Vernon Odom, Sr.
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- This article is about the Akron, Ohio civil rights leader. For his son, Philadelphia journalist Vernon Odom, see Vernon Odom.
Vernon Odom, Sr. was born in Biscoe, Arkansas, on June 9, 1921 to Dr. Elijah and Sadie Odom. His father was born into slavery in 1859 and later became a physician.
In 1949, Vernon Odom, Sr. graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Thereafter he earned a master's degree in social work from Atlanta University.
Odom was best recognized for his 43 years of work for civil rights causes in Akron, Ohio, as well as his positions as the executive director of the Akron Community Service Center and the Urban League.
Odom had several children, one being Philadelphia journalist Vernon Odom.
Vernon Odom Sr. died May 22, 1996.
Today he is best remembered by the Vern Odom allotment, a suburban-style housing development located off Wooster Avenue (Vernon Odom Boulevard) in Akron.
In the early 2000s, an effort was made to commemorate Odom's memory by renaming Wooster Avenue (a main thoroughfare through one of Akron's predominantly African-American neighborhoods) Vernon Odom Boulevard. After this was passed, many local signs were renamed to read "V Odom Boulevard," reaping much public conversation and amusement.
