Alberta Henry

Women in Public Service »

A vivacious and deeply religious woman, Alberta Henry (1920-2005) fervently believed in the notion of community, and became committed to creating a more equitable, culturally diverse society in Utah. Her efforts led to the establishment of the Alberta Henry Education Foundation in 1967. For 12 years, she was president of the Salt Lake branch of the NAACP, and served as chair of the Utah Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (1975-79) and the Governor’s Black Policy Advisory Council (1974-76). She was a member of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the Utah State Bar, Utah Health Advisory Council, Utah Endowment for the Humanities, and Brookings Institute Wasatch Front. For her efforts as a civic leader, Alberta received numerous awards and tributes, including an honorary degree from the University of Utah in 1971, the first African-American to be so honored.