Clifford DeBaptiste

In 2022, DeBaptiste was given an honorary doctorate by Lincoln University.

DeBaptiste was succeeded as mayor by fellow Republican Richard "Dick" Yoder on January 7, 2002.

DeBaptiste was given an honorary doctorate by West Chester University in 1999.

In 1998, DeBaptiste controversially vetoed a borough ordinance that would have further regulated landlords. The law would have required property owners to discontinue the leases of tenants who were convicted of two or more property violations in a twelve-month period. Some accused DeBaptiste of a conflict of interest, as he was a landlord himself.

In 1998, DeBaptiste announced "West Chester 200: Celebrating Our Past and Building Our Future", a yearlong event celebrating the borough's 200th anniversary in 1999. During the event, the first firework show was held in the borough since the American Revolution. The celebration also raised $400,000.

DeBaptiste ran unopposed in the 1997 Mayor's election.

DeBaptiste proclaimed April 24, 1994 "Clean up West Chester Day", to improve the appearance of downtown West Chester. The event is now held every year.

DeBaptiste entered politics in early 1993 by announcing his candidacy to replace popular Democratic mayor Tom Chambers, who was not running for reelection. He earned the endorsement of the local Republican committee in March, and later the nomination. His opponent in the race was Democratic candidate Wayne Burton, an associate professor at West Chester University. DeBaptiste promised to attract business to West Chester and improve the borough's image. In what was described as a stun to Democrats, DeBaptiste won the election with 56 percent of the vote. DeBaptiste's campaign spent over ten thousand dollars to win the election, a record at the time.

DeBaptiste was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the West Chester Chamber of Commerce in 1984.

DeBaptiste began directing funerals in West Chester in 1954 and opened his own funeral home in January 1965. His business, DeBaptiste Funeral Homes, Inc., had six locations at its peak but currently has two, one in West Chester and another in Bryn Mawr. DeBaptiste held positions on many local boards, including the West Chester University Board of Trustees and the board of the First National Bank of West Chester. He also chaired the Pennsylvania Board of Funeral Directors.

DeBaptiste was married to Inez E. Manning from 1950 until her death in 1990. DeBaptiste has three daughters, including the 62nd Mayor of West Chester, Lillian L. DeBaptiste. DeBaptiste has been a lifetime member of the NAACP. He is a Christian.

Clifford Evans DeBaptiste (born May 19, 1924) is an American politician and funeral director who served as mayor of West Chester, Pennsylvania, from 1994 to 2002. A Republican at the time, he was the borough's first black mayor. He is often credited for beginning the revitalization of the borough. DeBaptiste has honorary doctorates from West Chester University and Lincoln University.

DeBaptiste was born in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania in 1924 and grew up in the Atlantic City, New Jersey area. DeBaptiste served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1954, reaching the rank of sergeant major. DeBaptiste earned a Bachelor's degree in Science from West Chester University and a Master's degree in Human Services at Lincoln University.