Kenneth O. Stratton

Mr. Stratton was born on December 18, 1927, and received his early education in Elkville, Illinois. After serving in the U.S. Army, he received his bachelor’s degree in 1950 and his master’s degree in 1952 from the University of Illinois. He began his teaching career in Champaign at Willard Elementary School. He served as president of the district teachers’ Champaign Education Association and was a delegate to the National Education Association’s national assemblies for several years.

Mr. Stratton played a significant role in the civil rights movement in Champaign-Urbana during his lifetime. He was active in the 1968 initiative for the integration of Champaign’s elementary schools. As a city councilman, he participated in negotiating an agreement to end discriminatory hiring practices in the stores in downtown Champaign and played a pivotal role in the planning for the city’s urban renewal program. He was a member of the Black Coalition for Equal Opportunity Employment.

Among his community activities, Mr. Stratton was a charter board member of both the Don Moyer Boys Club and the Champaign County Urban League and served on the Board of Directors of the United Way and the Frances Nelson Health Center. He was past master of Lone Star Lodge #18, past Exalted Ruler of Elk Lodge #619 and past adjutant of William F. Earnest Post #559 of the American Legion.

The naming in 1998 of the Stratton Academy of the Arts in his honor stands as a testament to Kenneth O. Stratton’s legacy of a life of service to the Champaign-Urbana community.

This content was made possible by a Healing Illinois grant, funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services in partnership with The Field Foundation of Illinois and United Way of Champaign County, in cooperation with Champaign Unit School District 4.