Oklahoma
Beloved, groundbreaking Oklahoma City leader dies at 83
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Willa Johnson, the beloved, pioneering Oklahoma Metropolis chief who grew to become the primary Black girl elected to the OKC Metropolis Council, has died at age 83.
“An period has resulted in Oklahoma Metropolis. Willa Johnson has handed away. On behalf of the folks of Oklahoma Metropolis, I ship our deepest condolences to her household,” Mayor David Holt stated on social media Friday.
Johnson began her profession as a civilian worker at Tinker Air Power Base. She served her nation on the base for 20 years, in line with Holt.
She then transitioned to a storied profession in public service.
Johnson was elected because the Ward 7 Metropolis Councilmember in 1993. She held the place till 2007.
As a Metropolis Councilmember she made financial improvement and enhancing high quality of life for group members a prime precedence. She additionally based First Tee of Metropolitan Oklahoma Metropolis.
She went on to function Oklahoma County Commissioner for District 1, representing a large space that features all or a part of Del Metropolis, Forrest Park, Jones, Lake Aluma, Luther, Midwest Metropolis, Oklahoma Metropolis and Spencer. She was re-elected to the place in 2010 and 2014, in line with her Rotary Membership of Oklahoma Metropolis profile.
As a county commissioner she was liable for roads and bridges, and he or she served on the governing board of most county features, in addition to the County Finances Board.
Johnson stated in 2017 that she pursued the County Commissioner place as a result of she needed to carry leaders collectively towards a higher good.
“Once I ran in 2007 to finish the time period of then Commissioner Roth, I needed to assist carry a spirit of cooperation and create an atmosphere the place elected officers work collectively for the nice of the general public,” Johnson stated. “Not solely did we try this, however it has continued.”
Johnson’s practically 20 years of public service is stuffed with accomplishments that helped the town develop and its folks thrive.
She was additionally dedicated to commemorating distinguished African Individuals from all through Oklahoma historical past. She succeeded in renaming 5 streets, putting in historic plaques within the Deep Deuce space and inserting Edwards Addition on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations, in line with the Rotary Membership.
Johnson acquired many awards and honors for her public service, together with induction into the African American Corridor of Fame, an Honorary Doctorate from Oklahoma Metropolis College and her portrait amongst different African Individuals of stature within the Oklahoma Historical past Heart.
Additionally, the Willa D. Johnson Recreation Heart, a brand new recreation heart beneath building in Northeast Oklahoma Metropolis’s Douglass Park, is called in honor of Johnson.
Holt memorialized Johnson within the tribute he posted on social media. A lot of that memorial is as follows:
“Willa Johnson is an icon for a lot of causes. She was passionate and efficient. She knew work together with her colleagues and group companions to get issues carried out for her group and the town at massive. She leaves an unimaginable legacy, and was a contributor to achievements massive and small, together with the event and passage of MAPS 1 and MAPS for Youngsters.
Willa was my pal and we are going to all miss her dearly. I’ll ceaselessly keep in mind her administering my oath of workplace after I grew to become Mayor. We’ll all recall her with nice fondness once we minimize the ribbon on the Willa D. Johnson Recreation Heart subsequent yr.
The place there was a Willa, there was all the time a means. We’ll miss you, Willa.”
Mayor David Holt
Johnson was concluding her tenure as County Commissioner in 2017 when she mirrored upon dropping her first race for Metropolis Council 28 years prior. Her phrases are a testomony to her dedication to public service and fervour for serving to others.
“Dropping that first race for Metropolis Council 28 years in the past was in all probability the very best factor that might have occurred. It motivated me to work tougher to change into a power for change. Whereas I’m ending my remaining time period, that want to serve nonetheless burns shiny.”