African Americans in the Washington State Legislature
From the desk of Mary Paynton Schaff
February 29 is not only Leap Day, but a day that marks the close of African American History Month. In honor of this, the Washington State Library has put together a list of the African Americans who have served in the Washington State Legislature. The accomplishments of thirteen individuals are described, from William Owen Bush who represented Thurston County in the very first legislature in 1889, to Eric Pettigrew who currently represents his constituents in the 37th District.
It’s a fascinating cast of characters, and our list only just scratches the surface of the historical significance of these individuals. Did you know that John Ryan legally changed his first name to “Senator”? George Fleming served in both the House and Senate, and was a Rose Bowl MVP. John Lovick served in the legislature for eight years, then went on to be elected as Washington’s first African American county sheriff in 2007. And Rosa Franklin was not only the first African American woman elected to the Washington State Senate, she went on to serve as Pro Tempore (the officer who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Lieutenant Governor).
Thanks to the folks at the Washington State Archives and the Washington State Historical Society, we are able to provide pictures for each legislator – which is no small feat! We hope that this list is both an informative resource, as well as inspiration for further individual research and scholarship into the accomplishments of these hardworking lawmakers.