ORDINANCE NO. 250910
title
Sponsor: Councilmember Melissa Patterson Hazley
Designating the honorary street name of "Sarah Rector Way" for a portion of Euclid Avenue from the north line of 11th Street to the south line of 12th Street.
body
WHEREAS, Sarah Rector was born on March 3, 1902, near Taft, in what was then Indian Territory, to parents Joseph and Rose Rector, both of whom were formerly enslaved and became land allottees of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation; and
WHEREAS, through the discovery of oil on her land allotment in 1913, at the age of 11, Sarah Rector became one of the wealthiest African American children of her time, gaining national attention as "the richest Black girl in America"; and
WHEREAS, Sarah Rector and her family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1920, where she invested in local businesses and became known for her philanthropy and civic involvement; and
WHEREAS, Sarah Rector's success story stood as a powerful symbol of Black economic empowerment during an era when African Americans faced profound racial and gender-based barriers; and
WHEREAS, Sarah Rector's Kansas City home at 2000 E. 12th Street, now known as the Sarah Rector Mansion, served as a gathering place for community leaders, businesspeople, and advocates for civil rights and economic opportunity; and
WHEREAS, Sarah Rector's legacy continues to inspire new generations of young people in Kansas City and across the nation, demonstrating the potential for perseverance, vision, and investment to transform lives and communities; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of Sarah Rector's historic contributions to Kansas City's economic and cultural heritage, the City of Kansas City wishes to designate an honorary street name near her historic residence to commemorate her life and achievements; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the honorary street name of "Sarah Rector Way" is hereby designat...
Click here for full text