Drakeford, Jack

Jack Drakeford was one of the most influential public servants in Englewood’s modern history, a lifelong resident whose career reflected both the struggles and aspirations of the city he served for more than five decades. Born and raised in Englewood, Drakeford came of age during a period when segregation and racial discrimination still shaped daily life. Those early experiences deeply informed his lifelong commitment to fairness, effective government, and civic inclusion. Drakeford’s public service began with the Englewood Fire Department, where he developed a reputation for discipline, reliability, and leadership. From there, he moved into municipal government, serving in an extraordinary range of roles that reflected both his versatility and the trust placed in him by the community. Over the course of his career, he served as city clerk, acting director of public works, public safety director, city manager, and multiple terms as a member—and president—of the Englewood City Council. Elected to the City Council in the 1970s, Drakeford quickly became a central figure in local governance. He served as Council President in multiple decades (1976, 1999, 2002, and 2004), an achievement unmatched in Englewood’s history. Colleagues and residents alike came to refer to him as the “dean of the council,” a reflection of his institutional knowledge, political skill, and enduring influence. One of the defining moments of Drakeford’s career came with his appointment as Englewood’s City Manager in the 1980s. The appointment was controversial and legally challenged, reflecting broader debates over professionalism, race, and political power in municipal government. The courts ultimately upheld the appointment, and Drakeford became the first African American City Manager in Englewood’s history—and in New Jersey. As city manager, he played a pivotal role in modernizing city operations, strengthening fiscal management, improving public safety, and helping to reverse Englewood’s reputation for high taxes and crime. Much of this work, by his own preference, was carried out behind the scenes. After his tenure as city manager, Drakeford continued to serve Englewood in elected and appointed roles, including as president of the Englewood Board of Education and later returning once more to the City Council. Across generations of leadership, he remained a key mentor and strategist, valued for his deep understanding of people, politics, and the practical realities of governing. Beyond City Hall, Drakeford was active in regional civic life. He served on the boards of Bergen County Habitat for Humanity and the Bergen County Technical School District, and he represented Englewood in national and international exchanges connected to public service, including trips abroad late in his career. Jack Drakeford died at age 75, leaving behind a legacy defined by persistence, pragmatism, and an unwavering belief that local government could be a force for justice and improvement. Widely regarded as a foundational figure in Englewood’s late-20th-century transformation, he is remembered not only for the offices he held, but for the generations of leaders he guided and the city he helped shape.