Rep. Sykes Celebrates House Passage of Bill to Name Akron Post Office After Judge James R. Williams
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) released the following statement celebrating the passage of her bill to rename the 675 Wolf Ledges Parkway Post Office in Akron, Ohio as the “Judge James Williams Post Office Building.” The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
“Judge Williams was a legal luminary, whose unwavering dedication to justice paved the way for future generations of leaders in Akron and across the country,” said Rep. Sykes on the House floor. “I’m proud to lead the effort to rename the Wolf Ledges Post Office in Akron to honor his memory and to serve as a reminder of the ongoing impact of his legacy on our community.”
WATCH: Rep. Sykes spoke on the House floor in support of passing her bill to rename the post office.
Mr. James Williams was a University of Akron alumnus, a civil rights leader, a former Akron City Councilman, the first African American to serve as a Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge, and was among the first African Americans to graduate from the University of Akron School of Law after it became affiliated with the University in 1959. Judge Williams passed away on Friday, November 6, 2020 and is survived by his wife, Jewell Cardwell-Williams; two children, Michael and Jacqueline Walton; and four grandchildren.