Walter L. Cohen

{{Short description|American public official}}

Walter Louis Cohen (January 22, 1860-December 29, 1930) was a public official, Republican Party leader, and businessman in the United States. He was active in fraternal organizations.{{cite web | url=https://aaregistry.org/story/a-spokesman-for-his-people-walter-cohen/ | title=Walter Cohen, Politician born }} An African American, he held several federal positions.{{cite web | url=http://nutrias.org/info/aarcinfo/notabl2.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029190205/http://nutrias.org/info/aarcinfo/notabl2.htm | archive-date=29 October 2015 | title=AARC Notable African Americans from Louisiana }}

His father was Jewish, his mother African American, and he was Catholic. He said he was everything the Ku Klux Klan abominates.{{cite web | url=https://www.creolegen.org/2017/07/16/walter-l-cohen/ | title=Walter L. Cohen High School - Early Days 1949-1953 | date=16 July 2017 }}

He was born free in New Orleans. He attended St. Louis Catholic School and Straight College. His daughter Camille Cohen Jones was a community leader in Chicago.{{Cite news |date=1927-01-15 |title=Louisiana Social and Beneficial Club of Illinois Stage Beautiful Tableaux |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-broad-ax-louisiana-social-and-benefi/165071683/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |work=The Broad Ax |pages=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}

File:Walter L Cohen School new building, Baronne Street Uptown New Orleans December 2022.jpg

Walter L. Cohen High School was named for him. The school's yearbook was also named in tribute to him.https://www.creolegen.org/2017/07/16/walter-l-cohen/