Porter, Woodford Roy, Sr.
(born: 1918 - died: 2006)In 1958, Louisville, KY native Woodford R. Porter, Sr. became the first African American elected to the Louisville Board of Education. He was later Chair of the University of Louisville Board of Trustees, serving in the position four terms, the first African American to hold the position.
Porter, a mortician, was the owner of A. D. Porter and Sons Funeral Home. He was the first African American member of the YMCA Metropolitan Board.
Porter was the son of Imogene Stewart Porter and Arthur D. Porter, Sr.; the family is listed in the 1930 U.S. Federal Census. He was the husband of Harriett Bibb Porter. He was a World War II veteran.
For more see In Black and White. A guide to magazine articles, newspaper articles, and books concerning Black individuals and groups, 3rd ed., Supp., edited by M. M. Spradling; "A Special Tribute to Woodford R. Porter, Sr.," Who's Who in Black Louisville, Inaugural Edition, pp. 39-42; and E. M. Talbott, "Woodford R. Porter Sr. (1918-2006)," The Courier-Journal, 8/2/2006, Forum section, p. 11A.
