Title
Honoring the legacy of William Thaddeus Coleman Jr. and recognizing March 10, 2026, as "William Thaddeus Coleman Jr. Day" in the City of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, As the City of Philadelphia joins the nation in commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, it is fitting to honor individuals whose lives and work meaningfully expanded the promise of American democracy; and
WHEREAS, William Thaddeus Coleman Jr., a nationally recognized leader, civil rights champion, and proud Philadelphian, was born and raised in Philadelphia, where his father operated the Wissahickon Boys Club, and where he graduated from Germantown High School; and
WHEREAS, Secretary Coleman graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and magna cum laude, first in his class, from Harvard Law School, where he was the third Black member of the Harvard Law Review; and
WHEREAS, Secretary Coleman broke numerous racial barriers throughout his legal career, including becoming the first Black law clerk to a Justice of the United States Supreme Court and the first Black attorney at major Philadelphia law firms, ultimately becoming one of the most successful and influential partners at Dilworth Paxson LLP; and
WHEREAS, Secretary Coleman dedicated countless hours to advancing civil rights and equal justice under law, including serving as lead counsel in the landmark Girard College will case and acting as the principal author of the Supreme Court brief in Brown v. Board of Education, in which he also served as first chair during five days of oral argument; and
WHEREAS, Secretary Coleman served the nation with distinction as the second Black member of a Presidential Cabinet, holding office as United States Secretary of Transportation, and later served on the boards of numerous major American corporations; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his extraordinary service, Secretary Coleman was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President William J. ...
Click here for full text