Those We Lost — June 17

Honoring those we lost on June 17 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind.

William Attaway

Born November 19, 1911 — Died June 17, 1986

Title: Novelist, essayist, screenwriter, songwriter, and playwright

William Attaway was a writer best known for Blood on the Forge, a novel about Black migration, labor, and industrial life. His career also reached into music and screenwriting, showing the range of Black writers who moved between literature, stage, song, and television.

Frances Foster

Born June 11, 1924 — Died June 17, 1997

Title: Actress, stage director, and founding member of the Negro Ensemble Company

Frances Foster was a stage, film, and television actress who helped build Black theater through her work with the Negro Ensemble Company. Her career included more than performance; she was also a director and part of the artistic infrastructure that supported Black storytelling on stage.

Willie Davenport

Born June 8, 1943 — Died June 17, 2002

Title: Olympic hurdler, gold medalist, and bobsledder

Willie Davenport was an Olympic champion in the 110-meter hurdles and competed in multiple Summer Olympic Games. He also competed in the Winter Olympics as a bobsledder, making him part of a rare group of athletes whose careers crossed both Olympic stages.