Vel Phillips
Her unprecedented firsts, plus her tenured bevy of friends, associates, political allies and compatriots makes just her telephone call, a solution, contact, or advisement. And, her participation, or referral weigh like Oprah’s opinions on daytime television; Bill and Melinda Gates’ wealth, as listed in "Forbes’ Magazine’s Top 100;" and Condoleezza Rice’s reactions on international affairs. When Vel speaks, people listen! Recently awarded the Robert and Belle LaFollette Award for Excellence in Public Service, by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Vel Phillips was acknowledged, as one of five Wisconsinites who impacted the lives of Wisconsin residents. With over 100 nominations, the selection of the first five, in what will be an annual award event by the Wisconsin Historical Society, made the honor more significant! Other recipients, of the May 23, 2006 distinguished awards, were Paul Gigot, Editorial Page Editor of the Wall Street Journal, with the Lucius W. Neimin Award for Journalism and Communications; George and Nan Pollard, of Racine, recipients of the Georgia O’Keefe Award for Visual Arts; and Elmer Winter of Manpower, the Samuel C. Johnson Award for Distinction in Corporate Leadership. The Robert and Belle LaFollette award had multiple meanings for Vel. Robert LaFollette was the distinguished Governor and Belle, his wife, attended law school with her. In fact, Belle was the first female graduate of the University of Wisconsin’s Law School; the two were trailblazers in an area dominated by males. Today, "the male and female law students are basically equal in number," Vel shared. Future awards will be named after famous Wisconsinites such as Spencer Tracy, Vince Lombardi and Joseph McCarthy, among others. While sharing the significance of the most recent awards, Vel’s winning charm and personality were evident as she reflected upon the numerous awards and the awe she experiences when she was chosen. "In the long run, of course, you do most things because you know they are the right things to do. And, you simply are the person called upon to make it happen." And make it happen, she has! The first African American and first female to be elected to the Milwaukee Common Council. First African American judge and first female judge in the State of Wisconsin. And, the first African American woman elected to a state office in the history of Wisconsin. Born, on Milwaukee’s Southside, in 1924, Velvalen Rodgers was an early scholar who won a scholarship to Howard University, from which she graduated in 1946. She went on to attend the University of Wisconsin Law School and became the first African American female to graduate in 1951. With her husband, Dale, the first Black male to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and equally brilliant, the pair were an inseparable team throughout his life. Their engagement was the first African American engagement to be published by the "Milwaukee Journal." And, jointly, she began a string of firsts. For though Vel was the person to run for office and other prestigious involvements, her decisions represented united commitments. "Dale was my partner, advisor, door opener and dreamer," said Vel. Vel and Dale were the first African American couple to take the Federal Judicial Bar examination, in 1951. Already they had their sights on major changes in how lawyers were viewed, accepted, appointed and elected to judicial seats. The two worked side by side in the Milwaukee NAACP and through its auspices worked to force the city to redistrict the aldermanic wards so that they more fairly represented its residents. Working with sensitive aldermen, the NAACP finally succeeded in lobbying for a Referendum for Reapportionment. After Reapportionment, the couple could have chosen to run for offices created in the city, the state and the county. Vel chose the city. She had encouraged Dale to run for the new 2nd District seat, however, he encouraged her to run instead. The rest was history, for her aldermanic legacy continues unfurled! The violent 1960s permeated Milwaukee, along with other cities. Called the "Selma" of the North, protests abound, especially in the area of fair housing. Black people were confined to invisible residential lines, as realtors, insurance companies, mortgage companies and residents, collaboratively denied Black Americans access to homes beyond racially prescribed geographical boundaries. As Father James Groppi and the Commandos mounted daily marches to protest segregated housing, Alderman Vel Phillips became the first elected official, in the City of Milwaukee to be arrested. She marched across the 16th Street Viaduct to the Southside, the geographic area of her birth. A paradigm shift she declared unacceptable. She immediately proposed the first Fair Housing City Ordinance, which finally passed, six years later, in 1967. Her precedence setting legislation became the impetus for the ultimate Federal Open Housing Law of 1968. Vel remained on the Common Council for sixteen years. Resigning in 1971 to accept the appointment by Governor Patrick A. Lucey, Vel Phillips became the first female and the first African American judge in Milwaukee County’s history as she was sworn into the District 13 Children’s Court seat. While overwhelmingly supported throughout Milwaukee County, the statewide bid for reelection exemplified the state’s inability to support diversity, despite a burgeoning African American community that was growing, exponentially. In 1978, Vel was encouraged to consider a run for Secretary of State. Concerns about another statewide run were quickly eliminated as women, throughout the state, pledged their support, so she threw her hat into the race. She won! Another first! She became the first female and first African American to be named Secretary of State, in Wisconsin. She held that office one term and often acted as governor in the absence of the governor and the lieutenant governor. She said, in jest, "They came back fast, when I was at the helms. A woman at the wheel, well you know the rest"! Since 1980, Vel has been active in the Democratic Party and on several Boards. In 2002, she received the Distinguished Chair of Professor of Law from the Marquette Law School. She was a designer and co-founder of Milwaukee Brainstorming Committee that oversees many pertinent issues, candidates, and statistical data collected on the African American community. Recently, she chaired the successful Congressional campaign of Gwendolynne Moore, as she became the First African American and first woman to win a Congressional seat from Wisconsin. And, on the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday, Phillips announced formation of the Vel Phillips Foundation. She said, "I want my foundation to be an economic hand of justice that seeks to eliminate invisible barriers between disadvantaged people and their goals, clearing the path for educational, occupational, social and political parity." And, the foundation moves quickly to make her aspirations realities. Funded by founding sponsors, M&I Bank; "Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel," and Clear Channel, $75,000 has been raised and the foundation, (www.velphillipsfoundation) via the web, encourages smaller donations to complete her dream. With kudos from Marty Stein and Hank Aaron, indeed, the Vel’s "March Goes On"! This week’s honoree has served on all branches of government, the Legislative, through her l7 years on the Common Council; the Judicial as Judge in the Children’s Court, where her portrait still hangs as the first; and on the Executive Branch, as the Secretary of State of the State of Wisconsin. When asked to share which area she loved, she quickly replied, "My years on the Common Council were most passionate. I was in touch! The ‘flaming ’60’s’ singed my soul, for I am still moved by what I see in our city. I continue to be appalled by blatant racism. I want to see change for our youth. They still need jobs, exposures, examples"! Vel continues to keep a pulse on the community. She has knocked on doors, taught residents the importance of voting, and stressed being proactive for the things that affect their lives. Reflecting, she said, "We had to fight! I even fought to get a female bathroom at the Common Council. "There had been no women, so they had never had to think about a female restroom. Nor anything else female. I had to go to the library to learn how to run for office. We had to study past elections to see how people voted." "No woman had ever survived a Primary election. Mary Ellen Shadd had run and lost; Attorney James Dorsey had run a couple of times and lost! We had to use my "mink coat money," she laughed, to finance my campaign. I told Dale, ‘I would rather have a mink coat later in my life, today I want to live life.’" And live life, she has! She has truly served us well! Time brings about change! More accurately stated, "People bring about change," And, with all change processes, it takes collective vision, unencumbered passion, patience and money. Vel Phillips has demonstrated all of the above! And, because we all have been direct beneficiaries of your love for people; and your belief in utilization of your God given gifts: And, because of your focused attention to family through your beloved Dale, and your sons; And, because you continue to retain the trust of your varied constituencies, we commend you! You Vel Phillips continue to make us proud! You retain an identifiable "love affair" with the community, for you are "One with the Community." The community motivates you to continue to actualize a dream dreamt in your youth. A dream that continues toward fruition. One to which you could have said: "I have done my share"! You Vel Phillips are the "Best of the Best": In public service, in inculcating political values that continue to be meritorious; and in demonstrating that there are many new Firsts to be conquered; first mayor, county executive; governor; US senator and president. You have been the Trailblazer after whom many have already followed. But there are victories yet to be attempted and others to be won! We thank you!! We salute you! And we pledge you our support and wish you always, the Best of the Best! |
