Community mourns loss of advocate Sam Gresham
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Local activist and leader Sam Gresham died Thursday at the age of 76.
He was known as an advocate and leader who fought for causes he believed in.
He served as the President and CEO of the Columbus Urban League for 20 years and he held other leadership positions with Ohio Commission on African American Males and Common Cause Ohio.
Many people throughout central Ohio have been mourning the loss of Gresham. James Hayes with Ohio Voice, an organization that works to uplift civic engagement, called Gresham a mentor.
“He always had so much passion he brought to work, you could feel his presence when he entered the room or whenever he spoke,” Hayes said. “That's something that I've always tried to hold onto and emulate.”
Hayes also expressed that he learned valuable lessons about leadership and how to work for the common good of our community. He shared Gresham was more than a trailblazer; he was a fierce advocate who devoted his life to furthering and preserving democracy.
“We wouldn't have had a mayor Coleman if it wasn't for the work of people like Sam Gresham to open up the city to black political leadership,” Hayes said. “We see today, you know, we have a lot of Black folks who are sitting in important positions and Sam was one of the people that made that possible.”
Catherine Turcer, the Executive Director of Common Cause Ohio, also noted that Gresham helped guide her when she was a young advocate. She felt a sense of depth in his presence, one that instilled a sense of passion and purpose.
Sam Gresham is somebody who lived his values, lived his ideals,” Turcer said. “He advocated for us, you know, during his time at the Urban League, during his time with Common Cause Ohio, he embodied what it meant to actually create a democracy that works for all of us. He embodied having good conversations that lead to good policy.”
State and local officials have been sharing messages of sadness for the loss of this titan of the community.
In a statement to NBC4 Congresswoman Joyce Beatty said: “I mourn the loss of my dear friend, Sam Gresham — a towering voice for justice, equality, and voting rights. Sam was a trailblazer who devoted his life to empowering Black communities, from 20 years of innovative leadership at the Columbus Urban League to his tireless fight for fair elections as Chairman of Common Cause Ohio. His groundbreaking work in policy and media uplifted Black stories and voices that too often went unheard. Sam’s vision, courage, and unwavering commitment to our community changed lives and opened doors for generations. We will honor his legacy by continuing the fight he championed. My prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”
Gresham also worked in various fields throughout his career. He is known for producing the first ever Black soap opera, the longest-running Black talk show in television history, and the first African American history lecture series on network television.
“Sam is one of the people that blazed a trail that made it possible for us to make real progress over the last 20, 30, 40 years and invested in so many leaders coming up,” Hayes said. “You know, people who have gone on to do really great things for the community and with their lives. So, yeah, it's really, it's important we stand on the shoulders of giants.”