First Black woman Dayton city commissioner Bootsie Neal dies

With her election in 1991, Neal became the first Black woman to serve on Dayton City Commission.

She remained a commissioner until 2004.

In the early days of her political career, Neal was often the only Black person or woman in a male-dominated arena. Later in her life, Neal mentored other women running for office or looking to run for office.

“She was a giant in this community,” said Dayton Municipal Court Judge Mia Spells, Neal’s friend for 40 years. “She has made a footprint in this community that is indelible. The family, her friends, ask for your continued prayers at this time.”

Rep. Mike Turner (R-Dayton) was mayor of Dayton when Neal served on city commission. In a statement he said that they worked together to “turn the city around.”

Neal and Turner, the commission’s only Republican at the time, formed a bit of an alliance.

“Bootsie Neal was one of my dearest friends” Turner said. “I know that without her leadership and partnership we would not have balanced the city’s budget and built the baseball stadium, Schuster Center, and RiverScape. Bootsie’s legacy of service through her sorority Delta Sigma Theta as well as to the entire Dayton community will forever be cherished.”

Turner brought Neal with him as his guest to the 2012 White House Christmas party.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said Neal did great things for Dayton and the Miami Valley.

“Ms. Neal was a force for good in our state, who will long be remembered for her commitment to the Dayton community and for her work to make the Miami Valley a better place. Ms. Neal was a trailblazer, breaking down barriers in her own life as the first Black woman to serve on the Dayton City Commission, and in her later years, lifting up future generations of Ohio women interested in pursuing public service,” Brown, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Connie and I are keeping Ms. Neal’s loved ones in our thoughts during this difficult time and stand with the Dayton community in honoring her legacy of service.”

As commissioner, Neal was instrumental in the neighborhood redevelopment efforts in the Wright Dunbar Business Village on West Third Street. Neal also led Wright Dunbar, Inc. until 2014.

Neal guided the Wright-Dunbar Business District through a crucial period of neighborhood development, said President and CEO of Wright Dunbar, Inc. Harry Seifert.

“From her days at the city of Dayton to her time as president of Wright Dunbar, Inc., Bootsie continued her leadership efforts for the betterment of Dayton. With the assistance of the Mathile Foundation, she focused on renovation of historic buildings and recognition for the Wright Dunbar Historic District,” Seifert said. “She and the Mathile family will be remembered for being early pioneers in the revitalization that is now taking place.”

Today, Wright Dunbar is home to many small businesses and the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, a federal park that tells the stories of the lives and legacies of Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright and Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Neal owned Neal and Associates, a consulting and training firm. She has presented at the United Nations and conducted numerous workshops nationally and internationally. Neal also served as the director of Central State University, Dayton campus for eighteen years and as an adjunct professor for 24 years.

Born in Newbern, Ala., Neal was raised mostly in Buffalo, N.Y.

She graduated Howard University before moving to Dayton in 1974 where she pursued postgraduate education at the University of Dayton.

She held degrees in counselor education and public administration and was a licensed counselor and social worker, according to the Dayton Area Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Neal was the 2009 recipient of that organization’s community service award.

Other honors include the Paul Laurence Dunbar Humanitarianism award, the Martin Luther King Image award and John Ellis Volunteer of the Year.

She was a 1994 Dayton Daily News Top Ten Women and a 2007 YWCA Women of Influence honoree.

The Democrat got her start working as a staffer to the late C.J. McLin Jr., a powerful state lawmaker and the father of former Mayor Rhine McLin. When she first ran for city commission, she raised more money than anyone else in the race, according to a 1992 Dayton Daily News article.

There are no plans yet for services to honor Neal’s life, Spells said.