2006 Honorees

2006 Honorees - Strong Men & Women
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Top Row from left: Daphne Maxwell Reid, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Edward J. Perkins,
Ph.D.
Middle Row from left: Nathan Davis, Ph.D., Francis M. Foster, Sr., D.D.S.
Bottom Row from left: Howard L. Baugh, Elliott "Ellie" Mannette, Diana E. Bajoie,
Robert P. Madison
Diana E. Bajoie - 2006 Honoree
Louisiana State Senator Diana Bajoie (D-New Orleans) is
definitely one for the history books. In 1976, when she began
her public service in the Louisiana House of Representatives,
she was the only woman serving in that body. In 1991, she was
the first African-American woman ever elected to the Louisiana
Senate. In 2004, when she took the oath as Senate President Pro
Tempore, she was the first woman ever elected to the leadership
post in the Louisiana Senate.
Bajoie is not just a public servant in title — she is a public
servant in spirit, heart and deeds. Her colleagues describe her as
one who fights for communities, families and Louisiana with
tireless compassion.
The senator nurtured her early interest in community service by
attending Southern University and A & M College in Baton Rouge, earning a bachelor’s degree
in political science.
As a state legislator, Bajoie has led the way to create school-based health clinics, form the
Minority Health Care Commission and increase health care coverage for citizens with mental
health disorders.
Bajoie has also insisted that the legislature and state properly recognize the contributions of
African Americans to New Orleans, Louisiana and the nation. Her efforts resulted in the creation
of the Louisiana State Museum on Civil Rights and the expansion and renaming of the New
Orleans Convention Center in honor of the city’s first African-American mayor, Ernest N.
Morial.
Currently, she is helping to develop plans to rebuild and renew Louisiana after Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita — two of the worst natural disasters to ever befall the United States.
The senator is a founder and former chair of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus and the
Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus. She also serves as president of the National
Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women, a national legislative women’s organization
which encourages and supports women in public and community service.
Bajoie, who is pursuing a master’s degree in health administration and works as a political and
marketing consultant, has words of wisdom for today’s youth. "Be civic-minded and keep the
community’s needs at the center of everything you do."
Howard L. Baugh - 2006 Honoree
Following World War II, some white military police officers at
U.S. air bases would not salute Howard Baugh, then a black
military officer. Today, the retired lieutenant colonel gets
salutations from every direction.
Baugh served as one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the first
African Americans to be trained as World War II military pilots
in the U.S. Army Air Corps. The Tuskegee Airmen never lost a
plane to enemy fighters — a record no other fighter unit
achieved.
As a young man, Baugh always had a fascination with flying.
After the Army Air Corps began accepting African Americans
in 1941, the 21-year-old Baugh joined the program after
graduating from Virginia State College.
The Petersburg, Va., native completed his training at Tuskegee
Institute in November 1942. Out of 20 cadets, he was one of four to become pilots.
The airmen were anxious to serve their country in the war but were not called overseas until
several months after they completed training. Finally, in the summer of 1943, Baugh was
assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron in Sicily, eventually flying 135 combat missions.
In January 1944, Baugh and his squadron were recognized for shooting down several German
fighter-bombers over the Anzio beachhead, and he was credited with one aerial victory himself.
After 25 years of service with the Army Air Corps, Baugh retired in 1967, accumulating more
than 6,000 pilot hours.
After his military retirement, Baugh was employed by Eastman Kodak in Rochester, N.Y., where
he retired in 1984 after 16 years of service.
For his outstanding military service, Baugh received several medals and awards, including the
Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit award, Air Medal with three Oak
Leaf clusters and Distinguished Flying Cross. In 2004, the French government presented Baugh
with its highest and most prestigious military award, the French Legion of Honor.
Baugh, who has appeared at numerous speaking engagements, now shares his memories of flight
with the public — especially with the younger generation. "Stay in school and strive for good
grades. Develop a positive attitude and try to get some pleasure out of everything you do," he
said.
Nathan Davis - 2006 Honoree
Nathan Davis’ love of music has always been just above his
head and always within reach. Davis, a well-known
saxophonist, is a teacher, jazz performer and prolific composer,
with more than 200 pieces to his credit.
He has played alongside such greats as Donald Byrd, Eric
Dolphy and Woody Shaw. Davis currently is the director of the
University of Pittsburgh Jazz Studies program.
As a 16-year-old in Kansas City, Davis worked to save money
for a down payment on a saxophone. Soon, he was playing local
gigs and enrolled at the University of Kansas, where he earned a
bachelor’s degree in music education in 1960.
After college, Davis was sent to Berlin by the U.S. Army. When
his military stint was over, Davis decided to continue his career
as a musician in Europe, where his career took off.
Davis taught, performed, recorded and toured Europe with some of that era's jazz all-stars. He
attended the Sorbonne in Paris for graduate work in ethnomusicology in 1967. A few years later,
he went to University of Pittsburgh, where he established the Jazz Studies Program.
Davis launched the annual Pitt Jazz Seminar and Concert in 1970. Thirty-five years later, it is the
longest-running jazz event of its kind in the country.
Having earned a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University in Connecticut in 1974,
Davis continues to strengthen his music legacy. Jazzopera: Just Above My Head, written by
Davis, had its world premiere in Pittsburgh in 2004. Davis’ latest CD, The Other Side of
Morning, showcases his talents as composer, arranger, leader and multi-instrumentalist.
A member of the prestigious International Jazz Hall of Fame, Davis has received many awards
and recognitions throughout his career. He is the creator of the University of Pittsburgh
International Academy of Jazz Hall of Fame and Sonny Rollins Jazz Archives and the editor of
the International Jazz Archives Journal.
"Always believe in yourself and seek the truth. Your inner truth and belief in yourself will set
you free and help you excel in everything you do," Davis says to young music lovers.
Francis M. Foster, Sr. - 2006 Honoree
Dr. Francis Merrill Foster, Sr. is known for working his magic
in the world of dentistry. The well-known Virginia dentist has
been honored with countless awards for his achievements, but is
best noted for his contributions to the Richmond, Va.,
community.
Foster not only has showcased his expertise as a dentist but also
as a history buff and even as a magician.
Foster recalls a local dentist, Dr. James Chiles, who mentored
him and his friends through sports and teaching them the
importance of respect. While spending time with Chiles, Foster,
then age 10, expressed an interest in dentistry.
"I liked the oil of cloves smell of his dental office," said the
Richmond native. "I began asking him questions about his
dental instruments and things I saw in the office. He was a big influence on me." And the rest is
history.
Foster completed his undergraduate work at Virginia Union University and graduated from
Howard University’s School of Dentistry. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and
practiced dentistry in the Philippines and Guam. After his stint in the military, he established his
own practice in Jackson Ward, the neighborhood where he spent his childhood. He opened the
practice in 1948 and closed it 41 years later in 1989.
Foster is noted for his vast knowledge of black and Richmond history. He is able to share his
storytelling talents with people from different generations and walks of life.
The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry professor has served on numerous
boards and committees, including the Historic Richmond Foundation, Richmond School Board
and Virginia Center for the Book. He has held appointments from seven Virginia governors for
commissions and boards, including the Virginia Board of Dentistry and Virginia Museum of
Fine Arts.
Foster offers these magical words of wisdom to today’s youth: "It is nice to be important, but it is
more important to be nice. There is no right way to do a wrong thing. Service to your community
is the rent you pay on this earth."
Stephanie Tubbs Jones - 2006 Honoree
With so many decisions to make and lives to influence,
Stephanie Tubbs Jones is definitely the woman of the house.
Tubbs Jones is the first African-American woman from Ohio
elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. The fourth-term
Congresswoman is the first African-American female to serve
on the powerful Committee on Ways and Means. She is head of
Cleveland’s 11th Congressional District Caucus and is active in
both the Congressional Black Caucus and the House of
Representatives’ Democratic Caucus.
During her four terms in the House, Tubbs Jones has advocated
for quality education, economic development and access, and
delivery of health care. She secured passage of the Child Abuse
Prevention and Enforcement Act, which uses common-sense
enforcement reforms to protect children from abuse and neglect
without increasing federal spending or imposing unfunded mandates on states.
She has introduced legislation in support of uterine fibroid research funding, campus fire
prevention and funding for healthcare for retired steelworkers.
Tubbs Jones has had many historic achievements as a public servant. Prior to her election to the
House, Tubbs Jones served as the first African American and the first female prosecutor in
Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Also, she was the first African-American woman to sit on the Common
Pleas bench in Ohio and was a municipal court judge in Cleveland.
A widow and the mother of an adult son, Tubbs Jones also has demonstrated her interest in and
dedication to public service through her participation in numerous civic and professional
organizations. She is a member of the National Council of Negro Women and Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority Inc. and a trustee at Bethany Baptist Church.
The graduate of Cleveland Public Schools received her undergraduate and law degrees from
Case Western Reserve University.
As a political leader, Tubbs Jones encourages our next generation to start now in becoming
leaders and realize that "all important movements in this country began with young people.
Always challenge yourself to be the best. Step out on faith and follow your dreams!"
Robert P. Madison - 2006 Honoree
Renowned architect Robert P. Madison refuses to take "no" for
an answer — especially when he is told he cannot do something
just because of his race.
As chairman and chief executive officer of Robert P. Madison
International Inc. (RPMI), he has been instrumental in the
designs of such structures as the Cleveland Browns football
stadium and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His company is
the first African-American architectural firm in Ohio.
Born in Cleveland, Madison graduated from high school and
entered Howard University’s School of Architecture. His
education plans were cut short when he left school early in 1943
to serve in World War II. While serving in the U.S. Army,
Madison was injured and received the Purple Heart and three
battle ribbons.
After the war, when he tried to enroll in Western Reserve University’s School of Architecture,
Madison was told by an admissions officer that black students were not allowed to attend the
architecture school.
Madison, a war veteran, did not take this sitting down. He left, changed into his uniform (which
was adorned with his Purple Heart), returned to the school and pleaded his case by saying, "I
shed my blood over there to preserve this democracy, and you’re telling me I can’t go to school
here?" Needless to say, he went on to become the school’s first African-American graduate.
His next problem surfaced once he completed his studies — no one would hire him because he
was black. After a brief teaching stint, Madison started RPMI in 1954.
Madison is also a graduate of Harvard University, where he received his master of architecture
degree. The former Fulbright Scholar values education and has made provisions to ensure other
students have the same opportunity by establishing a scholarship fund at the Cleveland
Foundation.
In addition to providing financial support to students pursuing careers in architecture, Madison
also offers the following advice: "Work to be the very best, succeed or not. You are among the
elite who abhor mediocrity and all that it represents."
Elliott Mannette - 2006 Honoree
In Elliott Mannette’s case, one man’s noise ended up as one of
the world’s treasures. He took his love of music and made it an
important contribution to the arts. Born in Trinidad, Mannette
created music using a 55-gallon steel container. Mannette, the
principal innovator and designer of the modern steel drum, is
known as the "pan pioneer" and "father of the modern steel
drum instrument."
He is also a well-known player of the steel drum and has been a
member of several musical groups. With dreams of sharing his
knowledge of steel drums, Mannette left Trinidad for the United
States in 1967 and began working with New York City’s innercity youth. Along the way, he encountered a music teacher and
was soon exposed to information that eventually helped him
improve and learn more about his instrument.
Mannette is an artist-in-residence at West Virginia University’s
(WVU) College of Creative Arts. For more than 10 years, he has worked with students on
tuning, construction and other aspects of the steel drum.
His initial affiliation with the university led to the establishment of Mannette Steel Drums, one of
the largest producers of steel drums in the world.
Mannette can be credited for spreading steel drum mania. Today, there are steel band programs
in New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Washington.
For his contributions to the musical world, Mannette has received a National Heritage
Fellowship Award from the National Endowment of the Arts, the Trinidad and Tobago Chaconia
Silver Medal from the Minister of Culture, and an honorary doctorate from the University of the
West Indies.
Mannette is establishing the Mannette Foundation to help preserve, promote, research and
document the legacy he helped create. The steel drum instrument truly has a global impact and
the foundation’s initiatives will include a virtual and actual museum, scholarships and cultural,
economic and educational exchange programs between WVU, West Virginia and Trinidad
students.
Like many people pursuing their dreams, Mannette encountered hardships along the way.
However, he did not allow these to deter him. Today’s generation should believe the same: "The
more you are criticized, the more determined you should be to accomplish."
Edward J. Perkins - 2006 Honoree
From a cotton farm in Louisiana to the Republic of South
Africa, Edward J. Perkins has had the world at his fingertips.
Perkins was raised on a farm by his grandparents, who
constantly stressed the importance of education. While in high
school, he cultivated an interest in the U.S. Department’s
foreign service. After joining the U.S. Marine Corps, his dreams
of seeing the world began to come true. He served at the end of
the Korean War and then was sent to Hawaii, where he spent
most of his time reading and studying in the library.
Between 1958 and 1985, Perkins was appointed to many
positions, including chief of personnel at the Army and Air
Force Exchange in Taiwan; deputy assistant director for
management with the U.S. Operations Mission to Thailand; and
U.S. ambassador to Liberia.
In 1986, Perkins made history when he was appointed the first black American ambassador to
South Africa.
During his tenure, Perkins was instrumental in ending apartheid and getting Nelson Mandela
released from prison. After he left this post in 1989, Perkins was appointed the first black
director general of the Foreign Service and served until 1992.
He served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and U.S. representative at the United
Nations Security Council in 1992. From 1993 until 1996, Perkins served as the first black U.S.
ambassador to the Commonwealth of Australia. He retired in 1996 from the United States
Foreign Service before beginning his current position as William J. Crowe Chair professor and
executive director of the International Programs Center at the University of Oklahoma.
Perkins, who speaks four languages, received his bachelor’s degree from the University of
Maryland and earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Southern
California. He is the recipient of the Presidential Distinguished and Meritorious Service awards,
and the Department of State’s Distinguished Honor and Superior Honor Award.
Perkins suggests that "a lifelong love of learning should include languages and the great books.
The ability to write and speak clearly across human and geographical borders is essential for
achievement."
Daphne Maxwell Reid - 2006 Honoree
She’s not just another pretty face. She makes it her business to
put the faces of African Americans on the small and big screens
in the entertainment world. For years, Daphne Maxwell Reid,
best known as Aunt Viv on the hit comedy The Fresh Prince of
Bel Air has constantly seen her name in lights. Currently, she
plays a recurring character, Mrs. Hunter, on UPN’s Eve.
In 1997, after years in front of the camera, she and her husband,
actor Tim Reid, established New Millennium Studios in
Petersburg, Va. The first full-service film studio in Virginia,
New Millennium is a means for dreams to come true for
filmmakers. In addition to serving as chief operating officer and
business affairs principal of the studio, Maxwell Reid also has
worked as executive producer on various projects at the facility.
New Millennium Studios has produced feature films (including Asunder and For Real, both for
which Maxwell Reid served as executive producer), television series (including Linc’s and
American Legacy Television) and commercials. Maxwell Reid also has starred in television
series such as CBS’s Frank’s Place and Snoops and the acclaimed feature film Once Upon a
Time … When We Were Colored.
Born in Manhattan, Maxwell Reid entered the spotlight by accident. After graduating from the
Bronx High School of Science, she majored in interior design and architecture at Northwestern
University in Illinois. While she was in college, one of Maxwell Reid’s former high school
teachers sent her photograph to a magazine editor. As a result, she was featured in Seventeen
magazine, was signed by a modeling agency and became the first black woman to appear on the
cover of Glamour magazine.
Also a fashion designer and expert seamstress, Maxwell Reid invests in lives through the Tim
Reid Scholarship Foundation. Created by her and her husband, the foundation raises scholarship
funds for students attending historically black colleges and universities in Virginia.
Maxwell Reid offers the following advice to America’s youth: "Never let your environment
define you. Dream beyond your environment by challenging yourself to make a change and go
for it!"
2007 Honorees - Strong Men & Women
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Top Row from left: Dwight L. Williams, Ph.D., Blair Underwood, Dawn Staley, Charles
F. Lovell, Jr., M.D., FACP
Bottom Row from left: Billy K. Cannaday, Jr., Ed.D., Shelia C. Johnson, Paul B.
Higginbotham, J.D., Jerry Sue Thornton, Ph.D., Marc H. Morial
Billy K. Cannaday, Jr., Ed.D. - 2007 Honoree
"It's just about the kids," Billy K. Cannaday, Jr., said. Children
have been a top priority during Cannaday's entire career. During
a 12-year period, he served as the superintendent of two of the
largest public school systems in Virginia: Chesterfield County
Public Schools and Hampton Public Schools.
When Cannaday led the Chesterfield County Public Schools —
the first African American to do so — the school system went
from less than 50 percent of its schools being fully accredited by
the Commonwealth of Virginia to 100 percent of the county's
comprehensive schools being fully accredited. During this
period, Cannaday knew the names of each high school senior
who possibly was not graduating. He personally called all of
them at home to discuss a plan of action to help them earn a
high school diploma.
It was a historic moment in 2006 when Cannaday was appointed to a four-year term as Virginia's
superintendent of public instruction by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.
Cannaday is the first African American to serve in this position. As superintendent, Cannaday is
the chief executive officer of the Virginia Department of Education, which is the administrative
agency for the Commonwealth's public schools. He is also secretary of the Virginia Board of
Education.
Cannaday has served his community through service on the College of William & Mary Gifted
Advisory Board, Greater Richmond Community Foundation Board of Directors and University
of Virginia Teacher Education Advisory Committee. His significant achievements were
recognized by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents when he was named Virginia's
2005 Superintendent of the Year. Also, Cannaday has been honored twice as a regional
superintendent of the year and was named the 2000 College of William & Mary Professional
Educator of the Year.
A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Cannaday received a bachelor's degree in health and physical
education from Virginia Tech in 1972, a master's degree in educational administration from
Hampton University in 1980 and a doctorate in educational administration from Virginia Tech in
1990.
Cannaday encourages students to "aim high and don't let the doubts of others cloud your vision."
Paul B. Higginbotham, J.D. – 2007 Honoree
When he was a teenager, Paul B. Higginbotham and his twin
brother made a solemn vow to each other that they would spend
the rest of their lives improving the lives of others and bringing
equality and justice to our world.
More than 30 years after his vow, Paul Higginbotham is the first
African American to serve as a judge on the Wisconsin Court of
Appeals.
Higginbotham's journey for justice began during his childhood.
His father was a civil rights leader in Columbus, Ohio, and
marched with Martin Luther King, Jr., in Montgomery,
Alabama, and at the March on Washington in 1963.
Higginbotham remembers the bomb and death threats and the
"whites only" signs at the swimming pools, water fountains and
the entrance to one of the city's housing subdivisions.
He also remembers the segregated junior high school he attended in Tennessee and its inadequate
teaching, facilities and materials. His parents removed him from the school and placed him in a
predominately white Catholic school, where he experienced racism and bigotry. While
Higginbotham's high school years were very turbulent, they were also a period of tremendous
growth for him.
After attending college but leaving after only 2 1/2 years, working in a variety of secretarial
positions and running a business, Higginbotham realized that his community needed more of his
talents. He decided to return to college and attend law school to become a civil rights attorney.
He eventually graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor's degree and
the University of Wisconsin Law School. As a civil rights attorney, Higginbotham focused
primarily on housing and employment discrimination. He served in his first judgeship in 1992
and was appointed to his current judgeship in 2003.
He serves on the advisory board of the African-American Ethnic Academy and 100 Black Men
of Madison. For his unwavering support of his community, Higginbotham has been honored by
several organizations, including the Madison Mutual Housing Association and NAACP.
The judge encourages the future leaders of America to "make your life about service. You didn't
get here by yourself."
Shelia C. Johnson - 2007 Honoree
Sheila C. Johnson became the first African-American female
billionaire in 2000, when she and her former husband, cofounders of Black Entertainment Television (BET), sold BET
for $3 billion.
Currently the chief executive officer of Salamander Hospitality,
LLC, Johnson owns Market Salamander in Middleburg,
Virginia, and Woodlands Resort & Inn, a five-star property
outside of Charleston, South Carolina. She is president,
managing partner and governor for the Washington Mystics, a
WNBA team. In addition, she is a part owner of the Washington Wizards, an NBA team, and the Washington Capitals, a
National Hockey League team.
Johnson's legacy, however, will not be her wealth or business
holdings. Instead, she will long be remembered for the organizations and lives she has positively
impacted with her philanthropy.
Through the Sheila C. Johnson Foundation, Johnson has contributed at least $20 million to
organizations in support of children, education and the arts.
Johnson serves on the boards of the following organizations and has been a significant donor to
them: Centers for Disease Control Foundation, Morrisville College Foundation, Parsons The
New School for Design, University of Illinois Foundation and Wolf Trap Center for the
Performing Arts.
Her contributions have been used to help youth interested in culinary careers, renovate a
university building, provide scholarships for first-generation college students, combat childhood
obesity, support public schools' arts-education programs and jumpstart addiction-treatment
programs.
Johnson has always been committed to enhancing the lives of children. She has spoken around
the world on behalf of the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children and currently
serves as international ambassador for CARE, a humanitarian organization fighting global
poverty. One of her great achievements was the development of BET's award-winning program,
"Teen Summit," which gave teenagers a chance to talk frankly about their critical issues. Young
adults still approach her to tell her how valuable the show was in their lives.
An accomplished violinist, Johnson earned a degree in music education from the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The mother of two children, Johnson encourages today's youth "to
find a passion and be generous and giving to others."
Charles F. Lovell, Jr., M.D., FACP
2007 Honoree
With the stroke of a pen, Charles F. Lovell, Jr., a medical
doctor, helped save at least 325,000 lives and more than $1
billion. In 1978, he discovered that Medicare would not pay for
pneumonia vaccines for the elderly but would pay for extended
stays if they developed pneumonia and had to be hospitalized.
He wrote a letter to the editor of The Virginian-Pilot newspaper
to advocate for better and preventive health care for elderly
Medicare patients nationwide.
He pointed out that it is easier to prevent illnesses than to cure
them and that vaccinations save lives and improve people's
quality of life.
U.S. Congressman G. William Whitehurst read the letter and led
the effort to enact legislation that set the precedent for
preventive health services from Medicare. As a result, the disease is being treated proactively
and unnecessary hospitalization is being prevented.
Born in North Carolina, Dr. Lovell attended a segregated school for African Americans in North
Carolina and completed the ninth grade there. Aware of his thirst for knowledge and the limited
resources of his high school, his parents sent him to New York to live with an uncle for his
remaining high school years. He prepared himself for his future medical career by taking all the
math courses offered, studying Russian and French, serving as president of the National Honor
Society and graduating with honors.
Dr. Lovell was admitted to Harvard College and graduated with an undergraduate degree in
biology in 1968. He graduated from Columbia University's medical school in 1972. After serving
as chief resident at Harlem Hospital Center, working in the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the
Center for Disease Control, Dr. Lovell moved to Hampton Roads in 1978 to begin an internal
medicine practice in Norfolk, Virginia.
In 1992, he became the first African American to serve as president of the Commonwealth of
Virginia Board of Medicine. He is an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Eastern Virginia
Medical School and in 2006, his practice was designated a Cardiovascular Center of Excellence
by the Consortium for Southeastern Hypertension Control.
To America's youth, including future medical doctors, Dr. Lovell says to "always strive to be the
best. Set high standards for yourself."
Marc H. Morial - 2007 Honoree
According to a major publication, "Marc H. Morial, a lawyer by
profession, is leading the National Urban League into a new era
with street smarts and boardroom savvy." In May 2003, Morial
was selected as the eighth president and CEO of the nation's
oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to
bringing African Americans into the economic and social
mainstream.
After his appointment to the Urban League, Morial established
an ambitious five-point empowerment agenda that includes:
education and youth, economic empowerment, health and
quality of life, civic engagement, and civil rights and racial
justice.
He helped propel the Urban League into the forefront of major
public policy issues, ranging from helping Hurricane Katrina
victims and extending the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to creation of jobs and housing.
In 2004, Morial launched the Urban League's first Legislative Policy Conference in Washington,
D.C. At this event, Urban League staff and supporters from across the country discussed jobs,
education and civil rights with congressional lawmakers. Morial was also instrumental in
forming the Urban League's Black Male Commission to explore and develop recommendations,
solutions and programs addressing the alarming disparities disproportionately affecting black
males. He also established the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership, which combines public and
private sector resources to support business development growth among minority entrepreneurs.
Before leading the Urban League, Morial served two four-year terms as mayor of New Orleans.
During his tenure, crime fell by 60 percent, a corrupt police department was reformed and $400
million was appropriated for improvements. These improvements included the expansion of the
convention center, as well as the construction of 15,000 new homes and a new sports arena.
Before serving as mayor, Morial was a Louisiana state senator for two years. He earned a
bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. degree from Georgetown
University.
Morial has been recognized by the Non-Profit Times as one of America's top 50 leaders of nonprofit organizations and by Ebony Magazine as one of the "100 Most Influential Blacks in
America."
To future activists, Morial says, "Your vision has every right to be nurtured and realized."
Dawn Staley - 2007 Honoree
A larger-than-life, seven-story mural of Dawn Staley is located
on the side of a building and overlooks her hometown
neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This recognition is
as much a celebration of Staley's community service as it is of
her professional accomplishments.
A three-time Olympic and two-time World Championship gold
medalist, Staley is the head coach of Temple University's
women's basketball team.
In 2006, she retired from the WNBA Houston Comets and
served as an assistant coach for the USA Women's World
Championship Team.
In 2000, Staley took over the Temple University team, one that had not achieved a winning
record since 1989-90.
She turned the program around in her first season and is one of the top young collegiate coaches
in the country, leading the team to three NCAA tournaments in her first five seasons.
One of five children, Staley was born in Philadelphia and began playing basketball with the boys
in her neighborhood as a way to stay out of trouble. As the first in her family to graduate from
college, Staley played basketball at the University of Virginia (U.Va.) from 1988 to 1992, her
teams compiling a 110-21 record. She is just one of three U.Va. Cavaliers to have their number
retired, and she twice was named National Player of the Year at U.Va.
Staley established the Dawn Staley Foundation in 1996 to give back to the Philadelphia
community that has given so much to her. The foundation provides inner-city children
opportunities to enhance their abilities academically, athletically and socially.
Last year, Staley was named the recipient of the 2006 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award. The
award honors WNBA players who exemplify the ideals of sportsmanship on the court — ethical
behavior, fair play and integrity. In 2005, in recognition of her volunteer work, Staley was
awarded Philadelphia's prestigious Wanamaker Award, presented annually to the "athlete, team
or organization that has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and to the team or sport
in which they excel."
Staley encourages young people to dream big. "Having grown up in the housing projects of
North Philly, I understand the profound value of Olympic dreams."
Jerry Sue Thornton, Ph.D. - 2007 Honoree
There are approximately 1,200 community colleges in the
United States. In addition, there are more than 100 AfricanAmerican community college CEOs. However, there is only one
Jerry Sue Thornton, the first female president of Cuyahoga
Community College, which is the largest community college in
Ohio.
Described as "dynamic," "a powerful force" and "engaging,"
Thornton has committed her career to providing high-quality,
accessible and affordable educational opportunities to
multicultural communities.
Dr. Thornton and the college serve 60,000 students annually
through more than 70 degree programs. She manages a budget
of $260.2 million, oversees three campuses and two learning centers, and directs 1,596 full- and
part-time faculty and 800 support and administrative staff.
Since 1992, when Dr. Thornton joined the college, it has updated its curriculum, implemented
modern technology and opened technology learning centers at several campuses. In addition, a
theater and conference center have been completed, and departments have been established and
restructured to better serve business and industry. Two Corporate College campuses were built,
during her tenure, to provide professional development and continuing education to current
employees in Northeast Ohio companies.
Dr. Thornton began her career as a junior high school teacher in Kentucky, moved on to work at
a high school and then became a dean at Triton College in Illinois. In 1985, she became president
of Lakewood Community College in Minnesota and was named to her current position in
January 1992. Thornton earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Murray State University
(Kentucky) and a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Thornton serves on many boards, including those of National City Corporation; Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame and Museum; United Way Services; American Family Insurance; Applied
Industrial Technologies, Inc.; RPM, Inc.; and American Greetings Corporation.
Dr. Thornton's awards and honors reflect her commitment to education and community service.
Most recently, she was recognized as one of the top 50 influential people in northeast Ohio. In
addition, she received the Spirit of Women community impact award from the Cuyahoga County
Section of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc., was inducted into the Ohio Women's
Hall of Fame, and received the 2000 Corporate Excellence Award from the Urban League.
To America's students, she advises: "Success is garnered one step at a time. There is no elevator
to the top. Hard work, commitment and preparation are major parts of those steps."
Blair Underwood - 2007 Honoree
Blair Underwood has distinguished himself as an awardwinning actor who is currently showcasing his talents in film,
television and theater.
Underwood grew up in a military family, lived in cities all over
the world and considers Virginia his home. He graduated from
Petersburg High School in Virginia and studied at CarnegieMellon University before moving to New York to pursue his
career.
Since his acting debut nearly 20 years ago, Underwood has
taken the entertainment industry by storm. In 2006, he portrayed
the voice of Jesus in the highly anticipated audio version of the
Bible, "The Bible Experience." More than 200 notable
personalities — including Denzel Washington, Samuel L.
Jackson and Angela Bassett — are recorded. Underwood also
starred in two films: "Something New," a romantic comedy costarring Sanaa Lathan, and
"Madea's Family Reunion," the sequel to "Diary of a Mad Black Woman."
Underwood often portrays positive and professional characters in his films, including his role as
a Marine captain in "Rules of Engagement." Underwood's other film work includes his portrayals
of a space shuttle flight navigator in "Deep Impact," a geneticist in "Gattaca," a sheriff in
"Posse," a corporate banker in "Set It Off" and a death row inmate in Warner Brothers' "Just
Cause."
Underwood's TV roles have been as memorable as those on film. He starred in CBS's top-rated
1998 dramatic miniseries, "Mama Flora's Family," which was based on Alex Haley's last book,
and NBC's "Murder in Mississippi." The winner of five NAACP Image Awards, Underwood
starred in five episodes of the final season of HBO's hit series "Sex and the City." One of his
most notable roles was on the NBC top-rated drama "L.A. Law."
Underwood is involved in numerous charitable organizations. His community service interests
range from muscular dystrophy and AIDS to South Africa. In the fall of 2005, Underwood
published a non-fiction book called "Before I Got Here," a collection of stories and anecdotes
from parents that speak to the existence of a child's soul prior to birth.
The father of three children encourages young people to ask themselves an important question:
"What are you for? Whatever it is, commit to something."
Dwight L. Williams, Ph.D. - 2007 Honoree
Dwight L. Williams was born in the inner city of Washington,
D.C., and later moved to Fairfax, Virginia, to benefit from
expanded educational opportunities. Although Williams enjoyed
science, he did not perform well in his science classes. In fact,
the first and only "A" that he earned in a science class was in
physics toward the end of his high school years. Because he
liked science and performed well in physics, Williams was
inspired to major in nuclear engineering when he entered
college.
Since then, Williams has blazed many trails and achieved
several firsts. By age 33, Williams had reached the position of
chief engineer/principal nuclear physicist at the U.S.
Department of Defense, where he develops high-tech devices
for the military.
In addition, by the age of 35, he had reached full professor status in the world-renowned
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering.
Recently, Williams became the first African American to be named National Young Engineer of
the Year by the National Society of Professional Engineers. He was also the first African
American to be named a Director of National Intelligence Fellow. That is the highest award
available for scientists who design and develop James Bond/Mission Impossible-type devices.
Williams attended North Carolina State University, where he earned bachelor's and master's
degrees in nuclear engineering. He went on to earn a doctorate in nuclear engineering from the
University of Maryland.
Williams views his academic achievements and professional accomplishments as tools that can
be used to demonstrate the potential that exists within the African-American community. At
every opportunity, he uses his abilities and success to help others achieve. He enjoys speaking to
students, professionals and the media about his personal experience and lessons that he has
learned along his journey.
While his message of success transcends racial boundaries, he has a particular interest in helping
other African Americans realize their higher education and professional goals. He looks forward
to the day when being a world-renowned African-American scientist is not unusual.
Williams has mentored numerous African Americans to senior-level positions in the U.S.
Department of Defense. He encourages America's future leaders to do the same: "If you want to
succeed, help those around you to succeed."
2008 Honorees - Strong Men & Women



Top Row from left: Ulysses B. Hammond, Vivian W. Pinn, M.D., Peter Lawson Jones,
Rosalyn S. Hobson, Ph.D.
Center: James McLurkin
Bottom Row from left: Esther H. Vassar, Charlene J. Marshall, Nikki Giovanni, Israel
L. Gaither
Israel L. Gaither - 2008 Honoree
Commissioner Israel L. Gaither considers it a privilege to be the
first African American to lead The Salvation Army’s U.S.
operations as the national commander. Yet, he counters notions
that his race had anything to do with his 2006 appointment.
"I’m not in this position because I am an African American," he
says. "That would have been unacceptable. It’s primarily about
who I am, and what I have been called by God to do."
Gaither heads an Army of 3,661 officers, 112,513 soldiers,
422,543 members, 60,642 employees and 3.5 million
volunteers. The ministry, which has 8,719 centers, serves some
31 million people each year.
Outreach assistance includes disaster relief, shelters for the
homeless, career counseling, substance abuse rehabilitation,
daycare centers and services for elderly populations.
Along with wife (commissioner) Eva, he has traveled the world and led congregations in
Aliquippa and Pittsburgh, Pa., and in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, N.Y.
The son of a Baptist minister, Gaither was born in New Castle, Pa. He discovered the Salvation
Army while attending one of the denomination’s youth programs.
Gaither’s calling to the ministry led him to the Army’s School for Officers Training (for clergy),
from which he graduated in 1964. Since then, he has served the worldwide predominantly white,
evangelical denomination with distinction.
His ministry has had an impact on the Salvation Army’s work in 111 countries, particularly in
Africa, where he served as the Army’s leader for Southern Africa; and in England with the
International Headquarters in London, from which he served as chief of the staff, the second-incommand of the worldwide organization.
Gaither, described as an effective administrator and gifted speaker, defines leadership as "serving
others with integrity." His work allows him to observe that leadership in the 21st century is "not
telling people what to do, but working in partnership with them." His travels have shown him a
common link among mankind: "People want to be respected and valued as God’s creatures."
Gaither’s "dare-to-dream" philosophy fuels his belief that the Salvation Army can continue to
create positive changes.
In May 2005, Gaither received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Asbury
College in Wilmore, Ky., and in 2006 the San Francisco Examiner named him as one of the Top
Ten Communicators in America.
Nikki Giovanni - 2008 Honoree
Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni’s voice has inspired
generations of young people since she entered the nation’s
consciousness during the civil rights and black power
movements of the 1960s. Early works of poetry such as "Black
Feeling, Black Talk, Black Judgment" and "Re:Creation" were
required reading on many historically black college campuses
and in black studies programs at major universities.
Her writing is fiery, intense and purposeful. Most of all, it is
honest. Thus, it was only appropriate that Giovanni, a
University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech, spoke
during the aftermath of that campus’ 2007 massacre. Her
passionate words helped console mourners everywhere. “We are
Virginia Tech!” Giovanni proclaimed.
Giovanni recently spent a semester teaching at her alma mater,
Fisk University, in Knoxville, Tenn. When teaching, she distills
the same advice to students that she employs in her own work: “You can’t write for the moment,
and the writing has to be honest.”
Giovanni's honesty has been rewarded by numerous honors and awards. Her autobiography,
Gemini, was a finalist for the National Book Award; Love Poems, Blues: For All the Changes,
and Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea were all honored with NAACP Image Awards. Blues: For All
the Changes reached No. 4 on the Los Angeles Times bestseller list, and Rosa, about the civil
rights legend Rosa Parks, became a Caldecott Honors Book.
As a fan of various musical genres, Giovanni's spoken-word recordings include the album "Truth
Is On Its Way", which received the Best Spoken Word Album award from the National
Association of Radio and Television Announcers, and her "Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection,"
which was a finalist for a Grammy Award.
Giovanni was the first recipient of the Rosa L. Parks Woman of Courage Award, and also was
awarded the Langston Hughes Medal for poetry. A member of the PEN American Center, she
was honored for her life and career by The History Makers.
Her extensive work reflects advice she often dispenses to others. “Don’t be afraid to rest in the
comfort of a bigger idea; don’t be afraid to live fully.”
Ulysses B. Hammond - 2008 Honoree
Ulysses B. Hammond was a high school student in Washington,
D.C., when he read an article that shocked him. The article said
that African Americans were intellectually inferior, he says.
Hammond immediately vowed to prove the writer wrong. "We
were ready to show that we could compete," he says. "That day
sparked a fire. I felt that I had received an excellent education at
McKinley Tech and the public schools of D.C."
Further signs of Hammond’s determination were shown in
1969, during high school, when he convinced The Washington
Post editors to recognize McKinley’s basketball team, rather
than a suburban team, as being No. 1 in the region.
Hammond continued to achieve after high school. He earned a
bachelor's degree in political science at Kenyon College in
Gambier, Ohio, and later received both a master’s degree in
public administration and a juris doctorate degree from Wayne State University Law School in
Detroit.
He currently is vice president for administration at Connecticut College, where he serves as the
chief administrative and business operations officer, and is coordinator of the college’s legal and
community affairs.
Previously, he served as chief executive officer of the District of Columbia Courts from 1990 to
2000, and was the first African American in the United States to administer an appellate and
general judicial court system. Hammond’s professional experience capped a 22-year career as a
judicial administrator, during which he also served as associate state court administrator for the
Michigan Supreme Court and as court executive for the Third Judicial Circuit Court in Detroit.
Hammond’s numerous honors and awards for leadership and service include the 2006
Connecticut Man of the Year Award, and the "Measure of a Man" Award from the Washington
Inter-Alumni Council of the College Fund/United Negro College Fund and the Tutoring for
Success/Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today program in New London, Conn.
Hammond says he seeks to live by the words of gospel singer Donnie McClurkin, "After you
have done all you can, you just stand."
Rosalyn S. Hobson, Ph.D. - 2009 Honoree
Rosalyn Hobson’s research has taken her to dozens of countries
to study science and technology. Collaborative research with
students in South Africa focused on creating an automated
speech-recognition program for different languages. Another
study used demographic information to predict a person’s HIV
status.
Hobson, associate dean for graduate studies and an associate
professor of electrical engineering at Virginia Commonwealth
University in Richmond, grew up in a Washington, D.C.,
household where there was a strong focus on math and science.
In elementary school, she built a radio that won an award. High
school projects included constructing a model space station and
building a hydroelectric dam to scale. She entered the
University of Virginia with intentions of becoming a physician.
However, a realization that she preferred electronics over chemistry lab steered her toward
engineering, a field that is less intimidating than most people realize, she observes.
Even though she did not pursue her childhood dream of becoming a physician, she has enjoyed a
satisfying career. She often has taken advantage of unique opportunities, believing that
“opportunities are avenues by which you can fulfill your dreams.” Whether studying abroad for a
year in Germany while in the eleventh grade, leading a volunteer organization, “Engineers for
Education”, while a student at UVA, or starting a new engineering program at Virginia
Commonwealth University, each of these experiences has enriched her life.
Hobson’s current research involves artificial neural networks and their application to control
problems, intelligent systems, biological modeling and signal- processing issues. She also works
with elementary, middle and high school students to spark their interest in science, math,
engineering and technology.
Hobson, who received her bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering
from the University of Virginia, has received more than $1.5 million in research funding. She
took a sabbatical from VCU and accepted a diplomacy fellowship at the U.S. Agency for
International Development. During her tenure there, Hobson worked with the National Academy
of Sciences and traveled around the world investigating ways science and technology can be
used to improve the human condition in the world’s poorest countries.
Hobson is the recipient of numerous fellowships, honors and awards, including the American
Association for the Advancement of Science Diplomacy Fellowship and the National Society of
Black Engineers’ National Educator of the Year Award. She also was named Frontiers in
Education New Faculty Fellow and a Stanford University New Century Teaching and Learning
Scholar.
Peter Lawson Jones - 2008 Honoree
Peter Lawson Jones is a Renaissance man who continually
reinvents himself to achieve the most out of life while serving
others.
In 2002, Jones became a member of the Cuyahoga County
Board of County Commissioners in Cleveland and is the only
African-American county commissioner in Ohio. He previously
served in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he was the
ranking member of the House Finance and Appropriations
Committee, and as vice mayor and city councilman in Shaker
Heights, Ohio.
Jones returned to local government to garner greater influence
by representing Ohio’s largest county. His political base went
from 130,000 to more than 1.3 million people, says Jones, who
may one day run for governor of Ohio.
A native of Cleveland, Jones excelled in high school, and this enabled him to attend and graduate
from Harvard College and Harvard Law School.
Afterward, he worked as a law clerk with the Supreme Court of Ohio, in the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development and for the 1976 Carter/Mondale presidential campaign. Other
positions in the legal arena include having served as special counsel for the Ohio Attorney
General’s Office and associate bar examiner for the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Jones is a partner with Roetzel & Andress law firm. He serves on the board of directors for the
County Commissioners Association of Ohio and is chairman of its Urban Counties Committee.
Jones also is an executive committee member of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party and
serves on the board of trustees of Miami (Ohio) University and the Cleveland Leadership Center.
He is also passionate about his work on fatherhood issues. Indeed, he is considered the “father”
of both the Ohio Fatherhood Commission and the Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative, both
of which seek to help low-income, noncustodial fathers achieve employment and parenting
skills.
Jones has received numerous honors and awards for his achievements, including the Association
of Black Psychologists Community Service Award and the National Organization of African
Americans in Housing Chairman’s Award.
A love for theater inspires Jones’ playwriting abilities. His play, The Family Line, has been
produced at Karamu Performing Arts Theatre and at Harvard and Ohio Universities.
He tells young people: "In all you do, strive to leave the world a better place for your having
been here."
Charlene J. Marshall - 2008 Honoree
Charlene J. Marshall never intended to seek public office, but
was persuaded to do so after being slighted by her city council
representative in Morgantown, W.Va. She had approached her
councilman about some housing issues in her community, and
he acted "as if he could care less," recalls Marshall. "That
infuriated me."
With the encouragement of her community and faculty
members at West Virginia University, Marshall became a
candidate for the Morgantown City Council in 1991. She won.
Upon assuming her seat, fellow council members elected her
mayor, making her the first African-American woman to be
elected mayor in the state. She led the city until 1998, and holds
the record in Morgantown for serving the longest tenure as
mayor.
She recalls several times being asked to remove her name during one run for office. "They
thought I couldn't be elected and said I would 'mess up,' the vote from the ballot," Marshall says.
"I said, 'Yes, you’re right. I plan to mess up the vote.'"
Marshall, who was born in Osage, W.Va., looks back with pride on her record as mayor, noting
major accomplishments that included eliminating a deficit and purchasing new police and fire
equipment. After serving as mayor, Marshall became a member of the West Virginia House of
Delegates, and has represented its 44th District for four terms.
After serving as mayor, Marshall became a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates,
and has represented its 44th District for four terms.
A graduate of Monongalia High School, Marshall studied at Bluefield State College and is a
retired data technician. She says she has long believed that in order to bring about change, one
must be involved. "We must learn constantly in every way possible and share that knowledge
with everyone we encounter," she says.
She has been involved at the local and state level, having served on the boards of the Valley
Health System, Boys and Girls Club of America, and the Morgantown Theater Company. She is
a former advisory board member of the West Virginia University School of Nursing, former
chairwoman of the West Virginia Human Rights Commission, and past president of the
Morgantown NAACP.
Her honors include the 1994 Mayor of the Year Award, 2006 Public Citizen of the Year Award,
the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Exceptional Service in the Public Interest Award, and the
2006 Mountain State Bar Award for Outstanding Citizen.
James McLurkin - 2008 Honoree
The world of science recognizes James McLurkin as a visionary
leader in distributed robotic systems. An example of his acumen
is the iRobot Swarm project, one of the world’s largest swarm
of robots. The swarm is programmed with distributed
algorithms, which is software that produces complex group
behaviors from the interactions of many simple individuals.
These ideas are not new — ants, bees, wasps, and termites have
been running this type of software for 120 million years. Yet,
McLurkin describes his ability to synchronize nature, science
and technology as equal parts science and fun. "It’s just putting
things together, not that much different from LEGOs," he says.
McLurkin, a doctoral student at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab,
put things together as a child, spending hours with LEGO bricks
and eventually creating his own video games. The MIT design competitions on NOVA, a public
television series about science, further intrigued him.
His penchant for patterns took shape later in life. McLurkin admits that he was not a good
student in middle school, and that he never took honors classes. A high school science teacher
recognized McLurkin’s abilities—such as building a robot that combined a toy car and squirt
gun—and placed him in honors courses that challenged him. "I can’t remember a time I wasn’t
building something," he says.
McLurkin says he still must stay disciplined in his studies as he nears completion of his Ph.D.
degree in computer science. Doing so is easy because the robots are so much fun. While grateful
for and humbled by his achievements, he looks forward to forging new frontiers.
"Yes, I’m able to build impressive robotic systems, but that’s not enough. Every great scientist
must contribute to society in a much broader context. It is important for me to reach out to
students and show them that science and engineering can be a lot of fun for students of all
genders and colors. Your job never feels like work if you love what you do. Follow your
passions, discover what you like to do, and then do it to the best of your ability," he says.
McLurkin holds degrees in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science.
In 2003, he received the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize, which is awarded to promising MIT
student inventors. He also was recognized by Time magazine as one of five leading robotics
engineers and by Black Enterprise magazine as one of its "Best and Brightest Under 40."
Vivian W. Pinn, M.D. - 2008 Honoree
While growing up, Vivian W. Pinn became accustomed to
helping those in need of medical care. Her grandmother suffered
from diabetes and a grandfather had cancer. Later, after she
entered Wellesley College, Pinn took leave to help care for her
mother, who died of cancer at age 46. Pinn’s early experience
with family illnesses led to her medical career.
After graduating from Wellesley in 1962, she entered the
University of Virginia’s medical school during a time when
blacks were not made to feel welcome. "It was rough, but I tried
to be positive," Pinn says. "I knew I had to study hard." Pinn
graduated from UVA’s medical school in 1967. She was the
only woman and minority in her class, and the second AfricanAmerican woman to graduate from that medical school.
Similar milestones include her being named at Howard
University as the first African-American woman to chair an academic pathology department in
the United States.
In 1991, she became the first director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the
National Institutes of Health. She previously taught at Harvard Medical School and served on the
faculty at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Pinn pushes to improve medical and career opportunities for women and minorities. She led a
national effort to re-examine priorities for the women’s health research agenda, involving some
1,500 advocates, scientists, policymakers, educators and health-care providers. She wants more
minorities to participate in clinical research trials by gaining information and access to such
programs. Pinn is considered a pioneer in women’s health and has received numerous honors and
awards. "I don’t forget who I am; I'm grateful for opportunities. You must have faith in yourself,
and reach for the stars if you want to achieve your dreams," she says.
She has served as president of the National Medical Association, is a Fellow in the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences, and was elected to the Institute of Medicine in 1995. The
University Of Virginia School Of Medicine has named the Vivian Pinn Distinguished Lecture in
Health Disparities in her honor, and in 2007 presented her with the Walter Reed Distinguished
Alumni Achievement Award.
In addition, in 2007, she received The Women of Color Leadership Award from the Amerigroup
Foundation. The American College of Physicians awarded her the James D. Bruce Memorial
Award in 1998, and in 1999, the National Organization for Women honored Pinn for her
leadership and contributions to women’s health. She has been granted nine honorary degrees
since 1991 for her achievements in women’s health.
Esther Houston Vassar - 2008 Honoree
Esther Houston Vassar has never lived in a community in which
she has not been an active participant. While a student at
Howard University, she volunteered to teach youngsters in the
District of Columbia’s Anacostia community. A few years later,
while working as an assistant dean at Hollins College near
Roanoke, Va., Vassar and her students built a recreation area for
local African-American youth.
And, while teaching at the University of North Carolina, Vassar
volunteered to tutor student athletes with the belief that they
needed black women role models from the university.
Today, Vassar, a three-time gubernatorial appointee who served
in the Wilder, Warner, and now the Kaine administrations, is
currently commissioner/board member of the Virginia
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. She is the first
African-American woman appointed chair of the Virginia ABC Board and the first woman to
serve consecutive terms on the board. She and two other commissioners/board members manage
more than 330 ABC stores in Virginia and regulate the sale of alcoholic beverage products and
enforce ABC laws and regulations.
After leaving Wilder’s administration 1994, Vassar formed E.H. Vassar Enterprises, which
specialized in political consulting, fund raising, event planning and corporate training. At the
same time, she began coordinating speaking engagements and other activities for civil rights
lawyer Oliver W. Hill. Her volunteer work has benefited numerous organizations, including
United Way, the Urban League of Greater Richmond, Leadership Metro Richmond, Virginia
NAACP, and the Oliver W. Hill Foundation.
Vassar says her "community servant" role is guided by these words: "Never underestimate the
importance of your life, your potential, and your influence on others." Her volunteer work has
benefited United Way, the Urban League of Greater Richmond, Leadership Metro Richmond,
Bon Air Correctional Center, the Virginia NAACP, the City of Richmond, Virginia Heroes, The
Boys and Girls Club, Richmond Public Schools, the Oliver W. Hill Foundation, the Metropolitan
Business League and the United Negro College Fund.
Her numerous awards include the 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greater
Richmond Urban League, the 2002 NAACP Service Award, and the 2003 Community Service
Award from the Tidewater Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Association. Other awards include the
2004 Community Service Award from the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement
Executives, and the 2004 Oliver W. Hill Freedom Fighter Award.
Vassar is a graduate of Howard University, Harvard University’s Program for Senior Executives
and the University of Virginia.
2009 Honorees - Strong Men & Women


Top Row from left: Frederick R. Nance, Leland D. Melvin, Matthew Guidry, Ph.D.,
Dianne Reynolds-Cane, M.D.
Bottom Row from left: Sister Cora Marie Billings, RSM, Michael R. White, Vel R.
Phillips, Eddie N. Moore, Jr., Rear Admiral Michelle J. Howard
Sister Cora Marie Billings, RSM - 2009 Honoree
Sister Cora Billings, the first African-American nun to lead a
Roman Catholic parish in the United States, has never known a
life filled with anything but giving. Growing up in Philadelphia,
she was surrounded by people who selflessly gave of
themselves.
"So part of my philosophy and being of service have always
been a part of me," she says. "My background and heritage were
to be of service."
For more than 20 years, Sister Billings’ serenity and kindness
not only have touched many Roman Catholic parishioners in the
Richmond area, but persons of other faiths, too. Today, 52 years
after she became a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy,
Sister Billings is deputy director of the Virginia Human Rights
Council, an agency that helps safeguard against unlawful
discrimination.
"Often, I don’t know the importance of what I do. I just do what I have to do," she says.
Sister Billings knew at a young age that she wanted to serve others. She recalls putting a towel
on her head when she was about 5 years old; it was her veil. Rosaries around her neck and her
mother’s high-heeled shoes completed her outfit. By 1956, her vision to serve was realized
immediately after she graduated from West Philadelphia Catholic Girls’ High School. She
became the first African American to enter the Religious Sisters of Mercy, Mid-Atlantic
Community, in 1956. Along with teaching and attending college, she took vows of poverty,
celibacy, obedience and service to the poor and less fortunate. She graduated from Villanova
University in 1964.
From 1959 until 1977, Sister Billings taught elementary and high school, becoming the first
African-American nun to teach in Philadelphia’s Catholic high schools. In 1974, she was the first
African-American nun to become a member of the Canon Law Society of America. Sister
Billings arrived in Virginia in 1981 to serve as campus minister at Virginia State University, and
was part-time director of the Richmond Diocesan Office for Black Catholics before being named
to the position full time in 1984, a position she held until 2007.
She has served on numerous boards and received several awards, including the Virginia State
Conference NAACP’s Maggie L. Walker Award, The National Conference For Community and
Justice (NCCJ) Humanitarian Award, and the Urban League of Greater Richmond’s Lifetime
Achievement Award.
Her encouragement to young people echoes the musical, "The Wiz." "Believe in yourself as I
believe in you."
Matthew Guidry, Ph.D. - 2009 Honoree
Matthew Guidry believes that a positive attitude is essential to a
healthy and successful life. One way to gain and maintain both
are through physical activity, Guidry says.
He should know.
Before retiring in 2003, Guidry was deputy director of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion. He joined the department in
1995 as a senior health policy adviser.
As deputy director, Guidry managed the Healthy People 2010
Objectives, a program to promote healthy living and reduce
health disparities among various populations.
He also helped form disease prevention and health promotion
policies, and advised White House officials on policies and programs for state health
departments, cities and communities.
Guidry also was deputy executive director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and
Sports (PCPFS), and acting executive director and director of Community Services for the
PCPFS. In those roles, he created and directed National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, The
Great American Workout, and other programs.
Guidry’s interest in health and fitness developed while growing up on his parents’ farm in
southern Louisiana. His chores included feeding animals and livestock and repairing tools and
equipment after walking to and from school two miles each day.
In his autobiography, My Dreams Fulfilled, Guidry writes that farming gave him a strong work
ethic.
"I have always been physically active from farming," he wrote. "Coming off the farm, I didn’t
have an awareness" of other opportunities. "In college, I realized there were other areas to
explore such as biology and finance."
Yet Guidry’s decision to stick with physical fitness served him well. He graduated from
Grambling College (now Grambling State University) in 1962, earned a master’s degree from
California State University in 1966, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in
1975. Guidry also spent two years in the U.S. Army.
"Understand that the one thing we can change is our attitude," he says. "Even in a negative
environment, you have to do something to change. That’s always been my approach."
Michelle J. Howard - 2009 Honoree
Rear Admiral Michelle Howard believes that America’s success
is intrinsically linked to the education of its citizens. Through
books, her parents introduced her to historic black leaders such
as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells and
Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr.
Howard did not take those lessons lightly and, at an early age,
decided to attend a military service academy and ultimately
serve her country.
She graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982. She spent
the next 17 years mastering at-sea and shore assignments that
involved increased responsibility and complexity. In 1999 she
became the first African-American woman to command a U.S.
Navy ship, the USS Rushmore.
"I’m really quite thrilled that the stars aligned to allow me to command a ship," she says. "You
train your whole life to be in command. I am comfortable with responsibilities and figuring out
how operations need to go. That’s part of who I am."
Howard says women were approximately 5 percent of Navy personnel in the early 1980s. Today
they comprise about 15 percent of those enlisted. She encourages young people and women to
consider the Navy, which provides not just a career, but a global education.
Her favorite quote is by Nelson Mandela, who said, "Education is the most powerful weapon
which you can use to change the world."
After commanding the Rushmore, Howard’s other commands included the Amphibious
Squadron in 2004-2005. Deploying with Expeditionary Strike Group 5, operations included
tsunami relief efforts in Indonesia and maritime security operations in the North Arabian Gulf.
Other sea tours included deployment to the Adriatic for a peacekeeping mission in the former
Republic of Yugoslavia and leading a West African Training Cruise where the ship’s sailors
operated with the naval services of seven African nations.
In 2006, Howard became the first woman graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy to be selected
rear admiral. From July to December 2006, she served as deputy director, expeditionary Warfare
Division. She currently is senior military assistant to the secretary of the Navy.
While serving on board the USS Lexington, Howard received the Secretary of the Navy/Navy
League Captain Winifred Collins award in May 1987 for outstanding leadership. She earned a
master’s degree in Military Arts and Sciences from the Army’s Command and General Staff
College in 1998.
Leland D. Melvin - 2009 Honoree
Astronaut Leland D. Melvin spent much of his childhood
exploring everything in his path. Dismantling telephones and
bicycles and putting them back together were among his early
pursuits. The Lynchburg, Va., native’s curiosity expanded when
he received a chemistry set from his mother. It wasn’t until
Melvin became an adult that parts of his past propelled him into
space.
"I didn’t know what the final result would be," said Melvin
about his childhood adventures that, in February 2008, carried
him on a 13-day, 5.3 million-mile trip on the space shuttle
Atlantis to deliver a European laboratory to the international
space station. Melvin’s next flight is scheduled for October
2009.
"The colors I saw were so beautiful," he says. "The vivid blues of the oceans and the snowcapped mountains were breathtaking to watch as we orbited the Earth every 90 minutes," he
says. "I wish everyone could have the opportunity to see our planet this way."
Melvin’s space career launched after an injury prevented him from playing in the National
Football League. He had been selected by the Detroit Lions in the 11th round of the 1986 college
draft. In 1989, he began working at the NASA Langley Research Center, where he studied
advanced instrumentation for nondestructive evaluation and conducted research using optical
fiber sensors.
Melvin, who received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Richmond in
1986, returned to the classroom after his football career ended. He earned a master’s degree in
materials science engineering from the University of Virginia in 1991. Melvin later led NASA’s
Vehicle Health Monitoring team and helped design and monitor aerospace and civil health
monitoring systems.
In 1998, he was selected by NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for astronaut training that
included scientific and technical briefings, lessons in shuttle and international space station
systems, physiological training, flight training, and water and wilderness survival techniques.
Melvin encourages young people to pursue careers in science, technology and engineering.
"Many students don’t know there are space stations floating around 24-7," he says. "We must let
them know what it takes … a passion for exploration, dedication and belief in oneself to make
any dream come true." Melvin’s honors include the Invention Disclosure Award for Lead
Insensitive Fiber Optic Phase Locked Loop Sensor, eight NASA Outstanding Performance
Awards, and two NASA Superior Accomplishment Awards. A member of the University of
Richmond’s Athletic Hall of Fame, he is the leader-in-residence for the 2008-09 academic year
at UR’s Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
Eddie N. Moore Jr. - 2009 Honoree
When Virginia State University (formerly Virginia State
College) was founded in 1882, it became the nation’s first statesupported institution of higher learning for blacks.
Yet, when Eddie N. Moore Jr. assumed the presidency of VSU
in 1993, he found the university that overlooks the Appomattox
River in Ettrick, Va., in need of "love and care." Basic
maintenance was required in dozens of buildings, along with
improved academic programs and new facilities.
Moore, who joined VSU after serving as state treasurer of
Virginia, knew the work in front of him and tackled his mission
with zeal. He surrounded himself with a team of new leaders
and established a strategic agenda.
"I believe in stretch goals," he says, describing his short list of objectives that focused on
academics, faculty, university scholarship and physical structure. Moore’s strategy was not only
to save the university, but also prepare it for the future.
Under Moore’s leadership, VSU now enrolls more than five thousand students and has
completed more than $100 million in capital improvements to its 236-acre main campus. The
student dining hall, student union, athletic stadium and auditorium have been renovated, and the
business school has a three-story addition. Other new completions include Gateway, a residential
facility with several classrooms, an engineering and science building, and University Apartments
at Ettrick. VSU also has expanded or added academic programs in engineering, computer
science, criminal justice, and mass media. New advanced-degree programs include a doctoral in
educational administration & supervision and in psychology. In 2007, U.S. News & World
Report named VSU the top public historically black college in the country among masters-level
institutions.
The 2007-2008 operating budget for VSU was $125 million. Moore traces his fiscally conscious
management to working in his father’s fish market as a youth. "I learned all of my business
acumen from my dad," he says. "The numbers (in arithmetic) came relatively easy for me." He
offers the same advice to students, telling them to "make sure you have all the resources you
need and be willing to take risks."
Moore earned his B.S. in accounting from Pennsylvania State University in 1968, and completed
his M.B.A. degree at the University of Pittsburgh in 2001. He has received Distinguished
Alumnus awards from both institutions. Moore currently sits on the board of Universal Corp. and
Owens and Minor Inc.
Having served in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant, Moore is a Vietnam veteran and received
the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement.
Frederick R. Nance - 2009 Honoree
As one of Ohio’s most influential attorneys, Frederick R. Nance
negotiates contracts for major athletes and celebrities while also
championing projects that benefit Cleveland, his hometown.
Nance, regional managing partner in the global law firm Squire
Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P, owes his success to "unassailable"
hard work. An equally important ingredient is his ability to
develop and nurture interpersonal relationships.
"If you are working hard and doing high-quality work, you will
find success," he says.
Such tenets have enabled Nance to negotiate agreements with
the National Football League to return the Cleveland Browns to
Cleveland, and to fund a new $300 million stadium where the
team’s home games take place. He also represents LeBron James, a forward for the Cleveland
Cavaliers.
Nance is pragmatic about his work with high-powered clients, saying, "It’s important to
understand the interpersonal relationship and how you manage it. With clients, you make
yourself user friendly … never take advantage of that access."
Running track as a youth helped Nance acquire the discipline and stamina he later would need
for the long hours required for a law career. However, many of his negotiating skills were
learned from his father, who was a representative for the United Auto Workers.
"From the time I was a pre-teen, I understood the rules of the game," says Nance, who earned his
B.A. degree from Harvard and his law degree from the University of Michigan. After law school,
Nance began working with Squire Sanders, becoming a partner in 1987. From 1991 to 2001, he
was the primary outside counsel to the City of Cleveland. In 2006, he was a finalist to become
commissioner of the National Football League.
Nance is a member of the Executive Committees of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the Ohio
Business Roundtable, and the 50 Club of Cleveland. He also is a trustee for the Cleveland Art
Museum, the Cleveland Clinic, the Cleveland Foundation, and serves on the board of directors of
RPM International. Nance also is former chairman of the Cleveland Defense Industry Alliance,
and during his 2004-2005 tenure, helped save 1,100 U.S. Department of Defense jobs that were
scheduled to be cut.
Nance has received numerous awards, including Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman
Levin College of Urban Affairs Public Service Award, and the Northeast Ohio Regional
Leadership Task Forces’ Regional Vision Award.
Vel R. Phillips - 2009 Honoree
Midway through a telephone interview, Vel Phillips paused to
listen to a news broadcast about the 2008 Democratic primaries.
Returning to the phone, she remarked "I am a huge [Barack]
Obama fan. He will make a great president!"
Phillips, a retired Milwaukee elected official and civil rights
pioneer, relates to Obama because, like him, she also has
achieved numerous "firsts" in her lifetime. In 1956 she became
the first female and the first African American elected to the
Milwaukee Common Council. That election in 1956 came after
she was also the first African-American woman to graduate
from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
She and her husband W. Dale Phillips, were the first husband,
wife law couple of any race admitted to the Eastern District of
the Federal Bar in Wisconsin. While on Milwaukee’s city
council, Phillips, who attended Howard University as an undergraduate, introduced the city’s
first open-housing ordinance and led NAACP marches for fair housing for more than 230 days.
Her actions came amid the city’s race riots in the 1960s.
Phillip’s friendship with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders led to her
involvement in national politics and more “firsts.” She was the first African American in the
United States elected to the National Committee of either of the two major political parties, and
she came to know on a first-name basis three presidents: John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and
Jimmy Carter.
More milestones were made in the 1970s when Phillips became the first woman judge in
Milwaukee County and the first African-American judge to serve in Wisconsin’s judiciary. In
1978 she was elected secretary of state and thereby became the first woman and the first and
only black ever elected to a statewide constitutional office, a record that still stands today. She
also has served on the boards of America’s Black Holocaust Museum, the NAACP, the
Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Community Shares and the Marquette University Haggerty
Museum.
She is the founder and chairman of the Vel Phillips Foundation, which seeks equal opportunities
for minorities through social justice, education, equal housing and jobs. Recently she was
awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from Marquette, where she serves as a distinguished
professor of law.
While she does not plan to run for another public office, she hopes that her life will continue to
symbolize the true meaning of one of her favorite quotes by Winston Churchill who, many years
ago said, "We make a living by what we earn, we make a life by what we give."
Dr. Dianne L. Reynolds-Cane - 2009 Honoree
Dr. Dianne Reynolds-Cane is a recognized force in Virginia’s
volunteer and professional medical communities. While serving
as medical director of The Daily Planet Health Care for the
Homeless Medical Clinic, a federally qualified health center, in
Richmond, Va. Reynolds-Cane became the first AfricanAmerican woman president of the Virginia Board of Medicine.
The Virginia Board of Medicine regulates and licenses more
than 40,000 health care providers in the state.
As board president from 2003-2004, Reynolds-Cane chaired
committees that proposed amendments to Virginia’s health care
regulations addressing standards for professional conduct.
Those amendments are now Virginia law.
Her leadership and dedication are rooted in family values.
Reynolds-Cane’s mother always said, "You can be whatever you want to be, just have faith and
never give up."
She graduated from Mumford, then one of Detroit’s best high schools, in the top 10th of her
class, and was admitted to Howard University’s College of Medicine after completing just two
and a half years of college. She graduated with a medical degree and with honors in surgery in
1976.
Traits such as honesty, faith in God and unqualified help for those in need were instilled in
Reynolds-Cane during her childhood in a poor suburb near Detroit. "Primarily, we are here to
help each other," she says. Regarding her work at The Daily Planet, she states, "The health and
hope we offer our homeless patients expedites their journey toward self-sufficiency."
Reynolds-Cane dedicates herself to serving patients and the Richmond-area community. She sits
on the boards of the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, Leadership Metro
Richmond, Sheltering Arms Hospital, and Randolph-Macon College. She also serves on the
Virginia State Bar-Third District Committee, and is facilitator for the Health Care Working
Group of Virginia’s Government and Regulatory Reform Task Force.
In addition, she is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Epidemiology and
Community Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, a Williamson Institute Health Law
Fellow, and a Public Policy Fellow. She received the YWCA’s Outstanding Woman Award in
Health/Science, the LMR Ukrop Community Service Award, and is a Virginia Hero designated
by Arthur Ashe’s Virginia Hero Foundation.
Michael R. White - 2009 Honoree
Michael R. White’s path to becoming Cleveland’s longestserving mayor was paved during the 1960s civil rights era.
White, who served as mayor of Cleveland from 1990 until 2002,
declared his bid to one day become mayor of his hometown as
he watched Carl B. Stokes, the city’s first African-American
mayor, being sworn in 1968. White was 13 at the time.
"He’s a guy I worshiped," he says of Stokes, who died in 1996.
White also credits other civil rights giants such as the Rev.
Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks for fueling his political
drive. He admires the self sacrifice and commitment they
demonstrated.
"Leadership is many things and, to make change, you have to take risks," he says.
Once elected mayor, White followed his leadership mantra, building an administration dedicated
to public safety, education, neighborhood revitalization, economic and job development, and
improved race relations. His tenure saw more than 2,300 new homes built and more than 36,000
homes renovated. Violent crime fell 28 percent, and overall crime declined by 25 percent.
Cleveland’s dwindling manufacturing base led to White’s emphasis on economic growth. The
subsequent retention and creation of 30,000 jobs prompted Fortune magazine to name Cleveland
one of North America’s best cities for business. Other accomplishments include the reform of
Cleveland’s public school system. The Ohio Legislature granted White governance of the school
district, and the city passed a $380 million bond levy for capital improvements.
White says his administrations were successful because he "was an open book about where I was
going. We were dogged. We never, ever lost our focus."
White has received several awards and recognitions, including the Freedom Award from the
Cleveland Branch of the NAACP, Cleveland State University's In Tribute to Public Service
Award, and the Man-of-the-Year from the Baptist Ministers Conference.
A graduate of Ohio State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education and
master’s degree in public administration, White also has served as president of the National
Conference of Democratic Mayors and on the board of trustees for the U.S. Conference of
Mayors.
From 1984 to 1989 he served as a state senator in Ohio, and from 1977 to 1984 was a city
councilman in Cleveland.
2010 Honorees - Strong Men & Women
The 2010 honorees are Michelle and Barack Obama.
Barack H. Obama, Jr. – 2010 Honoree
In a historic election on November 4, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama, Jr., became the first
African-American elected president of the United States.
Obama's victory, while decisive, wasn't easy. He endured months of brutal campaigning, first
against strong Democratic opponents, and later against Republican Senator John McCain.
Obama's quest to reach America's highest executive rank began shortly after his appearance at
the 2004 Democratic convention. Then running for a U.S. Senate seat in Illinois, he impressed
the convention with an impassioned speech about America's promise.
After his speech, and after his victory in the senate race, it was common to hear the Harvardtrained politician's name mentioned as a contender in the 2008 presidential election.
Yet, when Obama declared his candidacy for president on February 10, 2007, in Springfield,
Illinois, the likelihood of him capturing the nomination seemed as remote as the day was chilly.
Critics said he was too young, too inexperienced and too eager.
What some failed to realize was that Obama had spent a lifetime overcoming adversity and
challenge. Born August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii, he is the son of the late Barack Hussein
Obama, a Kenyan, and Ann Dunham, who grew up in Kansas. His parents divorced when he was
two years old, and he only met his Harvard-educated father once, he writes in his memoir,
Dreams of My Father.
Obama lived for four years in Indonesia with his mother and her second husband. It was in that
country he witnessed desperate poverty and severe political and societal ills.
When he returned to America to live with his grandparents, Obama enrolled in a prestigious
school, where he experienced classism and racism. Despite such struggles, he graduated with
honors that would later take him to Columbia University (B.A., 1983) and Harvard University
(J.D., 1991).
Obama's professional career includes serving as a community organizer with the Developing
Communities Project in Chicago. After graduating from Harvard, where he was the first AfricanAmerican editor of the Harvard Law Review, he practiced civil rights law. He later joined the
faculty at the University of Chicago Law School. He became an Illinois state senator in 1995,
and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004. In 2006, his book, The Audacity of Hope, was
published. A defining moment for his 2008 presidential campaign came in early January when
Obama won the Iowa primary. He went on to win multiple state primaries and deliver an
inspiring speech on race in the final stretches of his campaign.
On November 4, 2008, Obama captured 365 electoral votes, compared to McCain's 173. He
gained 53 percent of the vote, compared to 46 percent for McCain.
Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on January 20, 2009. At his side
were his wife, Michelle Robinson Obama, and his two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
His lilting campaign slogan, "Yes We Can," continues to inspire millions of Americans.
In remarks he made to ninth graders at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, in
September 2009, he said, "You've got to be hungry to want to learn more — whatever the subject
is. And if you have that hunger and that drive and that passion, you're going to do well. And if
you don't, you know, you're just going to do okay, you'll be mediocre. And I don't think that's
what any of you want for your lives."
On October 9, 2009, he won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for his international diplomacy efforts.
Michelle R. Obama – 2010 Honoree
Michelle Obama's story is not very different from that of millions of American women who grew
up in close-knit, loving families where respect for others was taught, high expectations were set,
and education was valued.
Yet, while Mrs. Obama's upbringing resembles that of women everywhere, her current position
marks a striking distinction: She is the first African American to serve as First Lady of the
United States of America.
Many who know Michelle Obama agree that her role as the wife of Barack Obama, the nation's
first African-American president, not only becomes her, but is one for which she is well
suited. She is described as smart, focused, meticulous and kind.
Growing up on the south side of Chicago during the late 1960s and early 1970s, Michelle
LaVaughn Robinson was surrounded by family, friends and role models who provided tools that
not only shaped her, but eventually helped establish her place in this country's greatest halls of
power. She is the daughter of the late Fraser Robinson, III, and Marian Shields Robinson.
Mrs. Obama, a graduate of the prestigious Whitney M. Young High School for gifted students,
was considered "college material" as a child. Her mother has stated in several interviews that her
daughter always possessed a "strong sense of self." She also was competitive to the point of
applying to Princeton University, following the path of her older brother, Craig, who also
attended the Ivy League institution.
At Princeton, Mrs. Obama continued to excel in a world far different from her past. In her
college thesis, she wrote about becoming more aware of her blackness, and how she often felt as
if she were a visitor rather than a student.
Still, she persevered, becoming involved in black student life and helping to bridge the divide
between the university and Princeton's African-American students. After her 1985 graduation
from Princeton, Mrs. Obama enrolled in law school at Harvard University. During her free time,
she worked for the law school's legal aid bureau assisting the poor with civil cases.
After graduating from law school in 1988, she joined Chicago's Sidley Austin law firm as an
associate in the marketing group. It was during the summer of 1989 that she met her future
husband, Barack Obama, who was a summer associate at the firm. She worked there for three
years before joining the office of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Other positions included
serving as executive director of a nonprofit organization and vice president of community affairs
at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
In September 2009, in remarks she made to students at Pittsburgh Capa High School, she said,
"We want to show these young people that they have a place in our world, in our museums, our
theaters, our concert halls. And most importantly we want these people to know that they have a
place in our White House."
She married Barack Obama in 1992 and gave birth to daughter Malia Ann in 1998 and Natasha
(Sasha) in 2001.
2011 Honorees - Strong Men & Women


Top row from left: Gary G. Thomas, Cleo E. Powell, J.D., Jay Williams
Bottom row from left: Dorothy Cowser Yancy, Ph.D., Lillian Lincoln Lambert, Leon
D. Bibb
Leon D. Bibb - 2011 Honoree
First African-American Prime Time News Anchor in Ohio
Whether television journalist Leon D. Bibb is discussing local politics or events unfolding on a
world stage, his Cleveland viewers are assured that he will deliver the news in his precise voice
of authority.
Bibb, who joined the airwaves three decades ago as Ohio’s first African-American prime time
anchor, takes in stride his long career in an industry that saw few men or women of color in front
of the cameras. He currently anchors the noon and 6 p.m. broadcasts for Cleveland’s WEWS
NewsChannel5.
A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Bibb’s other broadcast experience includes
working at WKYC-TV 3, Cleveland’s NBC affiliate, where he held several positions, including
news anchor and general assignment reporter. Before joining WKYC in 1979, Bibb was a
weekday anchor and reporter for WCMH in Columbus and a news reporter at WTOL in Toledo.
He began his journalism career as a reporter for The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland.
"I feel like the Jackie Robinson of television," said Bibb, referring to the legendary athlete who
broke professional baseball’s racial barriers. "I know he was a pioneer, but also know he was a
baseball player. He had to deal with racism and he had to hit the ball."
Bibb, in his own right, has hit more than a few home runs during his tenure. His journalism
achievements include covering the Persian Gulf War, interviewing President George H.W. Bush,
and interviewing Neil Armstrong 10 years after his historic walk on the moon.
Equally significant was Bibb’s interview with James Earl Ray, the man convicted of
assassinating the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Bibb believes he may be the only local television
news reporter to have interviewed Ray, who died in 1998.
Although Bibb entered television journalism during the post-civil rights era that demanded a
greater presence of minorities in the media, he explained that he has always sought to cover
issues beyond the black community. His career achievements have been recognized by several
broadcast and print halls of fame, and he has received several Excellence in Journalism Awards
from the Cleveland Press Club. Bibb also is a recipient of the Distinguished Journalist Award
from the Cleveland Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Despite the digital technology driving today’s news media, Bibb believes that the public’s thirst
for news remains.
"In a free society we need to know what’s going on, whether it is in our government or our
neighborhood," he said. "From the time of the early colonies and slave cabins … anytime
humans get together, there’s news, and journalists are the storytellers of the day’s events. We all
want to know what’s happening next door."
Bibb believes, "The true wealth of a nation is not its gold or silver, but the knowledge of its sons
and daughters."
Lillian Lincoln Lambert - 2011 Honoree
First African American Woman to Earn Harvard MBA
Lillian Lincoln Lambert’s memoir, The Road to Someplace Better: From the Segregated South
To Harvard Business School and Beyond, is a powerful reflection of hard work, creativity and
vision.
In the book, Lambert, the first African-American woman to graduate from Harvard Business
School, details the roads she traveled before building a $20 million company.
After graduating from high school in Powhatan County, Va., in 1958, Lambert was eager to
leave behind her rural roots and follow her dreams, even though she was uncertain what those
dreams were. She landed in New York, where she worked a series of dead-end jobs. Always in
the back of her mind were thoughts of her mother who encouraged her to attend college.
Several years passed before Lambert enrolled in college. By 1961, she was living in Washington,
D.C., and was impressed with students she met from Howard University. Although Lambert
found work that was satisfying, she felt something was missing in her life. Her first step toward
change came when she enrolled in the District of Columbia Teachers College and later was
accepted at Howard.
At Howard, Lambert met H. Naylor Fitzhugh, one of the first blacks to receive a Harvard MBA
in 1933. Fitzhugh became Lambert’s mentor and the person to convince her that she had the
discipline and intelligence to succeed at Harvard. Despite the rigorous pace at the Ivy League
institution, Lambert excelled. In 1969, Lambert became the first African-American woman to
earn an MBA from the Harvard School of Business.
Lambert acknowledges that her degree failed to immediately open doors. "For a while I
wondered when I was going to use this MBA," she said. Rather it was her hands-on experiences
and the degree combined that, in 1976, enabled her to start her company Centennial One, Inc., a
building maintenance company founded in her garage with a few thousand dollars.
Looking back, Lambert said that by surrounding herself with people who complemented her
strengths, her company prospered. Major setbacks were avoided by her control of the company’s
financial records, and assigning others to handle human resources and operations. Lambert also
adhered to a common-sense business strategy of reinvesting profits in the company.
In 2003, Harvard Business School awarded Lambert the Alumni Achievement Award, its highest
honor for alumni. Also, Enterprising Women magazine inducted her into its Hall of Fame and
featured her on the cover of the April 2010 issue. She is the recipient of many awards, including
Harvard Business School’s African-American Alumni Association’s Bert King Award; MBA of
the Year, Harvard Business African-American Alumni Association; Small Business Person of
the Year, State of Maryland; Entrepreneur of the Year, Black MBA Association; and Top 50
Women-Businesses, Washington Business Journal.
Lambert believes, "There is no substitute for education and there are no shortcuts."
Cleo E. Powell, J.D. - 2011 Honoree
The First African American Woman to serve on the Court of
Appeals of Virginia
Judge Cleo Powell, the first African American woman to serve on the Court of Appeals of
Virginia, vividly recalls when her interest in the legal profession was formed.
One of Powell’s former teachers, eager for her students to learn black history, arranged for
several Brunswick County High School scholars, including Powell, to meet a prominent African
American attorney in his Emporia, Va., office.
This was during the 1970s, and the attorney was Samuel L. Tucker, the legendary civil rights
attorney and founding partner of the Hill, Tucker and Marsh law firm in Richmond. Powell
describes Tucker as "a gentle giant of a man" who engaged the students by explaining his work
and the role of lawyers.
The meeting proved "personal, powerful and moving" for Powell who, several years after
meeting Tucker, entered the University of Virginia to earn her undergraduate and law degrees.
Powell’s ascension to the Court of Appeals of Virginia in 2008 was preceded by many
achievements and sometimes guided by the hand of Tucker’s protégée, Virginia Sen. Henry L.
Marsh. Marsh was impressed with Powell when she once argued a case against him, she says.
Before her courtroom career, Powell worked at the Richmond law firm of Hunton & Williams,
and later served as senior assistant attorney general of Virginia from 1986-1989. Powell briefly
returned to the business arena, working several years for Virginia Power (now Dominion) as
corporate counsel and director - Employee Services. In 1993, when a seat became vacant on the
General District Court for Chesterfield County, Va., Marsh supported Powell for the position,
and she became the first woman and African American to serve on the county’s General District
Court bench.
In 2000, Powell joined Chesterfield County’s Circuit Court, an experience she describes as
"wonderful" because she was able to research cases. Again, she was the first woman and first
African American on that bench. As an appellate judge, she hears criminal, domestic and
administrative cases.
Powell’s leadership has been recognized by Ebony magazine, "Outstanding Women of Virginia,”
the Metro Richmond Women’s Bar Association, Lawyer’s Weekly "Influential Women of
Virginia," and the Virginia Women Attorney’s Association. Her advice to youth who are
interested in pursuing law is simple. "Do the best job you can do at everything you do because
you never know who is watching. Moreover, do your best even if no one is watching. Do it for
you."
"Try new things. Push the envelope. Trying is a measure of success," says Powell.
Gary Thomas - 2011 Honoree
First African-American Artist with Work on Display in
Three National Sports Museums
Gary Thomas is pragmatic when explaining how his interest in art led to him being hired as the
first African-American artist for a commercial art studio in Cleveland and the first AfricanAmerican artist with work on display in three national sports museums.
"Even as a baby, I picked up crayons and started drawing, and kept drawing and, in kindergarten,
they noticed I had talent."
Today, Thomas’ talent for producing realistic renderings of prominent figures in politics,
education, business and sports is etched in the executive suites of major corporations, several
universities and the National Football League’s Hall of Fame.
Armed with the promise that he showed as a child, Thomas graduated from Cleveland’s
Glenville High School and attended Syracuse University on a two-year art scholarship in 1954.
After returning to his hometown, he completed his studies at the Cooper School of Art and
became the first African-American illustrator for the prestigious Sterling-Lindner-Davis
department store, drawing ads for newspapers.
After leaving the department store, Thomas worked briefly in Akron, Ohio, as the only illustrator
in a small advertising agency. The studios were different from the agencies, which usually had
no artists on staff, so they used the art studios, he said. "Only very small ad agencies like the one
in Akron used an artist on staff."
Thomas returned to Cleveland in 1958 and began working for Manning Art Studio, where his
career took root. His reputation as a talented artist continued to grow and, in 1965, he
established his own freelance business, Gary Thomas & Associates, Inc.
Thomas became the dominant artist for the NFL’s Football Hall of Fame when it opened in
1963. As of 2010, he has illustrated 175 of the 260 enshrinees, including Jim Brown, Vince
Lombardi, Pete Rozelle, Jim Thorpe, Walter Payton, and Joe Montana. In 1984, Thomas was
commissioned to create 12 five-foot square murals depicting "Twelve Great Moments in
Bowling" for the newly built Bowling Hall of Fame & Museum in St. Louis.
Selected as the artist for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1984, Thomas painted more than half
of the 78 enshrinees, including Carl Lewis, Greg Louganis, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Floyd
Patterson. The artist’s portfolio also includes illustrations for Ohio State University, Notre Dame
and Miami University in Ohio, Sea World of Ohio, Proctor and Gamble and Wilson Sporting
Goods. Other illustrations include children’s books, coloring books and paintings and prints of
the Buffalo Soldiers and Tuskegee Airmen.
Since 2004, Thomas has been commissioned by Dominion to paint the original portrait of
prominent African Americans for Dominion’s Strong Men and Women: Excellence in
Leadership series.
"You’ll encounter some roadblocks, but never give up," says Thomas.
Jay Williams - 2011 Honoree
First African-American Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio
Five years ago, Jay Williams ran for mayor of Youngstown, Ohio, at the urging of a community
grown weary of the former steel town’s political machine.
Williams’ supporters did not seem to mind that he was just 33 years old and had never held
political office. Instead, voters were invigorated by Williams’ vision to re-establish
Youngstown’s financial footing. They also admired his personal traits that embody selfreflection, responsibility, and building relationships.
Now in his second term as Youngstown’s first African-American mayor, Williams credits those
relationships with the city’s business leaders and community activists for the accomplishments
through the "right-sizing" initiative, Youngstown 2010 Vision/Planning. To date, the ambitious
plan has helped demolish blighted, crime-ridden buildings, revitalized neighborhoods, and led to
improvements in the city’s police and fire departments.
While bringing new jobs to the area remains high on the mayor’s "to do" list, progress in
decreasing Youngstown’s unemployment rate was hastened by entrepreneurial efforts and
federal grants. Such progress had led national and international cities to study Youngstown,
which has a racially diverse population of approximately 81,000.
Although Williams’ career began in banking, the Youngstown native said his interest in public
service surfaced in high school when he participated in a National Congressional Youth
Leadership Conference. While majoring in finance at Youngstown State University, Williams
worked part-time as a teller at First Place Bank, and later joined the bank’s management trainee
program. His early banking years helped him form relationships with customers, many of whom
were intimidated by the banking process.
"Some of our customers never imagined themselves as homeowners," he said, adding that he
enjoyed showing them how to establish financial security.
Williams later joined the Federal Reserve Bank, further developing his professional and business
skills. The position "gave me a higher level of confidence and sophistication from a banking and
regulatory standpoint," he said.
After returning to his former bank employer as a vice president and underwriter, Williams later
responded to his early interest in public service by becoming director of Youngstown’s
Community Development Office.
Community and civic leaders, impressed with Williams’ willingness to tackle important issues,
encouraged him to run for office. Williams’ leadership has been publicized in the Wall Street
Journal, U.S. News & World Report and Governing Magazine. In the August 2009 issue of
Entrepreneur magazine, Youngstown was cited as among the nation’s 10 best cities to start a
business.
"Significance is more important than success," says Williams.
Dorothy Cowser Yancy, Ph.D. - 2011 Honoree
First Woman President (Emerita) of Johnson C. Smith
University
Dorothy Cowser Yancy’s straightforward, energetic personality is evident, whether she is
testifying before Congress about the status of technology in higher education, or talking to a
stranger about her commitment to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
This commitment has led Yancy to twice serve as president of two of the nation’s traditionally
black independent institutions: Johnson C. Smith and Shaw universities.
Yancy’s national leadership presence was established at Johnson C. Smith University in
Charlotte, N.C., when she returned to her alma mater as president in 1994. Under her guidance, a
combined $145 million was raised in two capital campaigns that exceeded fundraising goals by
nearly $20 million. Also during Yancy’s tenure, Johnson C. Smith’s endowment more than
tripled, from $14 million to $53 million. In 1996, the University was awarded the John D. and
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant.
Further distinctions for Yancy occurred in 2000, when Johnson C. Smith became the first HBCU
"Laptop" university, issuing IBM Thinkpads to all of its students. The designation followed a
three-year period of strategic planning in technology and faculty/staff development which
resulted in an integrated approach to liberal arts education.
"I felt that if our students were going to be competitive, they have to have access to technology,"
she said. Yancy’s work drew national attention when she testified before Congress about the
status of technology in higher education. In 2007, U.S. News & World Report ranked Johnson C.
Smith in the top 10 of HBCUs.
Yancy’s presidency included the construction of a new technology center, library and a
track/stadium and academic complex, and increased student applications to the university.
After retiring from Smith in 2008, Yancy didn’t have time to unpack and resettle in Atlanta
because Shaw University needed her assistance. She agreed to help the Raleigh, N.C., institution
recover from a financial burden that threatened its survival. She did so by restructuring its debt
through a program administered by the U.S. Department of Education and by recruiting more
students.
A native of Alabama, Yancy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and social science from
Johnson C. Smith University, a Master of Arts degree in history from the University of
Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Ph.D. in political science from Atlanta University (Georgia). She
is an arbitrator with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services and the American
Arbitration Association, and Special Magistrate for the Florida Employee Relations Commission.
Her numerous honors include the 2001 Outstanding Educator of the Year Award, the Harold E.
Delaney Exemplary Educational Leadership Award, and the Old North State Award. In 2007 she
received the Horizon Award from Leadership Charlotte and the William J. Stanley Award from
the Georgia Institute of Technology. Also in 2008, she was inducted into the Women’s History
Hall of Fame by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs
and the Levine Museum of the South.
Yancy encourages African-American women who are interested in leadership to "seek a mentor;
someone who has confidence in you and can be your champion. And you have to mentor others."
2012 Honorees - Strong Men & Women
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Top row from left: Jean Murrell Capers, Dwight C. Jones, Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell
Bottom row from left: Dr. Christopher B. Howard, Debi Thomas, M.D., Carl B. Mack
Judge Jean Murrell Capers - 2012 Honoree
First African-American woman to serve on the city council
of a major American city
Judge Jean Murrell Capers prefers not to use the term "politics" when discussing her
distinguished public service career that includes being the first African-American woman to
serve on the city council of a major American city, Cleveland.
"It’s government service because, as an elected official, you are serving the people," Capers said
in a 2009 interview.
Capers, 98, has spent much of her life serving people as an activist and in the legal arena. After
graduating from Western Reserve University School of Education, she entered Cleveland Law
School. After law school, she passed the 1945 Ohio Bar exam on her first attempt.
An unsuccessful bid for Cleveland City Council that same year was followed by success four
years later; she held the post for five terms. During her years on city council, Capers found city
jobs for African Americans and decried Cleveland’s segregated taxi cab industry, among other
issues.
Other public service roles included assistant state attorney general from 1960 to 1964 and special
assistant to the Ohio attorney general from 1964 to 1966. Ten years later, Capers was appointed
to the Cleveland Municipal Court, where she served on the bench until her 70th birthday. As a
longtime proponent of civil rights, Capers is credited with encouraging Carl Stokes to run for
mayor of Cleveland; he became the city’s first African-American mayor.
Not one to slow down, Capers continues to see clients and remains active in the legal profession
and her community.
The daughter of Edward E. Murrell and Dolly Ferguson Murrell, both educators, Capers has
been widely recognized for her lengthy career and service. She recently received the Ohio State
Bar Association’s Nettie Cronise Lutes Award, which recognizes female lawyers who have
improved the legal professions and opened doors for other women and girls.
Other honors include the Norman S. Minor Bar Association’s Trailblazer Award, induction into
the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame, the Lifetime Achiever Award from the Black Professionals
Association Charitable Foundation, and the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association’s
Justice William H. Hastie Award.
"In order to know what’s going on and what’s needed, you have to be a part of the community,"
Capers said.
Christopher B. Howard - 2012 Honoree
One of the youngest college presidents in the United States
The words "Forming Good Men and Good Citizens" are inscribed on a flag that overlooks the
Hampden-Sydney College campus. Those same words can be applied to the college’s 24th
president, Dr. Christopher B. Howard, who arrived at the historical all-male liberal arts college in
2009.
Howard, 42, is one of the youngest college presidents in the United States. He also is the first
African American to lead the 236-year-old institution in Hampden Sydney, Va. Howard’s
youthful energy, coupled with a sharp intellect and enthusiasm for his work, has not gone
unnoticed. The college’s current freshman class is the "largest, most accomplished, most diverse
class ever," he said. "That’s very positive. Alumni participation is up, giving is up, and football
is winning."
Winning in all aspects of life is important to Howard, a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy,
where he earned a degree in political science. As a starting running back for the academy’s
football team, Howard received the Campbell Award, the highest academic recognition in the
country presented to a senior football player. From 1994 to 1999, Howard served as a helicopter
pilot and intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force. As a Rhodes Scholar, he earned a doctorate of
philosophy degree in politics at Oxford University in 1994, and a master of business
administration from the Harvard Business School. Called to active duty in Afghanistan in 2003,
he was awarded a Bronze Star. He currently is an Air Force lieutenant colonel serving as the
reserve attaché to Liberia.
Howard said he knew at age 13 that he wanted to serve his country. He also knew that "if you
work hard, good things will happen." Watching the work ethic demonstrated by his parents and
reading about black history further motivated him to succeed, he said.
Before joining Hampden-Sydney, Howard was vice president for Leadership & Strategic
Initiatives at the University of Oklahoma, where he directed the Honors College Leadership
Center. He serves on several advisory boards, including the Impact Young Lives Foundation,
supporting South African college students of color, and the National Council of Advisors of the
Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.
Howard also is co-author of the book, Money Makers: Inside the New World of Finance and
Business.
"What our nation and indeed the world needs now are thoughtful, brave and caring young people
willing to lead, to serve and to respect others. Look in the mirror: What the world needs is you!"
Dwight C. Jones - 2012 Honoree
Mayor of Richmond, Va.
As a former elected mayor of Richmond, Va., and senior pastor of one of the city’s largest
churches, First Baptist Church of South Richmond, Dwight C. Jones adheres to the U.S.
Constitution’s language regarding the separation of church and state.
At the same time, Jones sees his dual role in politics and religion as the result of his being a
"child of civil rights." The ministry for him represents a link to social justice, he said, referring to
the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s that often were led by men of the cloth.
After graduating from Virginia Union University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a
master of divinity degree, Jones earned a doctoral degree in divinity at United Theological
Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. His mission to promote change and progress began at the community
level. In 1975, he founded the South Richmond Senior Center and the Imani Intergenerational
Community Development Corp., which focuses on affordable housing, business development
and workforce initiatives. Jones said helping to rebuild the Hull Street business corridor and
providing affordable housing in the Imani Mews complex in South Richmond "was huge for
me."
Jones' civic and social outreach stretched into the political realm when he joined the Richmond
City School Board in 1979 and, in 1994, became a member of the Virginia State Legislature
serving the 70th District.
Today, Jones' focus is on building a better Richmond. He believes that the capital of Virginia is
poised to become a tier-one city. In his first term, Jones led the construction of four new schools
and a new justice center, and secured a bid for an international cycling championship, Union
Cycling International, which will bring 500,000 people to the city in 2015.
Jones, 63, who grew up in Philadelphia as the youngest son of a minister, said many of the
Christian values espoused by his "strict" father remain with him, such as hard work, honesty and
faith. "I think that in his strictness he provided a good trajectory for my life," he said. "Any
person who is fortunate enough to find their passion will excel in life. I found mine in serving
others."
Jones imparts these words of wisdom: "How we develop our young people, the next generation
of leaders, lies at the core of that we do."
Maj. S. Rochelle Kimbrell - 2012 Honoree
First African-American woman to become a fighter pilot in
the U.S. Air Force
Maj. S. Rochelle Kimbrell, the first African-American woman to become a fighter pilot in the
U.S. Air Force, is often asked what triggered her desire to fly.
Her response is always the same. Her parents were not in the military and there were no books or
television shows that sparked her interest to fly at lightning speeds. Kimbrell said that, while in
kindergarten, she yearned to be an astronaut. By fourth grade, plans to fly fast planes had taken
hold.
"Really, it was always about the flying," said the 35-year-old pilot, who took her first flying
lesson at age 14, and received her pilot’s license at age 16. "I absolutely loved it," she said,
recalling the Cessna 152 in which she learned to fly in her home state of Colorado.
The list of aircraft Kimbrell has flown includes the F-16, T-38, T-37 and T-3. She has more than
1,110 hours in the F-16, including 176 hours of combat time. Obtaining such status took a
combination of desire, training, foresight, and the support of her parents.
After Kimbrell received her pilot wings in 1999 at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas and
completed Fighter Fundamental training, she graduated from F-16 training at Luke Air Force
Base in Arizona. From that point, she literally soared, with her first operational assignment in
Misawa, Japan. Between 2001 and 2003, she was deployed to Turkey and Saudi Arabia for
Operation Northern and Southern Watch.
Her flights in Northern Watch marked her as the first female pilot to fly combat missions for
Misawa’s 35th Fighter Wing, and the first African-American woman to employ ordinance in
combat. While serving in the 8th Operations Support Squadron in Korea, she flew with the 80th
Fighter Squadron, Juvats.
Kimbrell also served for three years as the A-Flight Commander, 1st Brigade Air Liaison
Officer, and as 2nd Brigade Air Liaison Officer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her
military recognitions include medals for Aerial Achievement, National Defense Service, Armed
Forces Expeditionary, the Iraq Campaign, Global War on Terrorism Service and the Korean
Defense Service.
Kimbrell, who is married and has two young children, is currently based in Las Vegas as a
course manager and instructor for the Air Liaison Officer Qualification Course.
Kimbrell expresses these words of wisdom, "You have only one chance in this life so dream big,
be true to yourself and don’t let anything stand in your way."
Carl Mack - 2012 Honoree
Executive director for the National Society of Black
Engineers
Carl Mack, a mechanical engineering graduate from Mississippi State University, is so
passionate about civil rights that he once shut down a Seattle highway in 2002 while leading a
protest involving the shooting of a black man by an off-duty King County sheriff’s deputy. The
protest led to Mack’s arrest. Offered a plea bargain, he refused. During his trial, he was found
not guilty.
Mack’s actions apparently caught the eye of Seattle’s African-American community. Months
after the shooting he was elected president of the city’s branch of the NAACP. During Mack’s
tenure, the organization won the Class 1-A Thalheimer Award as the nation’s best branch for its
increased growth and funding. Julian Bond, then board chairman of the national NAACP,
heralded the Seattle branch for its "extraordinary activity and effectiveness."
Since becoming the executive director for the National Society of Black Engineers in 2005,
Mack has led the growth in membership from 12,842 members to 35,776. He also has expanded
the organization’s cash reserves from $3.5 million to $9 million, and secured $1 million from a
sponsor, NSBE’s largest grant to date. In 2007, he founded NSBE’s Summer Engineering
Experience for Kids (SEEK) Academy to expose young African Americans to careers in
engineering. SEEK has locations in Washington, D.C.; Columbus, Ohio; San Diego; Oakland,
Calif., and New Orleans.
The field of engineering was largely unknown to Mack during his youth.
"As a child growing up, I didn’t know anything about engineering," he said. "As a matter of fact,
I thought being an engineer meant I was going to drive a train."
As an author, Mack developed a 365-page daily black history calendar several years ago. "Doing
the project gave me such an appreciation for black history," he said. "I then dedicated my life to
being able to uplift black people."
Mack serves on the Minority Advisory Board of the Bagley College of Engineering at
Mississippi State University, the board of trustees of the Society of Automotive Engineers, and
the board of trustees at Clarkson University from which he received an honorary doctorate
degree in 2010.
Debi Thomas - 2012 Honoree
First black athlete to win an Olympic medal in the Winter
Games
Twenty-five years ago, figure skater Debi Thomas captured the world’s attention when she was
crowned world champion and U.S. national champion. In 1988 she received a bronze medal for
her stunning performance in the Winter Olympics. She became the first and only African
American to hold both titles in ladies’ singles figure skating, and was also the first black athlete
to win an Olympic medal in the Winter Games.
Not always in the spotlight were Thomas’ off-the-ice pursuits. Throughout her competitive
skating career, she studied engineering at Stanford University, and it was during her freshman
year at Stanford that she won the U.S. and world championships. A graduate of Northwestern
University Medical School, she graduated from the Orthopaedic Residency Program at Charles
R. Drew University in Los Angeles in 2005.
Today, Thomas runs her own medical practice in Richlands, Va., miles from the bright lights that
once enveloped her. Yet, the "Olympic mentality" that made her a household name is used daily
in her orthopaedic surgery practice that she describes as "challenging."
"Health care is getting harder and harder, and it’s harder and harder for patients to make ends
meet," Thomas said. "If you are without resources, you can be in a very bad way." Thomas chose
Richlands because of her belief that she can make a difference in the small, rural community.
Her efforts to help others extend to countries such as Nepal, where she traveled to provide free
knee replacement surgeries to indigent women with arthritis.
The granddaughter of a veterinarian, Thomas, 44, said her desire to be a doctor struck at age 5. "I
remember making my mother buy me a doctor’s kit," she recalled. As skating became more
dominant in her life, Thomas’ mother reminded her that completing her education also was
important.
In addition to her outreach work in Nepal, Thomas supports the Ara Parseghian Medical
Research Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and serves on the advisory boards of the U.S.
Olympic Sports Medicine Committee and the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame.
"Leadership can be a lonely road but the rewards are worth it," Thomas says.