Hardy Williams: 1931-2010
Friday, January 8th, 2010
By: Tom MacDonald
tmacdonald@whyy.org
A Philadelphia political legend has died. Former Pennsylvania State Senator Hardy Williams forever changed the political landscape in Philadelphia.
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Senator Hardy Williams founded the black political forum in 1967 and blazed a trail for African American political leaders to follow. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says the senator's passing marks a sad day because without him many politicians wouldn't have the jobs they have today.
Nutter: His commitment to justice his particular focus to the African American Community but Hardy Williams loved all communities he was a man that many men admitted, and he took on challenges and fights that most men wouldn't even think about.
Williams made two bids to become the first African-American mayor of Philadelphia, including a loss in 1971 to Frank Rizzo. He worked with the late Philadelphia Councilman and Congressman Lucien Blackwell and his wife Jannie, before the couple were married. The former Senator died as the result of complications of Alzheimer's disease at his home in a West Philadelphia Retirement community.