By CRISTINA JANNEY&nbsp; Hays Post

Washington Grade School students in Ellis celebrated President's Day with a special guest on Monday.

Michael Jilg, a Hays artist, painted an 8-foot-by-8-foot portrait of President Washington 50 years ago for the country's bicentennial celebration.

After spending some time outside in front of the school, facing Washington Street in Ellis, the portrait was eventually moved inside the school and now hangs in one of its main hallways.

"My vision of art is to show people something they've never seen before," he said. "And if they have seen it before, to show it to them in a way that is unusual."

Jilg, who painted the portrait based on Gilbert Stuart's famous portrait of the president, said he never anticipated the painting would last this long.

He said that when he stepped into the school on Monday, it was the first time he had seen the portrait in 50 years.

Jilg, who was living and working in Ellis on Washington Street at the time, scavenged sheets of masonite and old wood from the local lumberyard to use as canvas and a frame.

He used a 1-foot-by-1-foot grid system to size the Gilbert painting up to the larger school portrait.

He explained to the students that there were no cell phones or cameras in 1776. If you wanted a picture of George Washington, and everyone wanted one, you had to have a painting made.

Gilbert Stuart never fully finished his official portrait of George Washington. He would paint a little and then take time off to paint copies that he could sell on the side to make money, Jilg said.

The original portrait is in Washington, D.C.,&nbsp; but Stuart copies still exist today.

The children asked Jilg what it was like before cell phones.&nbsp;

Jilg said at the time he painted his portrait, he just wanted an excuse to paint something big. He used enamel house paint samples.

"It was the bicentennial, and everyone was excited about the country being 200 years old," he said.

He had to paint the image in two panels, so he could get the painting out of his house.

Jig took time to answer the children's questions after a short presentation on the portrait.

Jilg painted the Washington portrait when he was 30, but he told the students he had started painting at 18.

His school had no art program when he was a child, but he said he constantly doodled when he should have been paying attention.

"It's taken the rest of my life to learn what I should have when I was your age," he said.

He said he was a "gear head" in high school. He liked fixing cars and working with his hands.

It wasn't until he went to college that he began to pursue art seriously.

"I enjoy every moment I'm making art," Jilg said. "It doesn't matter what it is."

Hays artist shares story of Washington portrait painted for grade school 50 years ago

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A red flag warning with high fire danger is in effect for Ellis County now through 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Other affected counties include Trego, Scott, Lane, Ness, Rush, Hodgeman, Pawnee, Stafford, Ford, Edwards, Kiowa, Pratt, Clark, Comanche, and Barber.

Winds are forecast to be from the southwest at 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. Relative humidity is expected to be as low as 13%.

Ellis County under red flag warning through tonight

Hays Police Department arrest log: Feb. 8-14, 2026

Hays Police Department activity log: Feb. 8-14, 2026

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/corrections-about-us">Click HERE for the Hays Post obituary policy.&nbsp;</a>

How to submit an obituary to the Hays Post

Please email obituaries to haysobits@eaglemedia.com.

Please allow up to 24 hours from the submission of the obituary for it to be posted on the Hays Post.&nbsp;

If you have questions, please contact Scarlett Deutscher at 785-301-2211.&nbsp;

If you have an issue outside of business hours or your obit has not been published within 24 hours, please email <a href="mailto:hayspost@eaglemedia.com" target="_blank">hayspost@eaglemedia.com</a> or call Cristina Janney, Hays Post editor, at 785-301-2077.&nbsp;

Recent obituaries, how to submit an obituary

Women Who Lead's annual scholarship application period is now open. 

The scholarship is for female residents of Ellis County.

At least three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded for 2026 to women who will be attending Fort Hays State University, Fort Hays Tech North Central or Hays Academy of Hair Design.

Applications are due by March 31. Students find the application at <a href="https://womenwholead.org/">https://womenwholead.org/</a>.

If you have any questions, you can call Women Who Lead Scholarship Committee chairwoman Cristina Janney at 785-301-2077, cjanney@eaglemedia.com or Renee&nbsp;

Women Who Lead offers $1,000 scholarships for 2026-27 school year

ELLIS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. Monday in Ellis County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Chevy Cobalt driven by Carson&nbsp;Johnston, 19, Hesston, was&nbsp;eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of&nbsp;Toulon Avenue.&nbsp; The car traveled off the road into the south ditch and rolled onto the driver's side.

EMS transported Johnston to Hays Medical Center. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after I-70 rollover accident

The Hays Fire Department has been officially recognized as a "Gold Helmet Department" by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

This distinction acknowledges the department’s successful effort to enroll more than 50 percent of its active firefighters in the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer, the largest effort ever undertaken to understand and reduce the risk of cancer among U.S. firefighters.

The Gold Helmet challenge is a national initiative designed to encourage fire departments to participate in critical medical research.

By achieving high participation rates, the Hays Fire Department is contributing directly to a dataset that will help researchers identify trends, risk factors, and potential safety measures to protect the next generation of first responders.

Firefighters are exposed to a complex mixture of combustion byproducts, many of which are known or suspected carcinogens.

According to NIOSH, previous studies have indicated that firefighters face a 9% increase in cancer diagnoses and a 14% increase in cancer-related deaths compared to the general population.

The NFR aims to address gaps in this research by collecting voluntary data from a diverse range of firefighters across the country.

“The health and safety of our personnel is a priority that extends far beyond the emergency scene,” said Hays Fire Department Chief Ryan Hagans.

 “We know that the risks of this profession include long-term health challenges. By participating in the National Firefighter Registry, our crew members are not only taking ownership of their own health but are also providing the data necessary to make this job safer for firefighters across the nation in the years to come," Hagans said.

To earn the Gold Helmet designation, a department must confirm that at least 50 percent of its active workforce has completed the enrollment questionnaire.

The Hays Fire Department emphasized education and voluntary participation to reach this milestone.

The collected data will be used to investigate the link between firefighting and cancer, with the ultimate goal of developing better decontamination protocols, safety equipment, and medical screening guidelines.

The NFR is open to all U.S. firefighters, regardless of their status as paid or volunteer, active or retired, and regardless of their health history.

“Achieving Gold Helmet status is a reflection of the dedication our team has to one another,” Hagans said. “It demonstrates that the Hays Fire Department is willing to lead by example. We are proud to join a select group of departments that have taken this concrete step toward better occupational health outcomes.”

For more information on the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer, visit <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry/index.html">https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry/index.html</a>.

Hays Fire Department earns 'Gold Helmet' designation for commitment to cancer research

HaysMed is proud to recognize Lyndsey Day, RN, of the Center for Women’s Health, as the latest recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

While the DAISY Award submission process is always private, this nomination carried special meaning, it was submitted by a fellow HaysMed associate, Amy George, nursing supervisor of the Emergency Department. 

Voting is always blind and anonymous for members of the HaysMed DAISY Award committee, but once Lyndsey was selected, the committee notified Amy, who attended the presentation so she could personally thank Lyndsey again for the exceptional care her family received.

“My mother-in-law was a patient on the surgical floor, initially being treated for an obstruction, but she continued to decline. Lyndsey was my MIL’s nurse two nights in a row. Needless to say it was the hardest nights of my mother in law’s end of life. She was in a lot of pain and Lyndsey made sure to keep on top of it for pain control, Lyndsey asked us as a family what we needed. We told Lyndsey to keep my mother-in-law comfortable. My sister-in-law and I stayed the night and I didn’t have to worry about waking up to my mother-in-law in pain because Lyndsey came in every hour on the dot and gave some pain meds. We didn’t know at this time that it was so close to her last day.

"The next morning my mother-in-law was placed on Hospice, the Hospice Team was absolutely wonderful too. Lyndsey came back the next night as my mother-in-law was struggling during her last few hours of life. Lyndsey made sure to give pain meds as often as they could and was always asking what they could do for the family.

"Lyndsey showed compassion, kindness and empathy at all times. I am also a nurse, and know what it takes to get through an experience like this. I was so grateful for Lyndsey as she helped us through the hardest days of our lives as we watched our loved one leave this earth.

"Lyndsey showed us their passion for nursing these nights, it was truly visible. I hope Lyndsey knows that she chose the right profession.”

Lyndsey’s impact extended beyond excellent clinical care; she provided comfort, presence, and genuine compassion during one of a family’s most difficult experiences. Her actions demonstrate the heart of nursing and embody the mission and values of HaysMed.

As a DAISY Award honoree, Lyndsey receives a special DAISY pin and recognition celebrating her meaningful impact on patients, families, and colleagues.

The DAISY Foundation was created in 2000 in memory of Patrick Barnes to honor the extraordinary skill and humanity of nurses around the world. HaysMed is proud to be a DAISY Award Partner, celebrating nurses who make exceptional differences in the lives they touch.

To nominate a nurse or team at HaysMed for the DAISY Award, visit: <a href="https://www.haysmed.com/daisy-nomination-form/">https://www.haysmed.com/daisy-nomination-form/</a>.

HaysMed honors nurse with DAISY Award

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

Sunday, February 22nd is NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY! And Fuzzy's Taco Shop is the best place to celebrate! Take the quiz below to see which Fuzzy's Margarita fits your personality best!

Come check out Fuzzy's Taco Shop at 4310 Vine St, Hays, KS 67601!

What kind of margarita are you? contest

&nbsp;Submit events to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay

Special thanks to <a href="https://www.visithays.com/183/Events">The Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau</a> and<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/"> Fort Hays State University</a> for their contributions to the community calendar.

Community Calendar

The Chamber in Hays, Kansas Board of Directors and staff will be conducting a strategic planning session early this spring. We would like to collect feedback from you, our valued member investors, to ensure we are focusing on areas and initiatives that matter to you the most! Thank you for your time and support!

<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScv7eIWzBssTLnlJMdDkqiT1pf19-M_YmXJlghcG6c3bZTrZg/viewform?usp=headerPlease&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawQAFEBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETJtZmhzSjUyNW1jalhORW40c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHho8HAiKeRzdk9OKJM2PN1-ynJbK6klvd6O4eyZ3LUckWaft7iYulU5ftG7F_aem_WlE-hV7TzOrzHjaw22c8xQ">Click HERE for the survey.</a>

Chamber in Hays seeks your input

The Hays Symphony will present its “Winter Classics” concert on at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on the Fort Hays State University campus, 600 Park St.

The evening will highlight the winners of the Hays Symphony 2025 Young Artist Competition, alongside a selection of orchestral works ranging from Viennese polkas to contemporary Latin American rhythms.

The concert serves as the annual showcase for the university’s top student musical talent.

This year, three soloists will perform with the orchestra: violinist Samantha Zimmerman, mezzo-soprano Alison Walker, and trumpeter Dawson McNeal.

“Working with these young artists is a highlight of our season,” said Benjamin Cline, music director of the Hays Symphony. “These students have demonstrated immense discipline and artistry to master such complex repertoire. To see them transition from the practice room to center stage with a full orchestra is a rewarding experience for both the ensemble and the audience.”

The program opens with Franz Schubert’s “Fierrabras Overture,” followed by the featured solo performances.

Zimmerman will perform the first movement of Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, op. 22. Walker will present Gioachino Rossini’s “Anzoleta Avanti la Regata” from La Regata Veneziana. McNeal will conclude the soloist portion with Kevin McKee’s “Centennial Horizon.”

The second half of the program offers a lighter, energetic collection of orchestral favorites.

The symphony will perform three works by the Strauss family: “Pizzicato Polka,” “Tritsch-Tratsch Polka,” and the “Thunder and Lightning Polka.” The evening concludes with Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s “Danse Nègre” and Arturo Marquez’s dynamic “La Conga del Fuego Nuevo.”

“The energy these young musicians bring to the stage is contagious,” said Joan Crull, president of the Hays Symphony Guild. “We are proud to support an event that celebrates the next generation of performers. It is a wonderful opportunity for the Hays community to witness the high caliber of talent being cultivated right here at the university.”

The concert is sponsored by the FHSU Tebo Library.

Following the performance, a reception will be held for the audience and musicians, sponsored by a donation from Janis and Lyn Lee, Hays.

The Hays Symphony acknowledges the support of its 2025-26 season sponsors: the Riley Family Foundation, the Robert E. Browning Foundation, and an anonymous Ellis County family. 

Free tickets are available online at <a href="https://www.hayssymphony.org/">hayssymphony.org</a>.

Hays Symphony to feature Young Artist Winners at free ‘Winter Classics’ concert

Ana's Gift is collecting new stuffed animals for children who have experienced trauma.

At 16, Ana Hertel embarked on a mission to bring comfort to children experiencing trauma by collecting stuffed animals.

Although Ana died shortly after starting the project, her parents, Lori and Stan Hertel, have continued her mission.

The stuffed animals must be new with tags.

They can be dropped off at Eagle Radio, 2300 Hall; Jeter Law Firm, 1200 Main St #101; Golden Plains Credit Union, 2720 Broadway Ave.; and First Kansas Bank,&nbsp;1200 E. 27th St.

Stuffed animal donations sought for Ana's Gift

The Hays Area Planning Commission will meet at 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

Agenda items include a public hearing for proposed&nbsp;Unified Development Code changes to reduce sideyard setbacks for&nbsp;carports.&nbsp;Under current regulations, carports must meet accessory structure side and rear setbacks of five feet.

Commissioners will also conduct the annual comprehensive plan review.

The complete agenda is available<a href="https://www.haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02162026-1595"> here</a>.&nbsp;

Hays Area Planning Commission to conduct public hearing on setbacks for carports

Northcentral and Northwest Extension Districts and counties of K-State Research and Extension again will be hosting an online agronomy series, “Crop Talk”,&nbsp; which will highlight several topics important to crop producers. These will be on Tuesdays through March 10, and each session will be held from noon to 1:00 p.m. CST.

In the northcentral and northwest agronomy-focused areas, the meetings will feature presentations and comments by K-State Research and Extension faculty to enhance management strategies utilized by crop producers.

Planned topics of discussion include Available Soil Water at Planting and Related Management; Wheat conditions and Breeding efforts on Mosaic Viruses; Fungicide Applications in Corn and Sorghum, and Insects to watch for in the Field.

There will also be time for questions between Kansas crop producers and extension specialists at each of the sessions.

Register online by searching for “<a href="https://www.wkrec.org/events/croptalk/">KSU Crop Talk webinars</a>” or call your local Extension Office. Once you register, a link to the online sessions will be emailed to you.

CCA credits have been applied for with 1 credit for each session.

KSU Crop Talk webinar series returns for producers

Western Plains Arts Association COLBY —&nbsp;&nbsp;Western Plains Arts Association’s January 25th show was postponed because of weather and is now rescheduled for&nbsp;Sunday, February 22.

Jeff Davidson will have his public performance at the Quinter High School Auditorium at 3:00 p.m. Davidson is bringing the history of the Santa Fe Trail to life through song, stories and pictures. Admission will be by WPAA season ticket or at the door.

There will be a school presentation in the Quinter High School Auditorium on Monday, February 23 at 9:00 a.m. and then another at noon at the Oakley High School Auditorium for Oakley Elementary. School performances are free to all who attend.

Thanks again to our area sponsors, especially the Gove County Community Foundation and the Dane G Hansen Foundation. Additionally, it is sponsored in part by the state of Kansas through the Kansas Arts&nbsp; Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

RESCHEDULED: Jeff Davidson brings Santa Fe Trail history to life through song, stories, pictures

FHSU University Communications

A free virtual online open house will be hosted by Fort Hays State University on Tuesday,&nbsp;March 10, 4:30-6 p.m. CDT for area families and adult learners.&nbsp;

The event is open to&nbsp;any prospective student, including:&nbsp;&nbsp;

• Parents with&nbsp;college-bound students&nbsp;who want to learn more about admissions, financial aid, and next steps. • Working adults or parents considering returning to school or upskilling. • • Community members exploring flexible online degree options

This is a&nbsp;virtual, drop-in event, allowing participants to join at their convenience. Attendees can:&nbsp;&nbsp;

• Connect directly with faculty and university staff. • Get help with&nbsp;applications and FAFSA. • Learn about&nbsp;scholarship opportunities and prize drawings&nbsp;available to participants

Check out the event website to learn more:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fhsu.edu/online/open-house/">https://www.fhsu.edu/online/open-house/</a>.

Free FHSU Online Open House for Hays area families, adult learners

HaysMed will host the Healing Kids’ Heart Retreat on Saturday, March 28, 2026, offering a compassionate, supportive one-day program for children coping with the loss of a loved one. The retreat will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bob &amp; Pat Schmidt Community Center, 2510 Canterbury Drive in Hays.

The Healing Kids’ Heart Retreat provides a safe and confidential environment where children can learn healthy ways to understand and navigate grief. Participants will take part in hands-on activities, guided discussions, and meaningful projects designed specifically for their emotional and developmental needs.

“HaysMed is committed to caring for the whole person, and that includes supporting families and children through difficult emotional experiences,” said Sarah Dreiling, HaysMed director of clinical care. “Programs like the Healing Kids’ Heart Retreat help ensure that no child has to navigate grief alone.”

Throughout the day, trained volunteers will guide children through activities that honor the memory of their loved one, encourage healthy expression, and foster connection with peers who have gone through similar experiences. Each participant will be paired with a dedicated adult buddy for support and encouragement.

Lunch will be provided, and there is no cost for children to attend.

Participation is free, but registration is required and limited to the first 20 children. Forms must be submitted by March 1, 2026. Families interested in registering may contact the HaysMed Hospice Department, which can provide all registration details by phone or mail an application upon request.

For more information or to register, contact: Phone: 785-623-6200 Email: mjordan1@haysmed.com

HaysMed hosts Healing Kids’ Heart Retreat March 28 for children experiencing grief

JOHNSON COUNTY —Last week, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper attempted to stop a driver on Interstate 70 around Turner Diagonal, according to a social media report from Troop A. The trooper was stopping the driver for displaying a tag that belonged on a Dodge Charger; however, it was being displayed on a GMC truck.

The driver fled east on I-70.  The trooper was joined by another trooper equipped with a Grappler.  The trooper successfully deployed the Grappler on Interstate 70 just east of 18th Street.  

The driver was taken into custody.  It was discovered the driver had multiple felony warrants through multiple jurisdictions and was in possession of methamphetamine.&nbsp; The patrol released no additional details including the name of the suspect.

KHP used Grappler to capture wanted suspect on I-70

GRANT COUNTY —USD 214 Ulysses gave students the day off Tuesday due to the forecast sustained high winds and wind gusts exceeding 60 mph producing reduced visibility and blowing dust.

A high wind warning and red flag warning is in effect for Tuesday, according to National Weather Service in Dodge City.

The status of scheduled night activities for the school district are yet to be determined.

Wind warning prompts Kan. district to cancel school Tuesday

Group makes case by drawing upon dystopian horror of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Five people walked through the Kansas Capitol on Monday shrouded in long, red cloaks and with faces concealed from view by wing-like white bonnets.

The intent was to catch the attention of legislators and lobbyists, who complied with puzzled looks as they tried to comprehend the scene.

Why the outfits? Were they part of a cult? Might they be nuns? What do they want? Could they be dangerous?

Christy Allen, among the women dressed as characters from the dystopian novel and film “The Handmaid’s Tale,” said the group chose the distinctive wardrobe to emphasize frustration with the direction of state government in Kansas and Missouri as well as the dismantling of political norms by President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C.

Allen and her peers carried small cloth signs that summarized their message to politicians. It said, simply: “Shame.” They were told they would be asked to leave if they displayed the signs inside the Kansas Senate chamber.

“I’m tired of people putting party over people,” Allen said. “I feel with the erosion of all people’s rights, the United States becomes a theocracy. Our uniform, and it is a uniform, and we are an army, stands for the subjugation of all people’s rights, and that’s what’s happening with the hypocrisy right now. It’s carrying over into Kansas. We are free staters, right, and we should stick with that.”

The 1985 novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood and a more recent television series based on the book described a world where fertility rates plunged and fertile women were enslaved to bear children for the ruling class. Civil war in the United States produced a totalitarian, Christian form of government led by power-hungry leaders who relied on a divine law to control women. In the Handmaid world, female residents were forced to survive under laws forbidding them from owning property, handling money or reading and writing.

Angela Korbin, another member of the Handmaid group, said she was in Topeka to protest how democracy was under attack for the benefit of white, evangelical men.

“I want people to know that women’s rights are trans rights and trans rights are human rights,” she said.

She was referencing Senate Bill 244, an anti-transgender bill passed by the Republican-led House and Senate but vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

Under the legislation, Kansans using public restrooms would be required to make use of facilities aligned with their sex declaration at birth rather than respect a person’s gender identity. It would establish a mechanism for people who claimed they were offended to seek $1,000 bounties from violators of the law. Government agencies not in compliance could be hit with a $25,000 fine on a first offense or $125,000 fines for subsequent incidents.

“It’s punitive,” Allen said. “Actions say a lot.”

The Handmaid contingent also voiced objections to public policy decisions in Kansas on immigration, health care, education and elections.

Outside the Capitol on Monday, a couple hundred people with colorful signs and flags conducted a protest on Presidents Day that was labeled “Not My President.” It was organized by Kansas 50501, which promotes nonviolent protests in Topeka that build relationships among people eager to defend the Constitution, respect coequal branches of government and deliver on the promise of equal rights for all.

Much of the anger on the south steps of the Statehouse centered Trump’s alleged campaign to violate rights of Americans by directing federal agents to, organizers said, “kill us.”

Teresa Gorby of Ottawa was on hand with a sign that declared “Stop ICE Now.”

“I’m here for my country,” she said. “We need funding for health care, things that help our people not rich guys.”

Topeka residents Duane and Kathy Dahm carried signs that urged people to respect the Constitution and to remind people that “silence kills democracy.”

“We’re just tired and fed up with everything that’s going on,” Duane Dahm said. “All the illegal stuff (Trump’s) doing.”

Other signs registered other concerns: “We’re not being governed, we’re being lied and looted,” “No dictator, no crown. We the people won’t kneel down” and “The darkness has got to give.”

Doug McGaw, a Vietnam veteran who earned a Purple Heart and taught at Emporia State University, said the people had to compel the three branches of the federal government to bring order to chaos.

“We have a corrupt government that will not obey the law,” he said. “We need to stiffen the spine of people who are responsible for our laws and justice system.”

Kansas protesters argue for fundamental reform of government in both style and substance

CHICAGO (AP) — The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and two-time presidential candidate who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after the revered leader's assassination, died Tuesday. He was 84.

His daughter, Santita Jackson, confirmed that Jackson died at home, surrounded by family.

As a young organizer in Chicago, Jackson was called to meet with King&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-voting-rights-memphis-north-america-a5fa959c9c3a418d9f5eb1b1badb8db2">at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis</a>&nbsp;shortly before King was killed and he publicly positioned himself thereafter as King's successor.

Jackson led a lifetime of crusades in the United States and abroad, advocating for the poor and underrepresented on issues from voting rights and job opportunities to education and health care. He scored diplomatic victories with world leaders, and through his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, he channeled cries for Black pride and self-determination into corporate boardrooms,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0cfc7e215c604452be78493c000ec5c8">pressuring executives</a>&nbsp;to make America a more open and equitable society.

And when he declared, “I am Somebody,” in a poem he often repeated, he sought to reach people of all colors. “I may be poor, but I am Somebody; I may be young; but I am Somebody; I may be on welfare, but I am Somebody,” Jackson intoned.

It was a message he took literally and personally, having risen from obscurity in the segregated South to become America’s best-known civil rights activist since King.

“Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said in a statement posted online. “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8f3f24a221ed47b79ee04b47a789d35a">Despite profound health challenges</a>&nbsp;in his final years including a rare brain disorder that affected his ability to move and speak, Jackson continued protesting against racial injustice into the era of Black Lives Matter. In 2024, he appeared at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and at a City Council meeting to show support for a resolution backing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-israel-hamas-resolution-ceasefire-7f210b4ed091347d4137810999bdc536">ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war</a>.

“Even if we win,” he told marchers in Minneapolis before the officer whose knee kept&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd">George Floyd</a>&nbsp;from breathing was convicted of murder, “it’s relief, not victory. They’re still killing our people. Stop the violence, save the children. Keep hope alive.”

Calls to action, delivered in a memorable voice

Jackson’s voice, infused with the stirring cadences and powerful insistence of the Black church, demanded attention. On the campaign trail and elsewhere, he used rhyming and slogans such as: “Hope not dope” and “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it then I can achieve it,″ to deliver his messages.

Jackson had his share of critics, both within and outside of the Black community. Some considered him a grandstander, too eager to seek out the spotlight. Looking back on his life and legacy, Jackson told The Associated Press in 2011 that he felt blessed to be able to continue the service of other leaders before him and to lay a foundation for those to come.

“A part of our life’s work was to tear down walls and build bridges, and in a half century of work, we’ve basically torn down walls,” Jackson said. “Sometimes when you tear down walls, you’re scarred by falling debris, but your mission is to open up holes so others behind you can run through.”

In his final months, as he received 24-hour care, he lost his ability to speak, communicating with family and visitors by holding their hands and squeezing.

“I get very emotional knowing that these speeches belong to the ages now,” his son, Jesse Jackson Jr., told the AP in October.

A student athlete drawn to the Civil Rights Movement

Jesse Louis Jackson was born on Oct. 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, the son of high school student Helen Burns and Noah Louis Robinson, a married man who lived next door. Jackson was later adopted by Charles Henry Jackson, who married his mother.

Jackson was a star quarterback on the football team at Sterling High School in Greenville, and accepted a football scholarship from the University of Illinois. But after he reportedly was told Black people couldn’t play quarterback, he transferred to North Carolina A&amp;T in Greensboro, where he became the first-string quarterback, an honor student in sociology and economics, and student body president.

Arriving on the historically Black campus in 1960 just months after students there launched sit-ins at a whites-only diner, Jackson immersed himself in the blossoming Civil Rights Movement.

By 1965, he joined the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-business-alabama-martin-luther-king-jr-race-and-ethnicity-b0d6202cf702d3ae1e487e9c0329083c">voting rights march</a>&nbsp;King led from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. King dispatched him to Chicago to launch Operation Breadbasket, a Southern Christian Leadership Conference effort to pressure companies to hire Black workers.

Jackson called his time with King “a phenomenal four years of work.”

Jackson was with King on April 4, 1968, when the civil rights leader was slain at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Jackson’s account of the assassination was that King died in his arms.

With his flair for the dramatic, Jackson wore a turtleneck he said was soaked with King’s blood for two days, including at a King memorial service held by the Chicago City Council, where he said: “I come here with a heavy heart because on my chest is the stain of blood from Dr. King’s head.”

However, several King aides, including speechwriter Alfred Duckett, questioned whether Jackson could have gotten King’s blood on his clothing. There are no images of Jackson in pictures taken shortly after the assassination.

In 1971, Jackson broke with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to form Operation PUSH, originally named People United to Save Humanity. The organization based on Chicago’s South Side declared a sweeping mission, from diversifying workforces to registering voters in communities of color nationwide. Using lawsuits and threats of boycotts, Jackson pressured top corporations to spend millions and publicly commit to diversifying their workforces.

The constant campaigns often left his wife, Jacqueline Lavinia Brown, the college sweetheart he married in 1963, taking the lead in raising their five children: Santita Jackson, Yusef DuBois Jackson, Jacqueline Lavinia Jackson Jr., and two future members of Congress, U.S. Rep. Jonathan Luther Jackson and Jesse L. Jackson Jr., who resigned in 2012 but is seeking reelection in the 2026 midterms.

Local

Region

Sports

Announcements