Wilma Webb
Encyclopedia
Wilma J. Webb Wilma Webb was a member of the Colorado State Legislature from 1980 to 1993. She sponsored dozens of bills including school
reform and equality initiatives. She is best known for sponsoring legislation that adopted Martin Luther King, Jr.
's birthday as a Colorado
state holiday prior to it becoming a national holiday, and for her efforts to educate youth about King's legacy.
Wilma Webb was born of parents Faye and Frank Gerdine in 1944. She married Wellington Webb
in 1969. He later became the first African American
Mayor
of Denver, serving from 1991 to 2003. She was the first First Lady of Denver to have held political office herself.
She has been recognized by several organizations including the National Education Association
and the Association for Retarded Citizens.
She and her husband have four adult children. She is a member of Zion Baptist Church of Denver, Colorado, and of the Delta Sigma Theta
sorority.
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
reform and equality initiatives. She is best known for sponsoring legislation that adopted Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
's birthday as a Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
state holiday prior to it becoming a national holiday, and for her efforts to educate youth about King's legacy.
Wilma Webb was born of parents Faye and Frank Gerdine in 1944. She married Wellington Webb
Wellington Webb
Wellington E. Webb is a former mayor of Denver, Colorado. He is a graduate of the city's Manual High School. He was Denver's first African-American Mayor.Webb served as mayor of Denver for 12 years, from 1991 to 2003...
in 1969. He later became the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Denver, serving from 1991 to 2003. She was the first First Lady of Denver to have held political office herself.
She has been recognized by several organizations including the National Education Association
National Education Association
The National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
and the Association for Retarded Citizens.
She and her husband have four adult children. She is a member of Zion Baptist Church of Denver, Colorado, and of the Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
sorority.