Office of the Mayor

Proclamation

Lawrence, Kansas

 

 

WHEREAS:   George William “Nash” Walker (1872-1911) was born in Lawrence on July 15 in the aftermath of the Civil War; and

 

WHEREAS:   Mr. Walker co-created the famous traveling comedy duo, Williams and Walker; and

 

WHEREAS:   Williams and Walker transcended the vaudeville stage and produced “In Dahomey” in 1903, the first Afro-American production to open on Broadway; and

 

WHEREAS:   Williams and Walker helped produce and appeared in six other theatrical productions ─ for which they earned national and international fame with their audiences and played an important role in fighting against racism and stereotypes; and

 

WHEREAS:   To uphold his vision to mentor talented actors and professionalize Afro-American art, Mr. Walker founded “The Frogs,” an organization for African-American professional entertainers in 1908; and

 

WHEREAS:   In 2016 Mr. Walker was added to the Notable People listed in the Oak Hill Cemetery;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in honor of Mr. Walker’s 145th birthday, I, Leslie Soden, Mayor of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, do hereby proclaim July 15, 2017 to be

 

 

“George William “Nash” Walker Day”

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                             Leslie Soden, Mayor

 

July 11, 2017