Ann B. Walker, an African American journalist who was the first woman to cover Columbus City Hall and the Ohio Statehouse, has died at 101. Her career broke racial and gender barriers in broadcasting and inspired future generations in journalism and public service.
Walker spent decades working as a journalist, radio host, editor, and columnist in Columbus, Ohio. She made history as the first woman in the city to hold a management position in broadcast media.
Her influence extended beyond local newsrooms. Walker became the first Black woman from Franklin County to receive a White House appointment, serving as media director for a federal poverty program under President Jimmy Carter. She was also among the first African Americans in Columbus to interview Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with whom she shared a close connection.
Rev. Dr. Edward Lewis Sr. of Bethany Presbyterian Church described Walker as a strong and straightforward person who gave the Black community a voice through her journalism.
“Through Ann’s work in the media, she humanized the Black community, provided good responses to our community that helped us have a voice,” Lewis said, according to 10TV.
In honor of her groundbreaking achievements, Walker was inducted into the City of Columbus Hall of Fame, recognizing her national impact and lasting contributions. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther called her “an icon” who “blazed a trail for generations of women” in a social media tribute.
Walker grew up in the King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood, a historic Black community in Columbus. A building in the area now carries her name. Nearly two decades ago, she also founded a luncheon program in Bronzeville that continues to feed hundreds of residents each week during the winter months.
SOURCE: blacknews.com