Walter E. Washington is more than the District’s last appointed mayor and first elected chief executive, a LeDroit Park resident and devoted voting rights advocate. As of Tuesday, he’s also the namesake of two city streets.
Mayor Anthony Williams, former Mayor Sharon Pratt and a long list of local and federal dignitaries gathered in front of Washington’s T Street Northwest home to ceremonially rename the 400 block in his honor — “Home of Walter Washington Way.” Washington died in 2003 at age 87, though his widow, Mary Burke Washington, still lives in the stately brick home.
“His way was the love he had for this great city and the people who lived here,” Mary Burke said of her husband, who was first appointed mayor by President Lyndon Johnson in 1967.
Washington led the city through the 1968 riots. He successfully lobbied for limited Home Rule and was the first elected mayor under the new charter, serving until 1978. D.C. Council Chair Linda Cropp called him the “father of modern Washington, D.C.” Williams said he “instilled a belief in the people of this city to believe in themselves.”
“We certainly could not have had Home Rule without a leader who could inspire Congress to believe in us,” said D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton.
The 400 block of T Street was named “Home of Walter Washington Way” because “Walter E. Washington Way” was already taken, by the 300 block of 13 1/2 Street Northwest that runs between the John A. Wilson and Ronald Reagan buildings.
The LeDroit Park street naming was requested by Myla Moss, the local advisory neighborhood commissioner.
Other attendees
» Former U.S. Sen. Edward Brooke of Massachusetts, a LeDroit Park native
» Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert
» Ward 1 Council Member Jim Graham
