Role Model - Visionary - Trailblazer
On Saturday, April 28, the Arlington County Board will hold a a dedication ceremony from 10-11 a.m. at Courthouse Plaza.
To honor Bozman’s work and legacy, the Courthouse Government Center building will be renamed as the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center.
In 1973, Ellen Bozman first ran for the Arlington County Board under the slogan “Let’s keep Arlington a good place to live…and make it better.” During her tenure from 1974 to 1997 as the longest-serving county board member to date, Bozman’s dedicated service and ingenuity fulfilled this goal. Her foresight and leadership guided Arlington as it transitioned from a suburban enclave to bustling urban community, as she advocated for controlled development, instituting services for the elderly and children, and open government.
You can read a short history of Ellen Bozman's life and career in our online exhibit, Women's Work, and see original documents about her work on the County Board in the Center for Local History's Community Archive.
“Ellen Bozman set the bar high for civic service and leadership,” former Arlington County Board member Jay Fisette said. “It is entirely fitting that the County offices be named for Ellen — a visionary who helped guide Arlington’s growth for decades, played a key role in developing Metro here, and who maintained the highest ethical standards throughout her decades of service to this community that she loved. Ellen believed in open, inclusive, competent government as a powerful agent of progress.”
In August, 2017, former County Board member Fisette received a petition signed by 62 prominent Arlington residents asking that the Board name the County Office Building for Bozman. The County’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board unanimously approved the naming on September 20, 2017.
The plaque in Bozman's honor reads:
The Government Center is dedicated in memory of
The Honorable
Ellen M. Bozman
1925-2009
Role Model – Visionary – Trailblazer
“A distinguished civic leader who dedicated her career to the community she loved.”
Six-time Board Chair with 24 years of public service, Bozman set a high bar for civic service and leadership.
In a time when few women held public leadership roles, she distinguished herself as a passionate leader and pioneer, effective consensus-builder and powerful agent of change.
She was instrumental in embracing public transit solutions, affordable housing, public education and integrated social services programs.
Her vision and passion for the community helped guide Arlington’s growth for decades, leading the County through its most transformative years.
Ellen Bozman was a vibrant force behind so much that we now take for granted in Arlington. Always visible, always approachable, I would see her at so many events (including the Arlington County Fair) where she ALWAYS had a ready smile for me. I admired her so much and applaud her dedication to helping to make Arlington the vibrant place to live that it is now. Although she is no longer with us, what she did for Arlington will always live on, as will her memory. The dedication of her plaque and the renaming of the building at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard on Saturday April 28 ( a beautiful day after all our cold weather!!) was very moving, and those who attended, as well as those who talked, were unanimous in their praise and appreciation for wall that Mrs. Bozman did for our community.
Regarding my post above — it’s “all”, not “wall”.
Sorry!!