STATEHOUSE CALENDAR

“The Queen Mother,” a video by Ron Bryant, can be seen by the public on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse.  All are welcome to watch the documentary in the Governor Thomas Worthington Center near the Capitol Café until March 14, 2025. 

In honor of Black History Month and Women’s History Month, learn about Ann B. Walker who was 100 years old in 2024.  She is known as the Queen Mother of Central Ohio Broadcast Journalism.  She was the first woman in an on-air position and management position at WLWC television which became WCMH: NBC-4. Walker is included in the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame as the first woman broadcaster to report on the Ohio legislature, with many other accomplishments. 

The room is open to visitors at the Ohio Statehouse every day, but closed during special events and on state holidays.  The video is one hour long. 

Biography:

Ann B. Walker graduated from East High School in Columbus, Ohio.  After college, she entered journalism in 1949, writing for the Ohio Sentinel, one of Columbus’ first black newspapers.  She worked for WVKO radio and WLWC television (now NBC-4) and interviewed Martin Luther King, Jr., Jimmy Carter and many others.  Walker was the first female and African American to cover the Columbus City Council, the State of Ohio and the state news bureau.  She was the first Black woman to serve on the board of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.  She was the first black women from Franklin County to be given a White House appointment.  The King of Ghana bestowed on Ann Walker the title of Queen Mother of Mozano Village in Ghana.

On February 12, 2025, Ann B. Walker was honored by Senator Hearcel Craig during Senate Session as an extraordinary example of perseverance, resilience and compassion.