The place where Gwen Elliott made her last public appearance, unveiling the Family Activity Center for children visiting the Allegheny County Jail, was named in her honor this morning.

County Executive Dan Onorato introduced a resolution that he will ask County Council to adopt. The order would name the newly carpeted and decorated corner of the jail waiting room "The Gwendolyn June Campbell Elliott Family Activity Center."

The naming would add to the legacy of Ms. Elliott, the first black woman to achieve the rank of Pittsburgh police commander. She died May 14 of cancer.

At a press conference today, speakers from government, social service agencies and Ms. Elliott's family hailed her for her seemingly tireless work to better the lives of single mothers and their children.

When Ms. Elliott retired from the police force, she founded Gwen's Girls for young, unwed mothers and other struggling girls to help build their self-esteem, work skills and discipline.

"A month ago, my mother made it a priority to be here for the unveiling," of the Family Activity Center, said Ms. Elliott's daughter, Kathi. "This truly is a tribute to who my mother was."

Claire Walker, executive director of the Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation, which spearheaded the drive for the new center, credited Ms. Elliott with being the force behind the effort.

Along with the county Bureau of Corrections and Lydia's Place Inc., 100 grant makers and organizations came together to create the children's corner in the jail's waiting area.

At the groundbreaking for the center, Ms. Walker said, Mr. Onorato was heard to comment, "These children are my top priority."

"I felt as though I was in heaven," Ms. Walker said today of Mr. Onorato's comment.

About 7,000 children a year pass through the lobby of the county jail. Their new activity center will take up less than a third of the space near the entrance.