Bootsie Neal Passed Away!

Bootsie Neal, a pioneer of Dayton politics passed away.

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The former city councilwoman for the city of Dayton, Ohio passed away. Idotha "Bootsie" Neal passed away on Sunday at the age of 68. 

Her family said she passed away from natural causes. 

Born in Newbern, Alabama., Neal was raised mostly in Buffalo, New York.

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

Neal served on the Dayton city commission from 1992 until 2004. 

The former city leader was the first Black woman to sit on the city commission.

She was a colorful and slightly controversial figure in the city. She maintained a relationship with then-mayor now U.S. Republican lawmaker Mike Turner who called her a "great friend and ally."

"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.

Neal in 2012 with then Vice President Joe Biden. Now in 2021, Biden is the 46th President of the United States.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) 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.”

I remember her daughter going to the same high school with me. From what I remember, Neal threw her weight around to get her daughter and friends to walk at their graduation after they failed to show up for graduatipn rehearsals. I believe the daughter and her friends went on an unauthorized trip to Washington, DC that wasn't approved by the school board.

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.

Nan Whaley, the city mayor said Neal was a giant to the city. She said she opened doors for woman of color to become leaders.

“The other thing I think Bootsie did that is not as much talked about: there are many, many black women that are in government because of Bootsie Neal. And they are doing all kinds of things from working in City Hall to the county in finance, in places you would never think that really got their start because of Bootsie investing in them. And I think that’s the legacy she leaves behind, frankly,” Whaley said.

Whaley announced this year she won't seek reelection and is rumored to be considering a challenge against Turner in the U.S. House as a Democrat. Other rumors include her potential run for governor of Ohio to challenge Mike DeWine, the state's embattled leader.