BLACK HISTORY MONTH
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Tribute
Several black officeholders, past and present, were honored at the first “Journey Through African-American Political History in Mahoning County” on Wednesday. They included:
McCullough Williams Jr.: Served as Youngstown City Council’s 3rd Ward representative from 1958 to 1962, and later, along with the Rev. Lonnie A. Simon, became the first blacks elected to the Youngstown Board of Education. He was an owner and editor of the Buckeye Review, and was owner of the McCullough Williams Funeral Home. He died Oct. 29, 2004.
Rev. Simon: He participated in the 1963 March on Washington. He was pastor of four churches, and is now pastor emeritus at New Bethel Baptist Church. He served on the board of education from 1972 to 1975.
Herman Pete Starks: Was the second black elected as 2nd Ward councilman, and was on council for 22 years.
Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr.: In 1997, he became the second black to take the bench in Mahoning County when he was appointed a municipal court judge. He was elected in 1999 and started his third six-year term in January.
Sylvester Patton: In 1997, became the Valley’s first black Democratic representative when he was appointed to the Ohio House of Representatives. He subsequently was elected to five terms.
Source: Mildred Delgado, secretary Youngstown-Warren Black Caucus