Number
091537
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. HINES, ALD. WADE, ALD. BAUMAN and ALD. COGGS
Title
Substitute resolution assigning the honorary street name “Mattiebelle Woods” to West Center Street between North 27th Street and West Fond du Lac Avenue in the 15th Aldermanic District.
Analysis
This resolution assigns the honorary street name “Mattiebelle Woods” to West Center Street between North 27th Street and West Fond du Lac Avenue in the 15th Aldermanic District.
Body
Whereas, Mattiebelle Woods was born on October 31, 1902, the only child of Ira and Annabelle Woods in Louisville, Kentucky, and moved to Milwaukee when she was just a youngster although she wanted to be known as a Milwaukee native; and
Whereas, Mattiebelle Woods began her career as the first lady of the Milwaukee black press in the 1940’s, writing her “Partyline” column on the social news of the African-American community in the Milwaukee Courier until just before her death and earlier also worked for the black press in Chicago and was a free-lance writer for Ebony and Jet magazines; and
Whereas, Mattiebelle Woods’ life brought praise from throughout the community and she became known as a woman who made things happen; state Sen. G. Spencer Coggs calling her the matriarch of the city, Gov. Jim Doyle saying she lived a long, inspirational life and was a trailblazer who touched the lives of many, Mayor Tom Barrett calling her a most remarkable woman who “went 100 miles per hour for 102 years”; and
Whereas, Mattiebelle Woods was believed to be the oldest working journalist in the United States and won countless awards and commendations, including a lifetime achievement award from the Wisconsin Black Media Association, recognition by the Milwaukee Press Club for her contributions to the field of journalism and from the local branch of the NAACP; and
Whereas, Mattiebelle Woods was a mentor to many young African-American men and women, and was also Milwaukee’s oldest poll wo...
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