This is the story of Wellington and Wilma Webb, broken up in facts.
- Fact 1: Wellington Webb was elected the 42nd Mayor in 1991, becoming the First Black Mayor of Denver, Colorado. He walked the city of Denver during his Sneaker Campaign for 321 miles over the course of 42 days while staying in 42 different homes during that time.
- The Honorable Wilma J. Webb is a former Colorado State Representative who served for 13 years in this role. During her time in the State Legislature, she became the first woman of color to serve on the Colorado Joint Budget Committee.
- Fact 2: During Wellington Webb’s three terms as Mayor, he built 85% of the Denver International Airport, created the Denver Health Authority and with his wife, State Representative Wilma Webb, co-founded, created, and built the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library in Denver.
- Fact 3: Wilma was the driving force behind Colorado’s Martin Luther King Holiday bill and after years of her tenacious efforts, the bill was passed on April 4, 1984. Coretta Scott King came to Denver the following year to request an official Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission, of which Wilma Webb was named Chairperson.
- Fact 4: Wellington Webb is the only Mayor in America who was elected by his peers to be President of the United States Conference of Mayors, the National Conference of Democratic Mayors, and the National Conference of Black Mayors. He is also a former Colorado State Representative and former City Auditor for Denver.
- Fact 5: Wellington Webb has been honored by such organizations as The National Historic Trust, Americans for the Arts, The National Governors Association Public Official of the Year Award, The National Building Trades Council, and the Wildlife Federation. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
- Wilma Webb has been honored by numerous organizations, including Visit Denver, The National Education Association, The Colorado Banking Association and is an inductee in both the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame and the Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame. Wilma is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Incorporated.