William H. Brooks was a civil rights activist, attorney, a judge, public servant and more

Nicole D. Sutton
·2 min read
Ohio Gov. Richard “Dick” Celeste appointed William H. Brooks, seen here, along with two others to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) in 1983.
Ohio Gov. Richard “Dick” Celeste appointed William H. Brooks, seen here, along with two others to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) in 1983.
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Columbus civil rights activist and attorney William Henry Brooks was born in Columbus on Jan. 12, 1912, to Oberlin G. Brooks and Helen Reid. He graduated from East High School in 1929 and from the Ohio State University Law School in 1937.

After passing the bar exam, Brooks opened his first law office in 1938 at 165 N. High St. in the historic Columbia building, now known as the Larrimer building. Brooks participated in several social, political, and civil rights groups, serving as an officer of organizations like the Samuel J. Walters Democratic Club, the Young Democratic Progressive Club, the Robert B. Elliott Law Club, the Columbus NAACP and the Vanguard League.

Edward Lamb and William H. Brooks talk after a speech by Vice President Hubert Humphrey at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Edward Lamb and William H. Brooks talk after a speech by Vice President Hubert Humphrey at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Brooks often used his skills as an attorney to fight for equal job opportunities for African Americans, and to desegregate local businesses in Columbus.

William H. Brooks served as director of the Columbus Public Utilities Department from 1964 to 1971.
William H. Brooks served as director of the Columbus Public Utilities Department from 1964 to 1971.

During his lengthy career, Brooks served as a civil servant in various roles for the city of Columbus and state government. Columbus Mayor Jack Sensenbrenner appointed him to the Municipal Civil Service Commission in 1954, where he was named chair in 1958. In 1963, Ohio Gov. Michael DiSalle appointed Brooks as the first Black municipal court judge in Franklin County. Unfortunately, Brooks only held this position for one year before losing to Tom Moody in the 1963 election.

Ohio Gov. Michael DiSalle appointed William H. Brooks to be a municipal court judge in 1963, the first Black person to serve in that role.
Ohio Gov. Michael DiSalle appointed William H. Brooks to be a municipal court judge in 1963, the first Black person to serve in that role.

However, that opened him up to a new opportunity. Sensenbrenner was reelected as Columbus mayor and requested Brooks become director of the Columbus Public Utilities Department.

Jack Sensenbrenner, center, was reelected as Columbus mayor in 1963 and chose William H. Brooks, second from right, to be a member of his cabinet as the city's Department of Public Utilities director.
Jack Sensenbrenner, center, was reelected as Columbus mayor in 1963 and chose William H. Brooks, second from right, to be a member of his cabinet as the city's Department of Public Utilities director.

Brooks was later appointed to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) by Ohio Gov. Richard "Dick" Celeste.

Brooks served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was married to Columbus police officer Mary Adams. Mary Adams Brooks was known for her fashion sense, and was even featured in Ebony Magazine in 1964 as one of the best-dressed women in the country.

Columbus city officials including Public Utilities Director, William H. Brooks and his wife Mary Adams Brooks, christen a new city vehicle.
Columbus city officials including Public Utilities Director, William H. Brooks and his wife Mary Adams Brooks, christen a new city vehicle.

The couple had two sons, William Henry Brooks Jr. and Brian Brooks. The latter currently owns the E. E. Ward Moving & Storage company, which contends it is the country’s oldest, continuously operated, Black-owned business.

Williams H. Brooks Sr. passed away on Dec. 16, 1990, but his legacy lives on: making the city of Columbus a more equitable place.

Nicole D. Sutton is Black Heritage Special Collections Librarian with the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: William Brooks was an attorney and judge who held other public posts