People turned out, even though the weather forecast for October 7 was dis- mal, with rain and heavy winds expected. That didn’t deter more than 200 people from turning out to witness the unveiling of a street sign renaming the 1400-1500 blocks of Vernon Road in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia after a political leader turned successful private businessman. John White, Jr.
Philadelphia’s first African American Mayor, W. Wilson Goode, Jr., who is now 80 years old, was in rare form Saturday as he reminisced about John. Goode stated, “I actually met John F. White Jr. 55 years ago at the home of John White, Sr. Senator Hardy Williams was there also. We were there to organize a group called the Black Political Forum. The first person we elected to office was Hardy Williams, then Bill Gray, then David P. Richardson, and then John White Jr. We watched John grow. We watched him become a PA State Representative. We watched him become a Philadelphia City Council member, and then we watched him become PA Secretary of the Department of Welfare. Then after that, all kinds of good things continued to happen for him. At one point, he headed up the Philadelphia Housing Authority. There are very few people around who have done the kinds of things this man has done in order to make the lives of other people better. He did it with style. That’s why all of you are here to celebrate the life of this man, to celebrate the work that he’s done, and to celebrate that he’s earned this honor of having a street named after him, John F. White, Jr.
The final thing I want to say is, “We talk about WURD and Dr. Walter P. Lomax all the time. I gave the first large city contract to Dr. Lomax. Then John White Jr. came along, and he said, ‘I’ m going to beat you. I’ m going to give Dr. Lomax a million-dollar contract,’ and look what happened. Dr. Lomax founded HMA Health Plan, and later he and his family purchased WURD Radio Station.”
3rd District U.S. Congressman Dwight Evans had plenty to say about John White Jr. also–Evans stated, “As a result of Hardy Williams, Bill Gray, David Richardson, and John White Jr. laying the groundwork, that’s how I got elected. I thank John for all the effort and all the foundation that he laid. Understand that he laid that foundation so that, in return, people like myself could get to where I am. It’s important that we’re all connected. It is something that we must all recognize that fact. I remember his Chief of Staff, Sharmain Matlock Turner. I said to John, Can I borrow your Chief of Staff, and he said to me, “Man, what are you trying to do?”
What’s the significance of Vernon Road, some may be wondering? This is where John White Jr. had his base. He had an office right down the Street, so understand the foundation that he laid right here, on Vernon Road, led up to him being the Secretary of State.
If you understand the history, there was a succession plan in the northwest. John White Jr. used to be the 9th District City Councilman. When he resigned, Marian B. Tasco became the 9th District City Councilwoman. When Tasco resigned, her mentee, Cherelle Parker, was elected to be the 9th district Councilwoman. When Cherelle Parker resigned from her council seat late last year to announce a run for Mayor, Anthony Phillips won the seat in a special election. It was Councilman Anthony Phillip’s office that was responsible for getting the street renaming ceremony accomplished.
So yes, having a street named after John F. White Jr. on Vernon Road–absolutely makes sense. He’s got a long history in the Northwest section of Philadelphia.
“John White Jr. had the audacity to believe that Black people should control their destiny,” said Democratic Mayoral nominee Cherelle L. Parker. She added, “He became the first Black Ward Leader in this area (Mount Airy). He became the first Black ,…
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