Raymond Flynn

Raymond Leo Flynn (born July 22, 1939) is an American politician and former professional basketball player. He served as the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1984 to 1993 and as the United States Ambassador to the Holy See from 1993 to 1997. Before entering politics, Flynn had a successful college basketball career at Providence College, where he was named the 'Most Valuable Player' in the 1963 National Invitation Tournament. After college, he briefly played professional basketball before working as a high school teacher and probation officer. Flynn began his political career as a Democratic member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the South Boston neighborhood, during the Boston desegregation busing crisis of the early 1970s.