January 19, 1976 -- The first Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday in Ohio traces its beginnings to meetings during the early 1970s at Cincinnati City Hall, with area-wide leaders pledging to support the establishment of an official Ohio holiday for Dr. King. The first proposal for this statewide holiday came from the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission (CHRC). After an hour long debate, the Ohio House voted 57-33 to create the holiday, and it was signed into law "without comment" by Gov. James A. Rhodes on May 2, 1975. Despite the lack of any signing ceremony or even a statement from Rhodes, "we were so glad that he signed it," reporter Alice B. Walker recalls.  Didja know? The idea for a statewide King holiday got a cool reception from many Ohio lawmakers. Critics called King an "apostle of violence," contending community unrest followed throughout his marches in the South.