Title
Honoring Judy Yaeger Jones for her life of service to the community.
Body
WHEREAS, Judy was born in Minneapolis and adopted by a family in Saint Paul; Judy spent her early years in Rondo at 1050 Dayton Avenue, attended James J. Hill Elementary, and later lived on the West Side, in Midway and on the East Side; and
WHEREAS, she attended Harding High School and graduated from Saint Paul Central, and later graduated from the University of Minnesota and in the interim married Robert Jones, whom she met while working at West Publishing and together they lived on Saint Clair Avenue and raised four daughters; and
WHEREAS, Judy is an author, independent scholar and educational consultant with deep commitment to telling the stories of underrepresented communities including multicultural history, disability history, and women’s history and above all, Judy is a tireless advocate for women; and
WHEREAS, Judy was a passionate member of the DFL Feminist Caucus and is an author of the book “Celebrating 10: 1973-1983,” published in 1983, which documented the biographies of the DFL Feminist Caucus founding members; and
WHEREAS, Judy co-edited a book about a deaf American poet entitled “Sweet Bells Jangled: Laura Redden Searing, A Deaf Poet Restored” which was published in 2003 by Gallaudet University Press; and
WHEREAS, Judy’s most notable project was researching baseball standout Toni Stone, the first black female professional baseball player to play in a men’s professional league; Judy worked tirelessly to bring well deserved attention to this local hero including writing a book about Stone and organizing for a plaque at Dunning Field to recognize her, and as a result The Great American History Theatre in Saint Paul commemorated her story in a world premiere production, “Tomboy Stone;” and
WHEREAS, Judy wrote the Saint Paul Public School curriculum for Black history month and women’s history month and her interest in women’s history planted a seed which grew into the non-profit Minnesota Women’s History Project; and
WHEREAS, Judy advocated for Women’s History Month to be designated in Minnesota and formed a non-profit called “Her Story Unlimited;” and
WHEREAS, Judy was an election judge for more than 40 years and an active member of Women Against Military Madness; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that as a result of Judy's many accomplishments over her life, our community is better for it, because when Judy sets her mind to something, she doesn’t give up; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council declares Wednesday, July 12 as Judy Yaeger Jones Day in the City of Saint Paul