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Proclamations posthumously honoring Commander Gwen Elliott and Walt Harper upon the occasion of the Port Authority of Allegheny County 2017 Spirit of King Award Ceremony at The Kingsley Center on January 19, 2017.
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WHEREAS, as a 2017 recipient of a Spirit of King Award, presented by the Port Authority, along with the Kingsley Association, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New Pittsburgh Courier, Allegheny County Council does hereby honor the memory of Pittsburgh Police Commander Gwen Elliott; and
WHEREAS, Gwendolyn “Gwen” June Campbell Elliott was born on June 8, 1944 and raised in the City of Duquesne and West Mifflin; and
WHEREAS, Gwen Elliott was destined to be a champion for women and girls - entering the male-dominated military in 1964, serving five years in the U.S. Air Force, becoming one of the first African American female police officers for the City of Pittsburgh in 1976 and rising to become the first female sergeant, and eventually becoming the Department’s first African American female police commander in 1986; and
WHEREAS, as a law enforcement officer, Gwen Elliott frequently witnessed the struggles of young women and girls and was determined to start an organization that would help young women have a better quality of life - not just for themselves, but for their children and future generations to come. She achieved this dream in 2002 with the creation of Gwen’s Girls, an agency dedicated to empowering young women and girls through holistic, gender-specific programs, education and experiences; and
WHEREAS, Gwen Elliott served on more than 25 boards, participated in many community organizations, and received a number of honors and awards; and
WHEREAS, Gwen Elliott passed away on May 14, 2007 but her legacy continues to live on through Gwen’s Girls and the countless lives she touched both directly and indirectly;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Allegheny County Council does hereby join with the Port Authority, the Kinglsey...
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