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Inola Henry

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Inola Henry
Born(1942-11-15)November 15, 1942
DiedJuly 26, 2009(2009-07-26) (aged 66)
Alma materOklahoma College for Women(B.A., English)
Occupation(s)Teacher, Union leader, Democratic party activist
Political partyDemocratic Party

Inola Henry (November 15, 1942 – July 26, 2009) was an educator, union leader, and American Democratic Party leader who was chair of the resolutions committee of the California Democratic Party, Democratic National Committee member, and a Superdelegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, where she voted for Barack Obama.[1]

Early life

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Henry was born in Henderson, Texas and grew up in Lawton, Oklahoma.[1] She attended college at Oklahoma College for Women, and she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1965.[1] In Oklahoma, she was involved in the Civil Rights Movement, taking part in sit-ins and working with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.[2]

Education career

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After graduating, Henry moved to California and began her teaching career.[1] She taught at Normandie Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles and Gardner Street Elementary School in Hollywood.[1] She served on the board of United Teachers Los Angeles and was chair of its political action committee. Beginning in 1990, she was a facilitator for the Student-to-Student Integration Program at Los Angeles Unified School District. She also served on the leadership of the National Education Association helping to draft policy statements.

Political career

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Henry first became involved in California civic life as a co-founder of the Watts Summer Festival following the Watts riots.[2][3] She then became active in the California Democratic Party.[2] Henry served as Lead Chair of the California Democratic Party Resolutions Committee.[4] She was elected to the Midterm National Convention in 1978 and to the Democratic National Committee in 2000, 2004, and 2008.[4] On the Democratic National Committee, she chaired a committee drafting statements of party principles.[1] In 2008, she was a superdelegate from California to the 2008 Democratic National Convention,[5] where she voted for Barack Obama.[1][2][6][7] In 2009, she was honored as California's 48th State Assembly district Woman of the Year.[2]

Death

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Henry died of a heart attack on July 26, 2009, at her home in Los Angeles.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Woo, Elaine. "Inola Henry dies at 66; teacher and California Democratic activist," Los Angeles Times, August 5, 2009. Accessed May 23, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e Mulholland, Bob. "In Memoriam: Inola Henry," Los Angeles Sentinel, July 30, 2009. Accessed May 23, 2016.
  3. ^ Griffin, Cynthia E. "Watts Summer Festival: ongoing effort to highlight the positive," Our Weekly Los Angeles, August 1, 2013. Accessed May 23, 2016.
  4. ^ a b California Democratic Party. Resolution Number SD09.01: Honoring Inola Frances Henry, Adopted November 15, 2009. Accessed May 23, 2016.
  5. ^ Kurtzman, Laura. Associated Press. "Clinton still irked by Richardson endorsement," USA Today, April 3, 2008. Accessed May 23, 2016.
  6. ^ Zeleny, Jeff. "Obama Announces 3 Superdelegates," The Caucus: The politics and government blog of the New York Times, New York Times, May 7, 2008. Accessed May 28, 2016.
  7. ^ "Superdelegates Await Clinton's Next Move," CNN, May 8, 2008. Accessed May 23, 2008.