Four people will receive the Ethelrie Harper Humanitarian Award today during the 58th annual meeting of the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission.

        Recipients are U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel and his wife, Louise; former Ohio Rep. William L. Mallory, and Ernest J. Waits Sr, a retired business management consultant.

        CHRC officials said the award honors Cincinnatians for promoting positive intergroup relations, equality and fairness.

        Ù “This is our highest honor,” said Carolyn Edwards, community relations coordinator for CHRC. “The people we selected this year have been staunch supporters of CHRC and have been pioneers in human relations.”

        Mrs. Harper died in 1975 while serving as a CHRC commissioner. She was an executive in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

        The award was set up to honor her in 1976. Today's presentations will take place at the Phoenix Restaurant downtown.

        Judge Spiegel, of Clifton, served as the first chairman of the commission. He previously served as chairman of the Mayor's Friendly Relations Committee, a forerunner of CHRC.

        He helped set in motion CHRC as an intergroup agency under a new city ordinance. Judge Spiegel also served as treasurer and member of the general committee which was established to assist the commission by advising on and helping to carry out its programs.

        Mr. Mallory, of the West End, served 28 years in the Ohio General Assembly and was elected majority floor leader in 1974, the first African-American to hold that position.

        “I worked on many human relations issues with Mrs. Harper,” he said. “I think to carry on her memory we need to intensify our efforts on human relations, not just African-Americans, but all ethnic groups.”

        Mr. Waits, of Hartwell, worked with Mrs. Harper, fighting employment discrimination in industry as an organizer in the labor movement.

        “She was a significant figure in the labor movement and human relations, in the office and on the picket line,” Mr. Waits said. “I feel honored to receive this award because it honors a person who was a true believer in equality of opportunity and open access to all human beings.”

        Mrs. Spiegel is a founder and past president of the Urban Appalachian Council. She is active with the Civic Confederation, Race Relations Council, Women's City Club, Cincinnatus Association and the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative.

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