OBITUARY: Blackshear praised for work in community, politics
Blackshear served the past 12 years as the county recorder, winning election three times to the office that maintains land and property records — tracking sales, liens, mortgages and deeds. In 2016, he was elected the first black president of the Ohio Recorders’ Association.
Local leaders praised Blackshear for his work in battling predatory lending, and for encouraging more black voters and leaders to get involved in local politics. He served on multiple community boards.
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An obituary on the H.H. Roberts Mortuary web site suggests that memorial contributions be made to “The Willis E. Blackshear Sr. Scholarship Fund” of The Dayton Foundation, 40 N. Main Street, Suite 500, Dayton, Ohio 45423.
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