Jane Burleson, a former Fort Dodge city councilwoman, accepted a Black Hero Award. Burleson is believed to be the first black woman to serve in that role in Iowa. She was the first in Fort Dodge.

Charles Clayton, AFES director, presented her with the recognition. He has many fond memories of growing up with her.

“When I was growing up, I was scared to see Jane,” he said. “We were acting up once, and Jane comes over and puts her hand on my shoulder then said, ‘Can you not use that language?”

Clayton heard about it when he got home. “My mom said, ‘Did you have some words with Miss B?” he said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Former Fort Dodge Police Officer William "Bam" Miller accepts his Black Hero Award Saturday from Athletics For Education and Success founder Charles Clayton during the Juneteenth Commemoration at AFES.

When Clayton became active in the community, Burleson told him simply, “You’re finally home, this is where you’re supposed to be.”

“She was a tangible role model,” he said. “We didn’t have a lot of tangible role models. Jane got a lot further with grace than I ever would.”

Burleson spoke after accepting the award, perhaps in a note to Clayton’s long ago … incident.

“I was rough with the kids,” she said. “You have to be firm with your kids nowadays. When I grew up, people respected every elder there was. Kids, we’re trying to teach you that life isn’t easy.”

She recalled an occasion where she cast the lone no vote on an issue before the Council.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Fort Dodge City Councilman Quennel McCaleb uses his speaking notes to demonstrate that if he'd gotten home late growing up, he would have found a note with lists of chores for him to do. McCaleb was one of the speakers during the Juneteenth celebration at Athletics For Education and Success Saturday.

“Jane Burleson voted no,” she said. “I made headlines. I do my own thing.”

She’s currently living in Buckeye, Ariz. She returned to visit and accept the award.

Burleson’s still got her sense of humor.

“Thanks to God and all my friends I’ve lived to be 95,” she said. “I know I don’t look it. I still got a little swing to my step. It makes me feel good I can come home again.”

She has little time or patience for those who complain instead of getting involved to make things better in the community.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Demarcus Carter, the diversity, equity and inclusion chairman for the Iowa Democratic Party, speaks Saturday during the Juneteenth Commemoration at Athletics For Education and Success.

“They’re not doing nothing but sitting on their butts and making nasty remarks,” she said.

Former Fort Dodge Police Officer William “Bam” Miller was also presented with a Black Hero Award.

Clayton fondly remembered Miller as well. “He made sure we got treated fairly,” he said.

Clayton described Miller as another positive role model that would often help bridge the gap in the sometimes poor relationship between the police and the black community. Miller would come play basketball with youth, among other things.

Miller accepted the award.

“The job changed my life,” he said. “It’s great to come back.”

Sam Mosley, a Fort Dodge Senior High School athletic standout, was also given a Black Hero award but was unable to attend.

Demarcus Carter, the diversity, equity and inclusion chairman for the Iowa Democratic Party, was one of the speakers during the event.

He spoke out against recent legislative efforts to restrict teaching of things like Critical Race Theory and the new laws dealing with gender issues in schools.

“We have an opportunity to protect DEI in the state of Iowa,” he said, “by being predators of opportunity rather than prey of circumstances.”

Carter also advocated for universal school lunches during his talk.

“I want to see school lunch debt ended in Iowa,” he said.

Carter finished his remarks with a plea to embrace diversity.

“Don’t let people with nefarious intentions believe that DEI is something harmful to society.” Carter said. “See the beauty of what diversity does for us and Iowa. See the beauty.”

Current At-Large City Councilman Quennel McCaleb also spoke.

He started off his remarks with an admonishment from the former councilwoman when he didn’t get on the microphone quite quickly enough.

“Speak up,” she said.

McCaleb is proud of his history, proud of his culture, proud of his faith and proud to serve Fort Dodge.

“I am part of Black history,” he said. “I am God’s work. God keeps showing me why I wake up every day, why he keeps blessing me. I strive for greatness. I want our city to grow. I want our kids to spread their wings.

Joe Crooks Scholarship winners Javion Jondle and Layla Taylor were also recognized during the celebration. Clayton stressed that the scholarships are unusual in that they don’t just cover tuition. The students are able to use them for life expenses too. “You have to be able to eat, get gas,” he said.

Juneteenth celebrates the date of June 19, 1865, which is considered the day the last slaves were set free following the Civil War. It’s a national holiday.

Another celebration will be held on June 17, starting at 11 a.m. in the park on 10th Avenue Southwest.