Amos H. Lynch Sr. (1925-2015), the most important supporter of King Arts Complex, touched countless souls in Columbus Black community. –We mourn the loss of “The Godfather” Mr. Amos Lynch.
Known throughout Columbus as “the God Father of the Black Press”, Mr. Lynch contributed his journalism talents to three major Ohio Black newspaper — the Ohio Sentinel, The Call and Post, and The Columbus Post. He was also a civil rights advocate who founded the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast in 1986 with Dr. C. Dexter Wise, III. Nowadays, the Breakfast is the biggest sit-down breakfast convention in the nation taking place on MLK Day, bringing the dream and inspiration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Columbus Black community.
A businessman and civil rights leader, Mr. Lynch received many awards and recognitions and was inducted into the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame in 2011. The King Arts Complex honored Mr. Lynch with the creation of “The Amos H. Lynch Plaza” located in front of the arts complex on Mt. Vernon Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. A social entrepreneur, Mr. Lynch had brought the awareness of social justice to a broader audience by truthfully present Black community news through newspaper channels. He was also a mentor to many successful Black professionals in Columbus, such as Wil Haygood, and Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman.
“I learned early in my life that the written word is the most powerful tool for acquiring equal civil rights for all, and that newspapers were the best method for getting the word out,” Lynch said during his 2011 induction into the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame. This courageous pioneer had accomplished so much of what he envisioned. With the Columbus Post and the Call and Post thriving throughout Columbus Black Community, the following generation will be stronger and braver to advocate their rights and express their opinions!