A distinguished Baldwin Wallace alumnus is featured in a Black History Month tribute on WEWS-TV NewsNet5 this month. Hazel Mountain Walker (1889-1980), who graduated from BW's former law school, was a champion for education.Walker served as Cleveland's first black school principal. She is credited for teaching children how to read who came from illiterate families.
Walker's purpose in attending law school and completing the bar in 1919 was not to become a practicing lawyer, but to show that black women could become lawyers. Walker became one of the first black women allowed to practice law in Ohio.
Apart from education, Walker enjoyed theatre as a member of the Karamu House. She also had an interest in politics as an executive officer for the Cuyahoga County Republican Party.
A profile of her life previously have been featured on Cleveland.com.
