Otto Beatty Jr.

Otto Beatty, Jr transitioned peacefully to his heavenly home unexpectedly on Friday, May 14, 2021. Otto was born in Columbus, Ohio on January 26, 1940, to the late Otto Beatty, Sr. and Myrna Harriet (Moore) Beatty. He grew up in a family dedicated to community advocacy, politics, civil and voting rights and entrepreneurship. At an early age most knew he was destined to make a difference after being selected to attend The Ohio State University High School. He grew up working in his parents business the Novelty Food Bar at 741 East Long Street. Beatty’s interest in representing people started in Washington, D.C. at Howard and Georgetown Universities where he graduated with his undergraduate and MBA degrees. Otto was an accomplished athlete and lettered in all sports he played in college and then he went on to play football for the Denver Broncos and when that ended he returned home to Columbus, Ohio to attend law school. He graduated from The Ohio State University College of Law where he was the only African American in his class. As a student in law school Otto first ran for Ohio State Representative. It gave him the exposure and experience for his later victorious election to the Ohio House of Representatives. Prior to his election he was the legal counsel for the powerful Black Elected Democrats of Ohio. He lived the modern civil rights era and he survived, but not without challenges A challenging journey began because there were limited to no opportunities for African American lawyers to be in major law firms. Beatty feeling the need to represent everyday people became Deputy Director of the Legal Aid Society. His office was located in the today’s Lincoln King District, on the first floor of the old Lincoln Theater. From there he accomplished many successes in his legal career, including opening his first law office just a block from he learned business, politics and community organizing. Always ahead of his time he became the first Black person to buy blocks of downtown property where on High Street he opened at that time on of the largest Black law practices in Ohio--jumpstarting many prominent lawyers of today. Early in Beatty’s legal career he was involved in many landmark legal cases and appeared before the Supreme Court on such civil liberties as the right to obtain bond for release in criminal cases in Ohio. During his legislative career spanning two decades he was a major contributor to the success of the creation of Minority Business legislation, House Bill 584 that opened the doors for minority businesses in Ohio. As a go-to person on local political party history, for decades he spearheaded, launched and often times funded the teams that delivered the Get Out the Vote that led to victory for Central Ohio’s Democratic Party ticket. He served as the Chairman of the Franklin County Democratic Central Committee and as a member of the executive committee board. Otto enjoyed talking about his wife Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and their commitment to fighting for justice and standing up for the people, especially Black Americans. Their bond was one that others could readily see as being full of love and happiness. Appointed by two mayors, he served on the Downtown Commission as Vice Chair. His work there has led to new economic development for the City. He has shared strategies and successes with President Obama and leaders across the nation—always fighting to keep the memory and legacy of the Beatty family—that will now live on through his wife, children and grandchildren. Often times you find a crowd of young men surrounding Otto to hear one of his how to best succeed stories. Otto’s life was entwined with his legal practice and his political elective role. Otto was destined to a career in politics because his political life was surrounded and influenced by being the grandson of Civil Rights icon and friend of Martin Luther King, Jr., Mayme Moore. During his last hours he was still representing people through the law as a committed personal injury attorney. He valued and loved his journey and the legacy he has left. Beatty exemplifies the words of Whitney Young … “I am not anxious to be the loudest voice or the most popular. But I would like to think at a crucial moment I was an effective voice of the voiceless and an effective hope of the hopeless.” Otto received numerous awards and recognitions for his community leadership, legal and business savvy involvement. His range of service spanned diverse leadership roles and organizational memberships such as serving as a member or past Chairman of the Board for Columbus State Community College, Chair of Robert Elliot Law Club, the Franklin County Trial Lawyers and the Ohio Commission of Minority Health. He was a lifetime member of the NAACP and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Sigma Gamma Psi (Boule’) and a generous supporter of the King Arts Complex and donor of the land to the City of Columbus for developing The Mayme Moore Park, in honor of his grandmother. Otto received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Ohio Dominican University and recently the Columbus City Council awarded him the James Poindexter Award in 2020. Otto was preceded in death by his parents and grandmother. He is survived by Congresswoman Joyce Beatty his loving, devoted wife and partner in all they did for more than thirty some years; son, Otto Beatty, III, Esq. (Christie Angel); daughter Judge Laurel Beatty Blunt (Richard II); very special grandchildren Leah and Spencer Blunt; mother of children (Rosalyn Stith); brother in law Ralph Birdsong and sisters in law Patricia White (Julian); Mary Brooks and a host of friends and colleagues. Beyond love of his family and work, Otto had a great passion for water and boating, real estate development projects and politics. In honor of Otto Beatty, Jr., contributions may be made to Fire and Focus Scholarship Fund, Inc. (a 501C3 Charity) at 175 S. Third Street Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43215