JACKSON COUNTY — This year’s the Southeastern Ohio Branch NAACP’s 17th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet will feature an historic keynote speaker.

The banquet is 7 p.m. Saturday in Jackson.

The keynote speaker will be Delaware County Sheriff Walter L. Davis, III, the first ever African-American ever elected sheriff in Ohio.

Davis began his four-year term in January and leads a staff of 200. Prior to his election, Davis was appointed sheriff in June 2007 and has nearly 30 years experience in law enforcement.

Earlier this year he graduated from the National Sheriffs Institute, the only national executive development program designed for sheriffs.

Davis is a graduate of East High School in Akron. He holds an associate’s degree from Cuyahoga Community College in law enforcement and criminology. Davis is working to complete his B.S. degree in education from Ohio Dominican University.

Davis established the annual Holmes-Davis Memorial Scholarship program at his high school alma mater to assist students with their college tuition. He also established the Sheriff Walter L. Davis III Family Scholarship. Annually, one scholarship is awarded to a student in each of the eight high schools in Delaware County. 

Davis retired from the Ohio State Highway Patrol after 28 years of service.

The Davis family lives in Genoa Township.

The banquet will be at the OSU Extension Office, 17 Standpipe Road, Jackson.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from Martha Cosby or Mabel Tanner in Jackson County; John Howard or Jessie Payne in Gallia County; and Deotis Conwell or Annie Anderson in Lawrence County.