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'''Clarence Ray Fields, Sr.''' (born November 7, 1955), is an [[United States|American]] [[politician]] who has been since December 14, 1999, the [[mayor]] of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]], the sister city separated by the Red River from the larger [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], both in Rapides Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pineville.net/egov/apps/directory/list.egov?path=pro&usr=10|title=Clarence Fields|publisher=|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref>​

'''Clarence Ray Fields, Sr.''' (born November 7, 1955), is an [[African-American]] [[politician]] who has been since December 14, 1999, the [[mayor]] of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]], the sister city separated by the Red River from the larger [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], both in Rapides Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pineville.net/egov/apps/directory/list.egov?path=pro&usr=10|title=Clarence Fields|publisher=|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref>​

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==Background==​

==Background==​

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Fields was born at the former Huey P. Long Medical Center in Pineville, a state charity hospital which operated from 1939 to 2014. Officials have sought to place the structure, under the original name of Huey P. Long Memorial Hospital, into the National Register of Historic Places.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/National-Register-status-wanted-for-Pineville-6346509.php|title=National Register status wanted for Pineville hospital|date=June 24, 2015|publisher=newstimes.com|accessdate=July 23, 2015}}</ref> Fields graduated c. 1973 from the former J. S. Slocum High School at 901 Crepe Myrtle Street in Pineville, now the J. S. Slocum Learning Center. He was formerly employed for twenty-two years by the Pineville-based Central Louisiana Electric Company (CLECO). He and his wife, the former Rosa Ceasar, have two children, Clarence, Jr., and Bethany Fields, and one grandchild. The family is actively involved in the First [[United Methodist]] Church of Pineville.

Fields was born at the former Huey P. Long Medical Center in Pineville, a state charity hospital named for the late [[Governor]] and [[U.S. Senator]] [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]], which operated from 1939 to 2014. Officials have sought to place the structure, under the original name of Huey P. Long Memorial Hospital, into the National Register of Historic Places.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/National-Register-status-wanted-for-Pineville-6346509.php|title=National Register status wanted for Pineville hospital|date=June 24, 2015|publisher=newstimes.com|accessdate=July 23, 2015}}</ref> Fields graduated c. 1973 from the former J. S. Slocum High School at 901 Crepe Myrtle Street in Pineville, now the J. S. Slocum Learning Center. He was formerly employed for twenty-two years by the Pineville-based Central Louisiana Electric Company (CLECO). He and his wife, the former Rosa Ceasar, have two children, Clarence, Jr., and Bethany Fields, and one grandchild. The family is actively involved in the First [[United Methodist]] Church of Pineville.

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==Career==​

==Career==​

<ref>Jeff Matthews, Pineville Mayor Fields once again re-elected without opposition, ''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref>​

<ref>Jeff Matthews, Pineville Mayor Fields once again re-elected without opposition, ''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref>​

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In 2003, Pineville won the state "Cleanest City" award for municipalities between 8,000 and 16,000 in population, an early highlight of the Fields administration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pineville.net/egov/docs/1236778755_347473.pdf|title=Pineville Wins State Cleanest City Contest|publisher=pineville.net|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> From 2000 to 2003, Fields and then Alexandria Mayor Edward Gordon "Ned" Randolph, Jr. (1942-2016) joined with the Evangelical Pastor's Fellowship to host a "Minister's and Mayor's Prayer Breakfast".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pineville.net/egov/docs/1236778755_347473.pdf|title=United in Prayer|publisher=pineville.net|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> In 2007, Fields was elected president of the Louisiana Municipal Association by his fellow mayors, the first Pineville mayor to hold that position. He was succeeded by the first vice president, the late [[Bill Robertson]], then the mayor of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]].<ref>''[[Minden Press-Herald]]'', August 10, 2008, p. 1</ref> Fields remains a current member of the LMA board of directors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lma.org/LMA20/About/Board_of_Directors/LMA20/About_LMA/Board_Photos.aspx?hkey=e0dea89e-15aa-4b49-a253-4aba2dc7ead6|title=LMA Board of Directors|publisher=lma.org|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> He is vice chairman of the Municipal Employees Retirement Board.​

In 2003, Pineville won the state "Cleanest City" award for municipalities between 8,000 and 16,000 in population, an early highlight of the Fields administration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pineville.net/egov/docs/1236778755_347473.pdf|title=Pineville Wins State Cleanest City Contest|publisher=pineville.net|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> From 2000 to 2003, Fields and then Alexandria Mayor Edward Gordon "Ned" Randolph, Jr. (1942-2016) joined with the Evangelical Pastor's Fellowship to host a "Minister's and Mayor's Prayer Breakfast".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pineville.net/egov/docs/1236778755_347473.pdf|title=United in Prayer|publisher=pineville.net|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> In 2007, Fields was elected president of the Louisiana Municipal Association by his fellow mayors, the first Pineville mayor to hold that position. He was succeeded by the first vice president, [[Bill Robertson]], then the longest-serving mayor of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]].<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', August 10, 2008, p. 1.</ref> Fields remains a current member of the LMA board of directors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lma.org/LMA20/About/Board_of_Directors/LMA20/About_LMA/Board_Photos.aspx?hkey=e0dea89e-15aa-4b49-a253-4aba2dc7ead6|title=LMA Board of Directors|publisher=lma.org|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> He is vice chairman of the Municipal Employees Retirement Board.​

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In 2010, the city council approved Fields' choice of Donald "Don" Weatherford to succeed the retiring Terral Paul as the Pineville police chief. A veteran of the Alexandria Police Department, Weatherford reached the rank there of executive officer of criminal investigations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pinevillepd.com/chief-of-police/|title=Chief of Police|publisher=pinevillepd.com|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref>​

In 2010, the city council approved Fields' choice of Donald "Don" Weatherford to succeed the retiring Terral Paul as the Pineville police chief. A veteran of the Alexandria Police Department, Weatherford reached the rank there of executive officer of criminal investigations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pinevillepd.com/chief-of-police/|title=Chief of Police|publisher=pinevillepd.com|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref>​

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On April 25, 2016, in his "State of the City" address, Mayor Fields confirmed that Revolution Aluminum has purchased property for a plant in Pineville. He added that a railroad and an ammonia facility will locate at the former site of the International Paper Company mill. In setting up their operations, the three companies are expected to spend more than $1.5 billion and employ more than one thousand persons. Fields said that two new businesses will open on U.S. Highway 165 near the Claybrook Cottingham Expressway, a second site of the Alexandria restaurant, Quebedeaux's, and a Holiday Inn Express.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2016/04/25/mayor-fields-optimistic-future-pineville/83494186/|title=Mayor Fields optimistic about future in Pineville: Movement of aluminum plant among the good news|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk'' |date=April 25, 2016|author=Jeff Matthews|accessdate=May 4, 2016}}</ref>​

On April 25, 2016, in his "State of the City" address, Mayor Fields confirmed that Revolution Aluminum has purchased property for a plant in Pineville. He added that a railroad and an ammonia facility will locate at the former site of the International Paper Company mill. In setting up their operations, the three companies are expected to spend more than $1.5 billion and employ more than one thousand persons. Fields said that two new businesses will open on U.S. Highway 165 near the Claybrook Cottingham Expressway, a second site of the Alexandria restaurant, Quebedeaux's, and a Holiday Inn Express.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2016/04/25/mayor-fields-optimistic-future-pineville/83494186/|title=Mayor Fields optimistic about future in Pineville: Movement of aluminum plant among the good news|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk'' |date=April 25, 2016|author=Jeff Matthews|accessdate=May 4, 2016}}</ref>​

 

==References==​

==References==

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{{reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fields, Clarence}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fields, Clarence}}​

[[Category:Democrats]]​

[[Category:Democrats]]​

[[Category:Methodists]]​

[[Category:Methodists]]​

[[Category:African Americans]]

[[Category:African-Americans]]