LV woman made most of Forum opportunity

Monday, Nov. 14, 2005 | 8:11 a.m.

* School: Rancho High

* Sun Youth Forum years: 1958, 1959, 1960

* Graduation: 1961

* College: University of Colorado, Clark County Community College, UNLV (1976)

* Occupation: Retired. Worked for the Nevada State Employment Securities office and as a Clark County Justice Court clerk

* Accomplishments: Won top honors in the Junior Achievement business program in high school; former president of the Las Vegas chapter of the NAACP (1971-1976)

* Tuesday: A 1961 Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum participant who became a teacher talks about how more language and government classes in schools create a better understanding of cultures and customs.

Eleanor Holbert Walker knew 46 years ago she was being given a rare opportunity for a black person when she was selected by fellow students at the Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum to write a Sun column about the group's discussions.

"We (blacks) didn't get in the newspaper for a lot back then -- maybe a mention of our little fashion shows or for being arrested," Walker said. "Now I was getting a chance to be heard -- and on the front page."

Walker's column ran at a time when blacks were not allowed as guests in local hotels and just about everything in town was segregated, including police.

"White people as a group at that time did not believe black police officers should be arresting them," Walker said. "We had that Deep South mentality."

While the local police department long ago ended segregation practices, Walker said perhaps things have swung too far in the other direction.

"I would like to see more of a presence of black officers in the black community today to develop better relations with black residents and serve as good role models for young blacks," Walker said.

Walker credited the Sun Youth Forum with giving her the courage to stand up in front of a group of people and speak her mind.

"(Late Sun Publisher) Hank Greenspun wanted to give everyone a chance to be heard," Walker said. "That set the stage for me. I had to be bold enough to know my voice could be powerful."

Later, as head of the local NAACP, Walker convinced the Las Vegas City Council to install street lights in West Las Vegas, after ambulance drivers and other public safety workers refused to go into black neighborhoods on night emergency calls because they said it was too dark to see the house numbers.

As for the Youth Forum celebrating its 50th anniversary, Walker said, "It's exciting to see they are still doing the Sun Youth Forum to give more young people a chance to be heard."

Ed Koch can be reached at 259-4090 or at koch@lasvegassun.com.