W. S. McIntosh
Encyclopedia
William Sumpter "W. S." McIntosh (February 2, 1921 –- March 4, 1974) was a civil rights leader from Dayton, Ohio
. In 1960, McIntosh went to Atlanta, Georgia
to observe the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and on February 26, 1961, he led one of the first major civil rights
protests in the Dayton, Ohio community. He challenged segregation in Dayton before the civil rights movement gained attention nationally. McIntosh tried negotiation first. If that didn't work, he roused blacks to push for their rights by picketing, sit-ins and boycotts. He utilized nonviolent methods to fight for the rights
of minorities to work at Rike's
department store, Liberal supermarket, and other establishments in the Dayton area.
McIntosh organized community groups and was the executive director of the Dayton chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality
(C.O.R.E.).
On March 4, 1974, McIntosh was shot in the heart and killed by Calvin Farmer outside his family-owned store while trying to prevent a robbery at a jewelry store in downtown Dayton.
has named a park in his honor - W. S. McIntosh Park. Dayton community and University of Dayton leaders offered a public salute to W. S. McIntosh in June 2007 at the Dayton Cultural and RTA Center. In conjunction with the University of Dayton
, they sponsor a scholarship
for minority students who reside in the city of Dayton. This scholarship, the W. S. McIntosh Memorial Leadership Award, covers tuition, fees, and room and board while the student is attending the University of Dayton for eight semesters and is awarded to one student each year.
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. In 1960, McIntosh went to Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
to observe the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and on February 26, 1961, he led one of the first major civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
protests in the Dayton, Ohio community. He challenged segregation in Dayton before the civil rights movement gained attention nationally. McIntosh tried negotiation first. If that didn't work, he roused blacks to push for their rights by picketing, sit-ins and boycotts. He utilized nonviolent methods to fight for the rights
Rights
Rights are legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people, according to some legal system, social convention, or ethical theory...
of minorities to work at Rike's
Rike Kumler Co.
The Rike Kumler Co. was an American department store in Dayton, Ohio. In 1959, Rike's became part of the Federated Department Stores conglomerate. In 1982, Federated merged Rike's with its Cincinnati unit, Shillito's, in order to form Shillito Rike's...
department store, Liberal supermarket, and other establishments in the Dayton area.
McIntosh organized community groups and was the executive director of the Dayton chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality
Congress of Racial Equality
The Congress of Racial Equality or CORE was a U.S. civil rights organization that originally played a pivotal role for African-Americans in the Civil Rights Movement...
(C.O.R.E.).
On March 4, 1974, McIntosh was shot in the heart and killed by Calvin Farmer outside his family-owned store while trying to prevent a robbery at a jewelry store in downtown Dayton.
Recognition
In recognition of W. S. McIntosh's heroic efforts and civic responsibility, the City of DaytonDayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
has named a park in his honor - W. S. McIntosh Park. Dayton community and University of Dayton leaders offered a public salute to W. S. McIntosh in June 2007 at the Dayton Cultural and RTA Center. In conjunction with the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
, they sponsor a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
for minority students who reside in the city of Dayton. This scholarship, the W. S. McIntosh Memorial Leadership Award, covers tuition, fees, and room and board while the student is attending the University of Dayton for eight semesters and is awarded to one student each year.