The Honorable Joseph L. Adams became the 13th mayor of University City in April 1996 to April 2010 after serving on the city council since 1975. He was the first African American to serve on the city Council and the first to be elected Mayor. University City is one of the largest suburbs of the City of St. Louis, MO celebrated its 100 years of incorporation in 2006. In 2014 was elected to the Missouri House of Reprensetive for the 86th District.