Vel Phillips

Velvalea Rodgers "Vel" Phillips (February 18, 1923 – April 17, 2018) was an American attorney and civil rights activist. She served as a local official and judge in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and as Secretary of State of Wisconsin, the first woman and African-American elected to that state position, from 1979 to 1983.

Vel Phillips
29th Secretary of State of Wisconsin
In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983
Governor	Lee S. Dreyfus
Preceded by	Douglas J. La Follette
Succeeded by	Douglas J. La Follette
Personal details
Born	Velvalea Rodgers (1923-02-18)February 18, 1923 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Died	April 17, 2018(2018-04-17) (aged 95) Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Howard University University of Wisconsin–Madison Law School

Phillips died under hospice care in Milwaukee at age 95 on April 17, 2018.^[1]