Representative Willie Stevenson Glanton View All Years

WILLIE STEVENSON GLANTON

Willie Stevenson Glanton was born March 19, 1922, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She was the daughter of Ervin S. Stevenson and Willie Ever Parker. She married Luther T. Glanton, Jr., J.D. in 1951 and their union created one child.

She completed her bachelor’s degree in business education from the now Tennessee State University in Nashville and earned her law degree from Robert H. Terrell Law School in Washington, DC. In 1953, the couple moved to Des Moines.

Willie became the second African American woman to be admitted to the Iowa Bar Association, and the first African American woman to become an Assistant County Attorney in Polk County. She was a true pioneer in both the legal and political landscapes in Iowa. She was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in 1986 and that National Bar Association Hall of Fame in 1995.

During her life, she had a huge impact on her community. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, founding member of the Des Moines Chapter of the Links started in 1957, the Des Moines Chapter of Jack and Jill of America in 1962 and initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in 1939. She focused on civil rights and women’s rights as a lawyer and equal opportunity advocate with the U.S. Small Business Administration until her retirement in 1987. Willie served on the Board for Des Moines University from 1999 to 2012. To honor her service, leadership and commitment to justice and education, Des Moines University established a Scholarship Fund in her and husband’s name.

Willie was a Democrat from Polk County. She was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in the fall of 1964, serving for one term. She became the first African American woman elected to the Iowa General Assembly. During her time she served on the following committees: Appropriations, Education, and Human and Industrial Relations.

Representative Glanton passed away on July 6, 2017, at the age of 95.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA, That in the passing of the Honorable Willie Stevenson Glanton, the State has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the House by this Resolution would express its appreciation of his service.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

BRIAN LOHSE

RUTH ANN GAINES

JOHN LANDON

Committee