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Wooster citizens mark Charles Follis Day; group highlights ‘Power of One’ and local history
Summary
Community members visited the Feb. 3 Wooster City Council meeting to mark Charles Follis Day and described local efforts to preserve the athlete’s legacy, including a stone replacement and a ‘Power of One’ initiative by the Charles Follis Foundation.
Lawrence Walker and other community members addressed the Wooster City Council on Feb. 3 to mark Charles Follis Day and to describe local preservation and education efforts tied to Follis, the Wooster-area athlete recognized in 2018 by Ohio’s governor.
In remarks to the council, Lawrence Walker recounted the group’s work to replace a worn headstone at Follis’s gravesite, raise funds and develop local interpretive history. "Charles Follis exemplified the power of 1 with both grace and greatness," Walker said. He told the council his group raised about $30,000 to replace the marker and to support related local activities.
Why it matters: Charles Follis is recognized as the first Black professional football player; the state designated Feb. 3 as Charles Follis Day in 2018. Local organizers said celebrating the date connects community pride, local history and youth outreach.
What presenters said Lawrence Walker described the origin of the local project: volunteers documented a damaged headstone and raised funds to install a new marker and interpretive elements along a local trail and in civic spaces. Walker noted the project grew to include a "trail" that starts on Market Street and ends near other community landmarks. He asked council to recognize the day and applauded local partners who contributed.
Cheryl Gough, introduced as a counselor at Wooster High School, and other local volunteers were in the council chamber. The mayor said representatives from the Charles Follis Foundation in Columbus had asked local officials to participate in a "Power of One" initiative, encouraging acts of kindness and community service on Feb. 3.
Quotes "Charles Follis exemplified the power of 1 with both grace and greatness," Lawrence Walker said during his remarks.
"Our local connection makes this an extra special day in our community," Walker added, urging residents and the state to embrace the legacy.
Background The mayor told the council that Governor John Kasich signed legislation recognizing Feb. 3 as Charles Follis Day in 2018. The Charles Follis Foundation and local volunteers have promoted the day with events, historical markers and outreach; a foundation representative and video clips were referenced during the meeting.
Next steps Organizers said they will continue outreach and encouraged residents to visit the gravesite and local interpretive displays. The mayor offered to share any media that is submitted to the administration for distribution to council members.
