James Warren Rankin Ohio History Marker Dedication
A dedication ceremony for a new Ohio History marker commemorating James Warren Rankin will be held in Cincinnati, OH. The unveiling will begin at 10:00 a.m. on September 2, 2022.
SIDE ONE:
JAMES WARREN RANKIN
April 10, 1926 – June 28, 1978
James W. Rankin served four consecutive terms (1971-1978) in the Ohio House of
Representatives. Born and raised in Cincinnati, he graduated from Withrow High
School and The Ohio State University’s School of Social Work. While working in
Cincinnati’s Seven Hills neighborhood, he ran for office to “involve the
disadvantaged in the governmental processes that affected their lives.” He won his
first bid and served the next seven years as a state representative for the 69th House district,
later the reapportioned 25th district. Representative Rankin fought passionately for civil and
human rights in education and public policy. He served on the Reference, Human Resources,
and Finance committees. When Rankin died of pneumonia, aged 52, the Cincinnati Enquirer
proclaimed him a “Friend of the Poor.”
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION
EVANSTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
OHIO HISTORY CONNECTION
SIDE TWO:
OHIO’S MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HOLIDAY
The campaign to honor civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with a holiday began shortly
after his death in 1968. James W. Rankin played a key role in the legislation that created
Ohio’s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. “There are 10,000 monuments to war. Why shouldn’t
there be a monument to peace?” Rankin declared to his colleagues. “We should leave here
some evidence that causes cannot be murdered and dreams not assassinated.” Governor
James A. Rhodes signed into law May 2, 1975, the bill that made the third Monday in January
Ohio’s 10th legal holiday. Although Ohio celebrated its first “MLK Day” on January 19, 1976,
a federal holiday would not be the law until 1983 or observed by all 50 states until 2000.
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION
EVANSTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
OHIO HISTORY CONNECTION