. McCree, honors his late father at a statue unveiling ceremony at City Hall in Flint, Mich. on April 4, 2022. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
Edith Prunty-Spencer, 95, of Flint, watches a slideshow commemorating her friend, the late Floyd J. McCree, at City Hall in Flint, Mich. on April 4, 2022. “I’m so proud of this. I’m so happy to see this recognition. The times back then were very tense so this is just wonderful,” Prunty-Spencer said. McCree was a civil rights activist and Flint’s first Black mayor. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
Outside Flint City Hall, the statue of Flint’s first Black mayor, Floyd J. McCree, awaits unveiling on April 4, 2022. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
Mayor Sheldon Neeley, his wife Cynthia, and family and friends of Floyd J. McCree pull back the tarp to reveal the newly erected statue of McCree outside of Flint City Hall on April 4, 2022. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
Family and friends of Floyd J. McCree, alongside many community members, and the statue’s creator Joseph Rundell (right), celebrate the unveiling of the Floyd J. McCree bronzed statue outside of Flint’s City Hall on April 4, 2022. McCree was Flint’s first Black mayor and a civil rights activist. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
Community members document the Floyd J. McCree statue unveiling ceremony at Flint City Hall on April 4, 2022. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
The marble base of the newly erected Floyd J. McCree statue outside of City Hall in Flint, Mich. on April 4, 2022. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
The newly erected Floyd J. McCree statute outside of City Hall in Flint, Mich. on April 4, 2022. McCree was the City of Flint’s first Black mayor and a civil rights activist who enacted the first open housing law in the U.S. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
The newly erected Floyd J. McCree statute outside of City Hall in Flint, Mich. on April 4, 2022. McCree was Flint’s first Black mayor, and a civil rights activist who enacted the first open housing law in the U.S. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
The newly erected Floyd J. McCree statute outside of City Hall in Flint, Mich. on April 4, 2022. McCree was Flint’s first Black mayor, and a civil rights activist who enacted the first open housing law in the U.S. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
The newly erected Floyd J. McCree statute outside of City Hall in Flint, Mich. on April 4, 2022. McCree Flint’s first Black mayor and a civil rights activist who enacted the first open housing law in the U.S. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)
Family members of Floyd J. McCree pose in front of the newly erected Floyd J. McCree bronzed statue outside of Flint City Hall at the unveiling ceremony on April 4, 2022. (KT Kanazawich | Flint Beat)