Recognizing Barbara Boyd’s Service to Our Community on Her 90th Birthday

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Barbara Boyd on her 90th birthday.

Barbara is a living legend in the Indianapolis community, and this milestone birthday is the perfect opportunity to recognize her distinguished career in journalism. A true trailblazer in the Indianapolis media market, Barbara was the first African-American female to report and anchor television news in our city. Her impressive career lasted twenty-five years at Channel 6 news, earning her a spot in both the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame and the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame.

She is famously known for a groundbreaking piece highlighting her own struggle with breast cancer in which she addressed the television audience from a hospital bed after undergoing a mastectomy. Barbara was a strong advocate in the fight against breast cancer. Her brave decision to share her personal journey helped educate many people about the disease and inspired people to seek medical care.

Beyond her work in communications, Barbara has long been involved with numerous community and civic groups, including the March of Dimes, the United Negro College Fund, NAACP, and a host of other organizations that helped her leave an indelible mark on our city.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Ms. Barbara Boyd a happy 90th birthday and thanking her for her years of dedicated service.  Her work has informed and inspired countless individuals in our community, and her legacy serves as an inspiration to many. She will be treasured for generations to come.