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New Stamp Honors Patricia Roberts Harris By Ed Somers Mayors viewed a video June 11 which highlighted the life of Patricia Roberts Harris and presented a new U.S. Postal Stamp created in her memory. The 23rd stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Harris, the first African-American women to serve as a member of a presidential cabinet. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter named Harris Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Two years later, he appointed her Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. Harris also was the first African-American women to serve as a U.S. ambassador. President Lyndon B. Johnson named her ambassador to Luxembourg in 1965. She also was the first woman to serve as dean of Howard University Law School. As Mayor Webb stated, "Throughout her career, Secretary Harris gave special attention to the needs of the disadvantaged and distinguished herself as an advocate of fairness and equity for all Americans. She worked very closely with the Conference of Mayors on many important policy priorities under the Carter Administration." Harris died of cancer in Washington, DC on March 23, 1985. The Patricia Roberts Harris Commemorative Campaign’s Founder and Director Fran Phillips-Calhoun joined the mayors in Seattle to present a video on Secretary Harris which was prepared by Howard University. Ms. Phillips-Calhoun also urged mayors to consider naming streets or other public facilities after Secretary Harris to continue to honor her legacy.     
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