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Banner unveiled honors Judge Cacioppo, Councilman Davis
Published: February 23, 2017
AKRON––History smiles on the pioneers; the individuals who have the courage, the will and the want to take steady aim at a goal and overcome obstacles to achieve those goals. The individuals recognized on Feb. 1 at the Summit County Juvenile Court perfectly personified that definition.
Judge Mary Cacioppo and Councilman Ed Davis took different paths to prominence, but they walked in lockstep in one particular area: They had the bravery to become the first at what they did in public life. One, direct from Akron’s Firestone Park, the other from Alabama, by way of Pennsylvania to Akron’s Ward 3.
Members from both families, friends and court staff gathered for a banner unveiling that outlined the careers and accomplishments of Judge Cacioppo and Councilman Davis.
Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio officiated over the ceremony. It was a continuation of a tradition established at the court that observes Black History and Women’s History months in February and March, respectively.
Judge Cacioppo and Councilman Davis both faced and overcame discrimination on their way to achieving their goals.
Judge Cacioppo was openly discouraged by some people from pursuing a law degree simply because of her gender. One man even said it would be his personal mission to see that she didn’t succeed.
“They didn’t know our Judge Cacioppo,” said Judge Teodosio.
Undaunted, she enrolled in The University of Akron School of Law and became one of the first women to receive her juris doctor from the school. It was the beginning of a career that saw her become the first female assistant law director with the city of Akron, the first female appointed to the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals, the first female magistrate with the domestic relations court and one of the first women elected to the 9th District Court of Appeals.
Judge Teodosio also related a story about how Judge Cacioppo challenged the law she loved. She had the audacity to keep her maiden name after she married. The Board of Elections informed her that she was ineligible to vote because she couldn’t provide evidence that she was married.
Once again, Judge Teodosio said, “They didn’t know our Judge Cacioppo.” Judge Cacioppo fought the ruling that revoked her right to vote and, of course, won.
She also won the hearts of everyone who was fortunate to come under her tutelage.
“She encouraged me very early in my legal career, and that was such an inspiration for me,” said Judge Teodosio. “She was my mentor, she was my role model and she was my friend.”
Councilman Davis was born in Alabama and his family moved to Pennsylvania when he was a youth. He arrived in Akron in 1939. He soon after went to work as a machinist and he became in involved in the labor movement. He began to take on a leadership role in the union and soon, he was voted president of the UAW Local and was also appointed special assistant to the president of the international union.
Councilman Davis’ success in that capacity compelled him to seek a seat on Akron City Council. The year was 1957 and Davis’ appearance in local politics preceded the upswing in the civil rights movement by three years.
It took courage for Councilman Davis to overcome the racial barrier that had been established on Akron City Council for over 100 years. But, he won election as councilman of the 3rd Ward, becoming Akron’s first African-American councilman.
Councilman Davis emerged as a leader on council. The respect his peers had for him was brought full circle in 1970 when he was named the body’s first council president. He remained in that capacity until 1976 when he became the city’s first African-American clerk of council. That same year, the Ed Davis Community Center was named in his honor.
Following the introductions, Judge Teodosio called forward family members to assist in the unveiling, adding the names of Mary Cacioppo and Ed Davis with those of Martin Luther King Jr., Sojourner Truth, Harriett Tubman, Mary Eagle, Rita Dove, Ruby Nash Garnett, Dr. Fannie Brown and Ophelia Averitt whose achievements have been recognized on past court banners.