Oregon voice for racial equality Willie Richardson dies
'Willie was a very private person,' said Gwen Carr, who worked with Richardson at the Oregon Black Pioneers, the state's only historical society de...
'Willie was a very private person,' said Gwen Carr, who worked with Richardson at the Oregon Black Pioneers, the state's only historical society dedicated to preserving and presenting the experiences of African Americans. 'She swore several of us to secrecy months ago.' Richardson was a past president of the organization. A post on Facebook said that her 'immeasurable impact on the organization, the city of Salem, and the state of Oregon will be felt for many generations.' Richardson was also the first Black person elected to the Salem-Keizer school board and served from 1987 to 1991, according to a biography posted by the Salem Art Association.