Legislation proposes Congressional Gold Medal to Simeon Booker

Legislation proposes Congressional Gold Medal to Simeon Booker

YOUNGSTOWN

Two congressmen introduced legislation today to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Simeon Booker, who grew up in Youngstown and became a groundbreaking black journalist, to recognize his achievements.

“I couldn’t think of a more worthy American than Simeon Booker to be awarded Congress’s highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, who is cosponsoring the legislation with U.S. Rep. David Joyce of Russell, R-14th.

“Simeon Booker dedicated his career to covering the civil rights movement and achieved many firsts in his field, including becoming the first African-American reporter to win a Newspaper Guild Award and the first full-time African-American reporter at The Washington Post,” Joyce added.

Booker will receive an honorary doctor of letters degree from Youngstown State University and be the fall commencement speaker at 2 p.m. Sunday in Beeghly Center.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com