Title
To commemorate Women’s History Month by recognizing and celebrating the career and achievements of Mrs. Ann Boston Walker.
Body
WHEREAS, the origins of Women’s History Month dates back to March 8, 1911 when International Women’s Day was first celebrated - this recognition grew into a week-long celebration, and in 1987 the United States Congress formally commemorated Women’s History Month; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Ann Boston Walker, a native of Columbus and a 1940 graduate of East High School and later Prairie View A&M University located in Prairie View, Texas, began her journalism career as an editorial writer with the Ohio Sentinel in 1949 - in 1962 she began broadcasting as the On-Air Women’s Director and Assistant News Director at WVKO Radio - she joined Channel WLWC-TV4 in 1968 and later became the first Columbus woman in broadcast management - As the Community Services Director, she produced documentaries; anchored morning news and talk shows and developed a broadcasting internship program for students like Angela Pace and others - she also became the first African American woman elected to the Ohio Legislative Correspondents Association; and
WHEREAS, President Carter appointed Mrs. Walker as the White House Media Director for the Community Services Agency - After their retirement she and her husband, Linwood, continued their community service efforts and later developed a travel business focused on Africa; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Walker has been a part of over 40 community organizations, including: the Columbus Area Leadership Laboratory, Planned Parenthood, the Columbus Zoo, the Columbus Metropolitan Club, the Leukemia Society, the National Vice President of Women in Communications, President of the regional chapter of American Women in Radio and Television, has held leadership positions at the state, regional and national level within Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and was also inducted into the inaugural class of the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame in 1978; and
WHEREAS, the Walkers, have helped to recruit more than 100 African young professionals, helping them to settle, enroll and graduate from college - this work included identifying housing, campus visits and financial aid - Mrs. Walker who will celebrate her 95th Birthday on November 1, 2018 remains tied to development projects in West Africa; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Walker is a member and ruling elder of Bethany Presbyterian Church - in 2005, Ms. Walker with the assistance of her son Keith Walker, who is a chef, established a food ministry at the church that now serves food to more than 100 children and adults each week; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Walker, affectionately known as the “Queen Mother,” for her affiliations with Africa is currently active with the Franklin Park Civic Association, the Bronzeville Neighborhood Association, the Ubuntu Book Club, the King Arts Complex, the NAACP, the Columbus Museum of Art, the Columbus Historical Society, the Ohio History Connection, the ACLU - she has been invariably selected to leadership positions within many of these organizations, now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby commemorate Women’s History Month by recognizing and celebrating the career and achievements of Mrs. Ann Boston Walker.