Morehouse Magazine Fall 2006

FA L L 2 0 0 6

MOREHOUSEMOREHOUSEM A G A Z I N E

King Collection Comes Home to Morehouse

The 10,000-piece collection is spared fromthe auction block and, in an unprecedentedact of partnership, returns to the Collegethat nurtured one of the greatest thinkersof the 20th century.

COMMENCEMENT 2006 • HURRICANE KATRINA SURVIVAL STORIES • NEW BOARD CHAIR WILLIE “FLASH” DAVIS ’56

Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Programs830 Westview Drive, S.W.Atlanta, GA 30314(404) 215-2658www.morehouse.edu

Whether an alumnus, student, or parent,you have a stake in Morehouse College’sfuture. Year after year, loyal supportersprovide the financial basis for a qualityeducational experience. Every gift greatlyenhances the value and prestige of aMorehouse College degree.

For more than a decadeWalter E. Massey '58 has served as president of

Morehouse. During that time, the world and the

College have changed in extraordinary ways.

There is still time...time to honor

President Massey's decade of service by giving to the

Annual Fund. Donate $100, $10, even $1 for each year

of President Massey's tenure to honor his leadership

and his vision to make Morehouse the finest liberal

arts college in the nation--period.

Now is the perfect time to

give to Morehouse. In honor of Dr. Massey's decade of

inspired leadership...in recognition of our shared

memories--more than ever...it's about time.

f e a t u r e s2 4 FLASH FORWARD

Willie “Flash” Davis ’56 earned his nickname because of his talentin track as a student. Now, “Flash” is still an appropriate monikerfor the new chairman of the Morehouse Board of Trustees, notonly for his flashes of brilliance in the courtroom, but also forthe speed in which he comes to the support of his alma mater.

2 6 HOPE REIGNSBoth forecasts were cloudy as Commencement 2006 approached.The weather called for showers, and, for the first time in Collegehistory, an alternative plan for inclement weather was developed.The other forecast was a dismal look into college-bound rates forAfrican American men. But when the largest number of graduatesin the College’s history prepared to march across the stage, theweather cooperated and hope reigned.

2 8 SAVED, SEALED AND DELIVEREDLiterally hours before the gavel was to drop at Sotheby’s Auc-tion House in New York, a 10,000-piece collection of MartinLuther King Jr. ’48 was saved in a deal sealed by a group ofAtlantans who wanted to see it return to its rightful home.The Collection, which was delivered to Morehouse through anunprecedented act of partnership, offers the College a uniqueopportunity to bear witness to a remarkable time in U.S. his-tory as its proud steward.

3 1 AFTER THE STORMA year after the deadliest natural disaster in modern U.S. history, thereare still plenty of stories to be told about the terror of Hurricane Katrina.Several Morehouse alumni share their tales of relocation, resourceful-ness and restoration.Sidebar: Shelton “Spike” Lee ’79 screens his documentary “When theLevees Broke” at Morehouse.

d e p a r t m e n t s6 INSIDE THE HOUSE

15 IN THE NEWS

17 ON THE SHELF

18 DEVELOPMENT NEWS

20 ON THE FIELD AND COURT

22 FOUNDER’S DAY

34 BROTHER TO BROTHER

35 ALUMNI NEWS

40 CLASS NOTES

44 THE ROAD TAKEN

conten

tsMOREHOUSE

FALL 2006

M A G A Z I N E

ON THE COVER:This briefcase with

some of Dr. King’s

personal effects is

among the 10,000-

piece Collection

recently acquired by

the College.

Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s.

26

28

F A L L 2 0 0 6

MOREHOUSEMOREHOUSEM A G A Z I N E

King Collection Comes Home to Morehouse

The 10,000-piece collection is spared from theauction block and, in an unprecedented act ofpartnership, returns to the College that nurturedone of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century.

31

F A L L 2 0 0 4 / W I N T E R 2 0 0 5 3 MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE

A Matter of Perspective

any of you probably are familiar with the story about the group of people that was

asked to look through different holes in a fence and report what was on the other side.

The first saw a large, rough pillar, so he said the object was a tree trunk. The second saw

a smooth, empty expanse, so he said the object was a wall. The third saw a long, leathery coil, so he

said the object was a rope.

As the tale unfolds, we learn that each of the people who looked through the holes in the

fence was correct, as far as his view was concerned. Yet, each was also incorrect, to the extent that

he had an incomplete view of the situation. None of them was able to see the full picture, which

would have told them that the thing they were looking at on the other side of the fence was an ele-

phant – with a leg like a tree trunk, a side like a wall, and a tail like a rope. The moral of the story:

What you see is all a matter of perspective.

So it is with the status of African American men in society. Through the holes in the fence cre-

ated by the media and popular culture, the reports we most often hear about African American

men paint quite a dismal picture. On almost every measure of wellbeing — including health,

employment, family life, financial security, involvement with the criminal justice system and edu-

cation — major news organizations from the New York Times, to the Washington Post, to CNN;

major social service agencies from the NAACP, to the Urban League, to the United Negro College

Fund; and dominant images from the latest movies, television shows, and music videos are all say-

ing the same thing: Black men in America are failing.

Fortunately, at Morehouse, we have a very different perspective. Through our hole in the

fence – a point of view created by our unique status as the largest institution of higher education

in the nation for African American men – we see something that is almost completely overlooked

in other views about African American men: not all of them are failing. In fact, many, including the

majority of our nearly 3,000 students at the College, are succeeding.

It is not that we, at Morehouse, are blind to the other views. Indeed, we also see, are deeply con-

cerned, and are doing our part to help address problems such as crime, violence, and the low aca-

demic achievement relative to women among African American men – whether those issues appear

commonly in the larger society, or uncommonly on our own campus. And, as uncommon as they

may be, we do have in our community young men who are not taking full advantage of the oppor-

tunities afforded them, and whose behavior is not what we desire or that they should exhibit.

It is just that our perspective, shaped by our experience over the past 140 years, does not allow

for us to logically draw from what we see as the limited conclusion that there is something funda-

mentally wrong with black men. At Morehouse, instead of pathology, we see possibility.

Documenting and sharing our perspective about the success of African American men, some-

times despite great odds, and learning from those instances where success has not been attained,

are some of the goals of the Morehouse Male Initiative, an assessment-based, student development

model we launched earlier this fall to focus on identifying and replicating success factors in young

black men. Our premise for MMI is that by engaging in research on black men who succeed, as well

as black men who fail, we can craft strategies, policies and programs that will increase the number

of successful young men and decrease the number of those that society is leaving behind.

In so doing, we hope to bring into view a whole new perspective about African American men

and, perhaps, even tear down the fence of negative perception that surrounds them altogether.

Walter E. Massey ‘58

M

p r e s i d e n t ’s m e s s a g e

“Through our hole in the fence –

a point of view created by our

unique status as the largest insti-

tution of higher education in the

nation for African American men

– we see something that is

almost completely overlooked in

other views about African

American men: not all of them

are failing.”

We welcome all letters and reserve the right toedit for clarity and space. Letters must be onetyped page in length and signed. Pleaseinclude complete contact information. Send to: The Editor, MorehouseMagazine, Office of Communications,Morehouse College, 830 Westview Drive,S.W., Atlanta, GA 30314. Email: [email protected]: 404-215-2729

l e t t e r s t o t h e e d i t o rToni Mosley advised readers in the fall/winterissue of Morehouse Magazine to “enjoy thejourney.” As a long-time and seasonedemployee of ‘da House I did just that when Iread the last issue of the magazine.Publications of such high quality make meeven “prouder” to be a Morehouse employee.The articles and layout are indeed superb.Kudos to Toni and her staff.

Phyllis M. BentleyDirector, Academic OperationsOffice of the Provost and Senior VicePresident for Academic AffairsMorehouse College

(Editor’s Note: The following letter waswritten to Emma Perry regarding an articlethat appeared in the Fall 2005/Winter 2006issue of the magazine about the founding ofthe Jeff Perry Memorial EndowedScholarship Fund. The reader was moved todonate to the fund.)

I received the Morehouse Magazineyesterday. I read the wonderful article

about you, Jeff and his scholarship withintense interest. It was a fascinating article.Your successful effort to establish Jeff’s schol-arship is so inspiring. I believe your story andexample will motivate others to philanthrop-ic efforts that are equally as touching.

It is rare that those of us in fund raisingfind an individual with your commitment to acause. I remember Dr. Benjamin Mays para-phasing Sir Winston Churchill in saying “Wemake our living by what we earn, and we makeour lives by what we give.”You have given somuch in honoring Jeff’s legacy! You are anexemplar of this creed.

I just finished reading Morehouse Magazine.It’s really great. The layout, stories, flow, pic-tures, and everything is wonderful!! As a pub-lisher, I know what goes into putting togethera great book and you guys do an execellentjob. I can’t wait until I get the next one and I’llbe sure to keep you posted on what’s new withJohnson Media Inc. and Río Negro.

Kevin D. Johnson ’01Business DevelopmentJohnson Media Inc.

GREAT job on the latest issue ofMorehouse Magazine. My wife and sev-eral others who are not even tied to thecollege gave many positive comments.Keep up the good work.

John Easton ’95PresidentEastonsweb Multimedia

l e t u s h e a r f r o m y o u

F A L L 2 0 0 5 / W I N T E R 2 0 0 6 5 MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE

MOREHOUSEM A G A Z I N E

Seeing Beyond The Known

Dear Friends:

ne of our biggest fears is losing what we have. I read some-

where that the letters of the word “fear” could stand for “False

Evidence Appearing Real.” It is somewhat of a rude awakening

when we fully understand that the very thing we fear most, can actually be brought into existence by

our thoughts. Likewise, we can create a reality for ourselves full of all of the good things –– abun-

dance, love, peace, health and happiness. The best part of this is that once we understand that all of

these things can be created by our own thoughts and subsequent actions, we can always create more.

After reading the courageous stories of the Morehouse alumni who braved Katrina in “After the

Storm” on page 31, and the tenacity and vision they are employing in rebuilding their lives –– one

day at a time – you can’t help but get a different perspective on loss and our ability to create more of

what we have and want most in our lives.

In “Honoring Two Legends” (page 8), fear could have sent former Board Chair Otis Moss Jr. ‘56

packing when he learned in his sophomore year at Morehouse that his money had run out and he

was about to lose his dormitory room. But his faith, which manifested with a check from a church,

kept him in school. Through the years, alumnus Moss helped many other students override their

fear of not being able to attend college by helping them “see beyond the known” and get into

Morehouse.

Commencement speaker Ruth Simmons reminded the class of 2006, the largest graduating

class of record, not to let the recent stories on the plight of black males create fear in their hearts

or limitations in their minds about who they are (see “Hope Reigns,” page 28). “Never let anyone

take from you what is your inalienable right to dignity and your freedom to be who you are,”

said Simmons.

It goes without saying that even though alumnus Martin Luther King Jr. ’48 faced one of his

greatest fears – losing his life in his prime – he never let that fear prevent him from forging ahead to

create a new reality for our nation. The evidence of his sense of urgency and his passion for world

change is found in the thousands of personal notes and letters that are part of the newly acquired

Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection (see “Saved, Sealed and Delivered,” page 28).

I’ve learned through experience that holding too tightly to what we have –– possessions, peo-

ple, certain ideas and ways of doing things –– keeps us from participating in the universal flow of

abundance, and instead creates stagnation. Surely, this lesson is part of the legacy that President

Massey leaves with us as he moves on to see what the rest of his journey will be. His career path, his

decision to come to Morehouse (see “The Road Taken,” page 44) and his decision 11 years later to

retire and spend time enjoying his grandchildren, can inspire us all to live without fear of change, to

live with passion and to channel all of our creative energy into creating our own reality.

As we prepare to celebrate President Massey’s accomplishments and bid him farewell, we need

not fear losing him. He will return many times to his alma mater wearing different hats: former

president, dedicated alumnus, and, one day perhaps, grandfather of a Morehouse graduate! To bor-

row a well-coined phrase from our largest Campaign donor Oprah Winfrey, “what I know for sure

is” that when we understand the energy of love, we need not hold anyone too close for fear of losing

them, for we know that love does not diminish when it is given or shared, but expands beyond

boundaries of time or space.

One last note on the “fear factor” –– to echo President’s Massey’s message on the previous

page, it is “a matter of perspective.” Since we can only control our thoughts and our responses, gain-

ing proper perspective can be the key to conquering our fears. Let us choose to direct our thoughts

and creative power toward things of true value: love, abundance, health, peace, passion and joy.

Keep reading!

Toni O’Neal Mosley

e d i t o r ’s n o t e s

Fall 2006

Dr. Walter E. Massey ‘58President

Dr. David V. TaylorProvost and Senior Vice President

for Academic Affairs

Phillip Howard ’87Vice President for

Institutional Advancement

STAFFExecutive Editor Toni O’Neal MosleyEditor Vickie G. HamptonAssistant Editor Shaneesa N. AshfordIn the News Editor Elise DurhamContributing Writers Rori F. Blakeney

Deon EmbryChandra R. Thomas

Alumni News Editor Henry M. Goodgame Jr. ’84Class Notes Julie Pinkney TongueSports Writer Yusuf DavisPhotography Philip McCollum

Ron WitherspoonGraphic Design Glennon DesignAdministrative Assistant Margaret Bryant

EDITORIAL ADVISER Adrienne S. Harris, Chief of Staff

Morehouse Magazine is published by MorehouseCollege, Office of Communications, Division ofInstitutional Advancement. Opinions expressed inMorehouse Magazine are those of the authors, notnecessarily of the College.Letters and Comments: Letters must be onetyped page in length and signed. Please includecomplete contact information. Send to: Morehouse Magazine Editor, MorehouseCollege, Office of Communications, 830 WestviewDr., S.W., Atlanta, GA 30314. E-mail: [email protected]: 404-215-2729

Change of Address and Class Notes:www.morehousealumniandfriends.com

Morehouse College is the nation’s largest liberal arts col-lege for men. The College is accredited by the SouthernAssociation of Colleges and Schools and is a member ofthe Atlanta University Center consortium of five schools.Morehouse does not discriminate on the basis of race,color, age, handicap, or national or ethnic origin in therecruitment and admission of its students, in the adminis-tration of its educational policies and programs, or in itsstaff, as specified by federal laws and regulations.

O

A LAND TRANSFER between the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) and CollegePartners Inc. (CPI), of which Morehouse is a member, has given the College andother AUC schools room to grow.

During Founder’s Day festivities, Housing and Urban Development SecretaryAlphonso Jackson announced a land transfer between Morehouse, Spelman Collegeand the Morehouse School of Medicine. The entities will swap land near the HarrisHomes public housing development, allowing for campus expansion and the redevelop-ment of the area’s public housing and the surrounding community. The exchange makesroom for the constructionof the new MorehouseCollege Center for the Arts.

The AHA deeded 10.2acres of land adjacent to thecolleges to CPI in exchangefor the approximate 12-acresite adjacent to Harris Homes.

The revised AHA mas-ter plan will be the catalystfor the restoration of thesurrounding neighbor-hood, creating a mixed-income community. Themain residential develop-ment will be comprised of662 rental units and 74homeownership units. ■

Land Transfer Allows for Expansion

Morehouse College defeated North Carolina Central University to win the 17th Annual Honda Campus All-

Star Challenge (HCASC) on April 2. Senior and team captain Jordan A. Harris led seniors Mark A. Bernard,

Anthony Christopher Smith and John Ramsey Clarke and freshman Alvin McNair (not pictured) to the

school’s fourth national title. The team, coached by associate professor of business administration Anderson

C. Williams, won a $50,000 grant for the College.

Honda All-Star Champs

insidethehouse

MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE 6 F A L L 2 0 0 6

THE MOTOR COACH that ushered “TheGenius” from city to city during his tour-ing days now belongs to Morehouse.

The tour bus, which features RayCharles’ silhouette on the back, is fullyequipped with 35 customized seats, fourtelevisions and a kitchen. Plans are in theworks to allow student groups to use thebus for trips.

The bus is the latest in a series of con-nections between Morehouse, and the lateCharles and his long-time manager, JoeAdams. Adams is responsible for introduc-ing Charles to Morehouse and nurturinghis relationship with the College.

In 2001, Charles, who received an hon-orary degree from the College the sameyear, gave Morehouse two $1-million giftsto seal a mutual commitment to find, edu-cate and inspire the next generation ofmusic pioneers. Those gifts set into motionthe plans for the proposed MorehouseCollege Center for the Arts, which willhouse The Ray Charles Performing ArtsCenter. Adams is also a donor to the Centerfor the Arts, having given $2 milliontoward the project. ■

Ray Charles’ BusMakes Final Stop at the ‘House

Back row (from left to right): President Walter E. Massey '58; Lisa

Borders, president, Atlanta City Council; Alphonso Jackson, secretary,

Department of Housing and Urban Development; Beverly Daniel-

Tatum, president, Spelman College; David Satcher '63, interim presi-

dent, Morehouse School of Medicine; (front row seated): Renee

Glover, CEO, Atlanta Housing Authority; and Louis Sullivan '54, chair-

man, College Partners Inc., sign land transfer deeds.

FOR PRESIDENT WALTER E. MASSEY ’58,a physicist with a propensity for numbersand meticulous calculations, retirementhas always been about timing.

Since beginning his presidency in1995, Massey has said that he wanted toserve his alma mater for 10 years. Atdecade’s end, he could check off many ofhis set goals, including the creation of theacademic village and the culmination ofthe historic Campaign for a New Century,which surpassed its $105-million goal by$15 million. For Massey, the numbers werebetter than expected. And though he wassatisfied that he had met his goals, he knewthat it was not time to leave the College.True to his scientific breeding, he wouldn’tleave until the timing was precise.

Near Massey’s 10-year mark, WillisB. Sheftall ’64 left the position of vicepresident for Academic Affairs to returnto teaching. Not much later, ShirleyWilliams, chief financial officer, madeplans for her retirement known.

“I didn’t think it was in the best inter-est of the College for the top three senior

officers to leave at the same time,” Masseyexplained in three different settings: aSeptember faculty and staff combinedmeeting and the Opening Convocationand a press conference the following day.

But with the new provost, David V.Taylor, in place, and William’s successor join-ing the College in October,Massey said in thefaculty and staff meeting,“Now it’s my turn.”

“The school is in good shape and Ifeel very good about what has beenaccomplished. We have a strong board,a strong senior cabinet team and astrong faculty. We have strategic plan-ning and budget managing processesthat help keep the College in good

financial shape.”Massey said what helped him finally

know the pendulum had truly swung infavor of retirement was his and first ladyShirley Massey’s summer with theiryoung grandchildren.

“It made us realize that there is lifeafter being president,” he said, “andShirley and I are going to pursue it.” ■

—VGH

President Massey talks candidly about hiscareer-changing decision to return to his almamater as president 11 years ago, and his decisionto retire at the end of the 2006-07 academicyear in “The Road Taken” on page 44.

President Walter E. Massey '58 receives a standing ovation during Opening Convocation as provost and senior vice

president for Academic Affairs, David V. Taylor, applauds.

MASSEY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

’The Time is Right’

Morehouse first lady Shirley

Anne Massey breaks a bottle of

champagne to christen the

Alaskan Legend, an oil tanker

built for BP Shipping Ltd., on

Aug. 12, as President Walter E.

Massey '58, right, and other

officials look on. President

Massey is a BP board member

serving as a member of the

Chairman's and Nomination

committee and as chairman of

the Ethics and Environment

Assurance Committee.

Anchors Away

F A L L 2 0 0 6 7 MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE


Apartment SuitesNamed for Otis Moss Jr. ‘56THE REV.DR.OTIS MOSS Jr. ’56 says wordsdeliberately—slowly, articulately, with just afaint hint of the Southern Baptist preacher’ssingsong reminiscent of his roots. No doubt,the listener is sure that each word—nay, eachsyllable—is uttered with intent.

So when Moss took the time to call a dozenor so family members by name–from Edwina,his wife of nearly 40 years to his youngest grand-child, two-year-old Makayla—during therenaming of the Morehouse Suites in his honor,the litany was purposeful.Here was a man whoput family first. In spite of the pulls and pres-sures of being a hands-on pastor,a sought-afterspeaker and lecturer, and a consultant, he tookout time for his family and was “always caringand compassionate to his wife, children andextended family,”said his son,Otis Moss III ’92.

While the dedicatory prayer by LawrenceE. Carter, dean of the Martin Luther King Jr.International Chapel, reminded everyone ofMoss’s remarkable contribution to variousorganizations—his consultancy with presi-dents and his accolades,honors and awards—it was the vignettes of how Moss touched indi-viduals that brought this towering figure (instature and reputation) to everyman size, andthus were the most poignant.

Indeed, if you borrow from the “It’s aWonderful Life”premise and imagine Morehousewithout Moss, the College would be a differentplace. King Chapel wouldn’t be “international.”Massey perhaps wouldn’t be president.And at leastone student who was short on means but tall ondetermination would not be poised to become aMorehouse man.

During the morning naming dedicationceremony on May 12, 2006, Carter recalled,when he first proposed adding “national” tothe Chapel’s name, Moss told him he was“thinking too small” and suggested instead“international.”

President Walter E. Massey ’58 creditedMoss, along with current Board of Trusteeschairman Willie “Flash” Davis ’56, with help-ing him to decide to return to his alma materas president.

And Basheer James, a 2006 Morehousegraduate from Cleveland, delivered the mostimpassioned endorsement: “I speak from thestories, mouths and souls of all those touchedby Rev. Moss.”

James is from the Huff area in Cleveland.“If you were to ever visit Huff, you would saythere is no way a person can come from hereand get [to Morehouse]”he said.

Not only was he from the wrong side ofthe tracks, but, academically, his grades wereoff-track. He recalled going to Moss’s officesaying, “If you give me an opportunity, Ipromise I won’t let you down.”

While James, who graduated with honorsin May, represented a kind of “before” pic-

ture of life under the Moss influence, sever-al slightly older Morehouse men presentedthe successful “after” picture, includingMoss’s son, Otis Moss III, and Kevin R.Johnson ’96. The younger Moss is pastor ofthe Trinity United Church of Christ inChicago, while Johnson is the assistant pas-tor of the historic Abyssinian BaptistChurch in Harlem. Johnson worked withMoss as a summer intern in 1996, and later,from 1999 to 2002, as assistant pastor ofOlivet Institutional Baptist Church, whichMoss pastors.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGSWhen Moss was a student at Morehouse,finances were tight. In his sophomore year,he recalls receiving two letters one day. Thefirst was from the Morehouse Business Officeasking him to move off campus because hehad failed to pay his room and board fees.

Otis Moss Jr. '56, who served for nearly 25 years on the Board of Trustees and recently stepped down as its chair-

man, is the namesake of the renamed Morehouse Residential Suites.

insidethehouse

HONORING TWOBy Vickie G. Hampton

`The second letter was from a church inDetroit where he had earlier served as asummer volunteer. It contained the seeds ofhis faith.

“It had a check sufficient enough to takecare of my bills for the rest of the school year,”said Moss.“The pastor of the church had writ-ten: ‘I don’t want you to ever stop your educa-tion for lack of money.’

“I learned in literal fashion that God doesmove in mysterious ways.”

SUITE RECOGNITIONThe Morehouse Suites is a sprawling resi-dential complex consisting of two build-ings, 375 beds, and units of one-room stu-dios, and two- and three-bedroom suitesand apartments (which include livingareas and full kitchens). With its computerlabs, convenient laundry facilities, andmeditation and study rooms, Moss saidthat, if he were a 21st century student, itwould be where he would want to resideon campus.

The fact that Moss’s name will reside

permanently on the residential complexspeaks volumes about a legacy of service thatis already set in stone.

“There are only so many buildings oncampus, so you can only imagine thatnaming this building after him tells of hissignificant contributions,” said Willie“Flash” Davis ’56, who succeeded Moss aschairman of the Board of Trustees and isone of his classmates. (Moss continues toserve as a member of the Board.)

“Moss is a salutary influence ofexample, of vision, of faith,” said Massey.“He embraces a grand vision—not anordinary vision—for the College in mak-ing it one of the best colleges in thenation, period.

“Generations of young men will dream,learn, study and pray in this hall they will callhome.”

WHEN JOHN H. HOPPS’ PORTRAIT wasunveiled on April 24, a day named in his honorat Morehouse,June Hopps kissed the tips of herfingers then pressed them to the canvas that helda lifelike image of her late husband of 41 years.With trembling hands, she then reached for ahandkerchief to wipe away tears. In a row ofseats holding family members,Pentagon execu-tives and educators in front of TechnologyTower,a few handkerchiefs followed suit.

Before acquiescing the podium to the“speaker” of the family, Hopps uttered wordsthat vibrated with emotion:“I was glad when hesaid unto me, let us go to Morehouse, the insti-tution that meant so much to him.”

Within minutes of the hourlong ceremo-ny to rename the $7-million TechnologyTower to the John H. Hopps Jr. TechnologyTower, the veracity of her soft-spoken wordshad already become evident.

President Walter E. Massey ‘58, Hopps’classmate and lifelong friend, said: “JohnHopps was instrumental in my career. Moreimportantly, he was instrumental in shapingthe College.”

From 1995 to 1999, Hopps served asthe College’s provost and vice president forAcademic Affairs. “During his tenure, hewas especially interested in the quality ofscience, teaching and especially interdisci-plinary teaching. This building grew fromhis vision of interdisciplinary study.”

When James Short, director of theDefense Laboratory Programs with theDepartment of Defense, decided to apply fora job under Hopps a few years ago, he set outto discover more about the job and the man.

“When I learned about the man, Ilearned about Morehouse, because both areso intertwined,” he recalled.

Short read a letter from Michael W.Wynne,Secretary of the Air Force,that announced plansto sponsor a scholarship in Hopps’ honor. A$1.7-million grant from the Department ofDefense will establish the Hopps ResearchScholars Program.The program will strengthenthe research curriculum, provide scholarshipsand one-on-one mentoring,establish a summereducational and research component, and pro-vide internships at top research institutions forstudents who major in the sciences, technology,engineering and mathematics.

Hopps’ remarkable career included serv-ing as the director of the Division of MaterialResearch at the National Science Foundation,a principal member of the Technical Staff andchief of Photonics Technology at the CharlesStark Draper Laboratory at MIT, and as theDeputy Undersecretary of Defense forLaboratories and Basic Sciences, where heprovided direction to the organization’s uni-versity-based basic research, instrumentation,graduate fellowship and education programsin science and engineering disciplines. ■

June Hopps, the widow of John H. Hopps Jr. '58, touches his portrait as President Walter E. Massey '58 looks on.


LEGENDS

Technology Tower named for John Hopps ’58

insidethehouse


By Shaneesa N. Ashford

IN THE COURSE OF MATRICULATION, aMorehouse student may hear about the impor-tance of various forms of unity.But it was a “fun-damental unity of life”that provided the theme forthe inaugural Walter E.Massey Lecture on Scienceand Spirituality during Science and SpiritualAwareness Week Crown Forum on April 6.

Guest lecturer John Hagelin, a quantumphysicist and director of the Institute of Science,Technology and Public Policy at MaharishiUniversity of Management in Fairfield, Iowa,discussed the upsurge of research on how atranscendental or meditative state can lead tothe ability to understand the fundamental unityof the universe.

“Nature is superficially diverse but funda-mentally unified,”Hagelin said.“Experience ofour core unity is fundamental not just to innerpeace, but to outer peace.”

A published scholar, Hagelin alsofocused on how humans can use the samemeditative state to improve their everydaylives. He noted that some researchers believea higher state of consciousness can lead to

better physical and mental health.“Fragments in the human brain lead to

high levels of stress.” Hagelin said. “Unitybrings deep peace. That spiritual experienceis our birthright.”

A physicist in his own right, PresidentWalter E. Massey ’58 acknowledges thatHagelin’s theories are controversial in thescientific community, and does not neces-sarily agree with his point of view.

“I certainly do not find science and spir-ituality to be incompatible,” Massey said.“However, the fact that science and spiritual-ity are not incompatible does not mean that

they share the same processes and method-ologies, and frames of reference or under-standing of how the universe, including our-selves, function.”

That difference in schools of thoughtillustrates the fundamental purpose of the lec-tures: to be provocative and stir debate amongthe campus community.

“My hope is that in years to come, theWalter E. Massey Lecture on Science andSpirituality will be characterized by a greatdiversity of opinion – and, most important –healthy dialogue and debate about what sci-ence and spirituality can contribute, both sep-arately and collectively, to our understandingof what it means to be human,”Massey said.

The Science and Spiritual AwarenessCrown Forum served as the induction of the20th annual Martin Luther King Jr. College ofMinisters and Laity,where 41 religious and com-munity scholars were honored. Among themwere Morehouse graduates Kirby Clement ’66,Vernon C.King ’83 and Joseph C.Parker Jr. ’74.

Additionally, the late Coretta Scott King(Hon. ’70) was posthumously honored withthe Gandhi, King, Ikeda CommunityBuilder’s Prize. The chapel paid tribute toKing, humanitarian Kaneko Ikeda and hiswife, Daisaku Ikeda, by unveiling oil por-traits of the three community leaders. ■

SCIENCE AND SPIRITUAL AWARENESS WEEK

Lecture Named in Honor of President Massey

John Hagelin, a quantum physicist, was the inaugural lec-turer for the Walter E. Massey Lecture on Science andSpirituality.

MilestonesCarter Honored for 25 Years of SpiritualLeadership and Serviceat Morehouse

Lawrence E. Carter, dean of the Martin Luther

King Jr. International Chapel and professor of reli-

gion, joins his wife, Marva, in admiring an oil por-

trait of his likeness. The portrait, honoring Carter's

25 years of service to the College, was unveiled

during the Science and Spiritual Awareness

luncheon on April 6, 2006.

insidethehouse


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BERNARD S. SMITH ’57 brought a keen attention todetail to everything in his life, from the meticulous carehe took in his job in strategic planning and monitoringassessment activities at the College to the dapper attirehe sported; and from the brilliant, manicured gardenshe landscaped to the decks he built for family mem-bers. Smith, associate vice president for Planning andAssessment and director of Title III, died on March 19.

“Bernie’s commitment to seeing that Morehouseachieved our goals and objectives helped keep us ontrack. And I am certain that the College is all thestronger, all the better for him having insisted that weplan our work, work our plan, and, most important—(ashis colleagues here will tell you)—document every-thing,” said President Walter E. Massey ‘58.

Smith was a staff member at Florida A&MUniversity and Florida State University before workingwith the United Board of College Development, a con-sortium of 52 schools in the state of Georgia. Smithwent on to serve as the assistant chancellor for theAtlanta University Center Consortium, followed by serv-ing as the assistant to the president for Planning andDevelopment/Title III Program and subsequently thevice president for Development and Public Affairs atMorris Brown College.

Following a stint as chief officer of InstitutionalAdvancement and director of Development atTalladega College, Smith served as executive directorand program designer of the United Negro CollegeFund/Lilly Endowment Leadership and OrganizationDevelopment Program.

The Morehouse alumnus received his mas-ter’s from Florida A&M University in 1969 and hisdoctorate in educational administration fromFlorida State University. ■

Bernard S. Smith ’57 Took Care of Life’s Details

Passages

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari

Maathai, (second from the right),

joins President Walter E. Massey

'58 (center), Ambassador Andrew

Young, (right), and the daughters of

the late Anna Harvin Grant, the first

woman chair of the Sociology

Department at Morehouse, in plant-

ing a tree in Grant's memory in front

of Sale Hall. Maathai visited cam-

pus in March 2006 during a spe-

cial convocation in her honor. She

also received an honorary doctor of

science degree from the College.

Morehouse, Spelman Join Forces to Build Better Relationships PRESIDENT WALTER E. MASSEY ’58 and Spelman President Beverly Daniel Tatum held ameeting on Oct. 13 in Woodruff Library to introduce members of the Spelman-MorehouseTask Force on Gender Relations, Violence and Campus Safety. The task force was convenedafter the two presidents announced their first ever joint initiative this September in an effortto promote a climate of safety and mutual respect on both campuses.

The presidents, along with task force co-chairs Kevin Rome ’89, vice president forStudent Services at Morehouse, and Sherry Turner, vice president for Student Affairs atSpelman, announced the goals of the task force, which include raising awareness andaddressing issues associated with dysfunctional male-female relationships, examining theimpact of racism, sexism and media/pop culture images on male-female relationships,and developing educational programs and training to reduce or eliminate sexual andother forms of violence among students. Massey and Tatum talked about the need forchanges that will affect the climate of gender dynamics on both campuses. Massey zeroedin on the damaging affect of rumors.

“Rumors can be the most debilitating, demoralizing thing that can happen becauseno one knows what really happened,” he said. “We have to create a climate where stu-dents feel comfortable getting the facts out.”

Although the task force is a joint effort, both presidents also acknowledged thatthere are certain issues each school must deal with individually.

“There are some things we have to address at Morehouse, such as male identity,”said Massey. “We are asking the task force to focus on the intersection of these issues.”

The task force held its first meeting in October and will host a kick-off event inNovember. Morehouse’s task force representatives are Rome; Jann Adams, associateprofessor, Department of Psychology; Aaron Parker, associate professor, Department ofPhilosophy and Religion; Rosemary Armstrong, director, Wellness Resource Center;Kellye Blackburn-Eccles, director, Career Planning and Placement; sophomoreDesmond Diggs and junior Dean Parchia. ■

Trees of Life

FOR INTERMINABLE DECADES,South Africa was ravaged by the per-nicious disease of hatred. Today, another disease, AIDS, is scourging thecountry. But despite—or perhaps because of—its blights and struggles,the country has learned a lesson that it can now teach the world:to forgive.

“Isn’t it an extraordinary thing that God does seem to have anexquisite sense of humor? Who would have thought that South Africawould become a beacon of hope?”

The white-haired, soft-spoken man posing the questions duringa specially called Nonviolence and Peace Convocation on Jan. 26,2006, was not speaking in hyperbole. Indeed, perhaps more than any-body, Desmond Tutu, the former general secretary of the SouthAfrican Council of Churches and archbishop of Cape Town, under-stood his country’s path to freedom.

His life had followed apartheid’s appalling arc.He grew up in the ‘30s and‘40s in Klerksdorp, South Africa, as apartheid became progressively morerestrictive and violent. He became an international figure in the fight againstapartheid in the ‘70s and ‘80s.And, in the ‘90s,Tutu was selected by PresidentNelson Mandela to chair South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Tutu—once jailed, threatened and barred from leaving SouthAfrica because of his cry for freedom—has now amassed accolades and

awards in apartheid’s aftermath. The King Chapel presented him withthe Gandhi King Ikeda Community Builder’s Prize. The 1984 NobelPeace Prize laureate also received the Global Award at the 2006Trumpet Awards ceremony.

With the addition of Tutu, Morehouse now has given all SouthAfrican Nobel Peace Prize laureates the Community Builder’s Prize,including South African presidents Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk.

Although now retired, the archbishop continues to preach thevirtues of forgiveness.South Africans are teaching that, regardless of howheinous the offense, forgiveness is possible, said Tutu.

“Even victims of some of the most ghastly atrocities,they would for-give the perpetrators—even sometimes embrace them publicly,”he said.

Tutu wants the world to look to his countrymen for answers onhow to resolve conflict. It is a lesson the United States could benefitfrom in the fight against terrorism, he said.

“When you retaliate, take revenge, it’s never the end of the story,but starts a cycle [of retaliation]… There is no way we will win the waron terror as long as there are conditions in the world that made peo-ple desperate,” said Tutu. ■

—VGH

LESSON FROM SOUTH AFRICA:

‘To Forgive is Divine’


insidethehouse

STEPHEN WATSON ’87, associate vice president

for Information Services, Instructional and

Information Technology and the College’s first-

ever chief information officer,was recently hired to

steer the College on the information superhighway.

A 1987 computer science and mathematics gradu-

ate, Watson remembers the days when VT52 and

VT100 were the standard computers on campus.

“We used greenbar paper and punch cards,”

he said.“Accuracy was important because if you

messed up one line, you would have to start

again… A lot has changed.”

Fast forward 16 years and Watson is back on

campus where laptops,Dells and Macs allow most

of the campus to complete tasks at a much faster

clip. With wireless systems, the Internet, Intranet

and state-of-the-art technology, he is driving a

much more sophisticated technological program.

“Our network technology is pretty current,

the fibers need to be refreshed and our servers are

three to five years old,”said Watson,a self-described

systems architect, adding that he is building a solid

foundation on the existing infrastructure.

Previously, Watson worked at GE Aircraft

Engines, Northrop Grumman and AOL/Time

Warner doing everything from building systems

and reengineering the production of military

machine parts and circuit boards to developing a

corporate learning strategy and an e-learning sys-

tem to train 12,000 personnel for Turner

Broadcasting System, Inc.

“Technology is all over. It is about under-

standing the pieces. My goal is to balance tech-

nology and the environment.”

Watson said his focus will be on the

customer.

“Technology is a tool, but the peo-

ple— student, faculty and staff—are the

focus,” he said. ■

—Rori Francis Blakeney

Stephen Watson ’87 joins the College as CIO.

New CIO Takes the Driver Seat onInformation Superhighway

Milestones

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WHEN BLACK ENTERPRISEmagazine’s latest ranking of the top50 schools for African American stu-dents listed Morehouse as No. 45—down from the No. 1 spot it had heldfor the past four years—it was obvi-ous something had changed.

BE magazine’s new criteriaput more emphasis on graduationrates and the size of AfricanAmerican population at collegesand universities, as explained inthe September 2006 issue wherethe rankings were published.

At Morehouse, things changed,as well—but for the better.

“What the Black Enterpriseranking does not show is that over the pastfour years, our six-year graduation rate hasaveraged about 55 percent, and in 2005, roseto 60 percent – the College’s highest gradua-tion rate ever,” said President Walter E.Massey ’58 during Opening Convocation inSeptember 2006. “So, by any standard,Morehouse really is a better institution todaythan it was when we were ranked No. 1.”

However, the particular year that wasthe focus of the Black Enterprise ranking –2004 – was an anomalous year forMorehouse in which the graduation ratedropped from 55 percent to 49 percent.

“It is also a fact that even at 55 per-cent – a rate we are continually striving toimprove – Morehouse’s graduation rate issignificantly higher than the nationalaverage graduation rate for AfricanAmerican men, which is about 33 percent.So, any way you look at it, Morehouse isstill at the top of the list when it comes toproducing black male college graduates –period,” Massey said.

To fully appreciate how impressivethese numbers are, David V. Taylor, provostand vice president for Academic Affairs, said

you must understand the relentless compe-tition out there for black male students,especially considering that black men entercollege at half the rate of black women.

“Nationally, African American menare not attending college or earning collegedegrees at the same rate as AfricanAmerican women,” he said. “Currently, forevery one African American male in col-lege, there are two African Americanfemales, and the graduation rate for AfricanAmerican females is significantly higherthan for African American males.”

The fact that Morehouse continues tothrive in this competitive, low-supply, high-demand market also is evident when compar-ing the College’s graduation rate to otherHBCUs that achieved ranking in the BE survey.

The Office of Institutional Research atMorehouse accessed the U.S. Department ofEducation Integrated Postsecondary EducationData System directly and found that for theHBCUs included in the current BE survey, theaverage six-year graduation rate for those insti-tutions over the past four years is 49.3 percentfor all African American students, and 38.5percent for African American males, as com-

pared to 55 percent for Morehouse.Furthermore, are several indi-

cators predict graduation ratesat Morehouse are, in fact, con-tinuing to improve, said Taylor.For example, the freshmanretention rate – the number offreshmen who return for theirsophomore year – was 84 per-cent in 2005, up from 81 percentin 2004. Other signs of progressinclude a 2006 graduating classof 529, the largest number in theCollege’s history. And despiteincreasing competition,Morehousecontinues to attract some of the bestand brightest students in the nation.

Entering students’ average high school GPAshave remained stable since 2001 (3.2 in2005) and their average combined SATscores have increased each year since 2001(1088 in 2005).

Massey said that one positive out-come of the publicity about the College’schange in the BE ranking is that it pres-ents an opportunity for Morehouse tobring greater attention to the disparitybetween male and female college atten-dance and graduation rates.

“We see this opportunity as ourresponsibility, indeed, as part of what itmeans to be a leader and a servant. Thinkabout it: As the college that enrolls andgraduates the largest number of AfricanAmerican men in the nation, we are thepreeminent leader on this subject.”

An upcoming provost report will pro-vide more information about theMorehouse Male Initiative and the overallstate of academic affairs at Morehouse, aswell as additional analysis of the BlackEnterprise ranking. ■

—VGH

CHANGING THE SCALE:

B.E.’s New Emphasis on Graduation Rates Impacts Ranking

25

50

75

100

0

PER

CEN

T

55.6% 55.0%49.6%

59.6%

Morehouse College Six-Year Graduation Rate

2002 2003 2004* 2005

*Year accessed for current BE ranking.


■ August 28, 2005 — The AAttllaannttaa

JJoouurrnnaall--CCoonnssttiittuuttiioonn

Director of the Learning Resource

Center and College archivist the Rev.

Herman “Skip” Mason was profiled in

the Pursuits/People and Their Passions

section of the paper. The headline was

“Unlocking a Family’s History.” The

profile focused on Mason’s recent

genealogical work. He was quoted

saying,“I feel like I have a heavenly

host of ancestors interceding for me.”

■ September 2005 — DDeellttaa SSkkyy

The September issue of Delta Sky

magazine, which is circulated on

Delta Air Lines flights across the

nation, included a two-page adver-

tisement for the Atlanta University

Center. Morehouse was featured

prominently in the ad.

■ October 3, 2005 — JJeett magazine

Tony and Susan Cox are parents of

Morehouse sophomore Kevin Cox.

The family was featured in the

Education section of Jet after attend-

ing New Student Orientation during

Kevin’s freshman year. The story was

titled “Surviving the College Scene:

Tips for Parents and Students.”

■ October 6, 2005 — TThhee AAttllaannttaa


The AJC featured a write-up on the

Jumpstart program, which appeared

in both the City Life and South Metro

sections of the paper. Jumpstart is a

nonprofit in its second year at the

Atlanta University Center. The story

focused on efforts to build a library

for the program, spearheaded by

Adrienne Harris, Morehouse chief of

staff. Harris is a six-year volunteer

with Literacy Volunteers of America.

■ October 6, 2005 — TThhee AAttllaannttaa


Morehouse psychology student

Timothy Flemming Jr. was featured

after winning a $25,000 prize in

Hollywood’s Famous Poetry Society

Contest. Flemming, who also is an

assistant pastor at Mount Carmel

Baptist Church, won for his poem

“Magdalene Suit.” He said he plans to

use some of the prize money toward

his tuition at Morehouse.

■ October 6, 2005 — DDiivveerrssee

IIssssuueess iinn HHiigghheerr EEdduuccaattiioonn

In advance of the first ever Leadership

Conference at Morehouse College,

Walter E. Fluker wrote an editorial on

the need for ethical leadership in the

wake of Hurricane Katrina. The edi-

torial was published in Diverse

Forum in the magazine. In the edito-

rial, Fluker said: “The failure of ethi-

cal leadership is far more dangerous

and costly, and in the end, more dam-

aging than even the worst hurricanes

that wreak devastation on our

shores.” Fluker is the Coca-Cola

Professor of Leadership Studies and

executive director of the Leadership

Center at Morehouse.

■ November 2, 2005 —

TThhee AAttllaannttaa JJoouurrnnaall--CCoonnssttiittuuttiioonn

The Faith and Values section of the

AJC gave extensive advance coverage

on the Morehouse Leadership

Conference. The story was titled

“Developing Ethical Leaders: Compass

Watchers Weigh In.” Coverage includ-

ed quotes on the definition of ethical

leadership and photos of seven of the

conference participants.

■ February 2006 — BBoossttoonn GGlloobbee

The Boston Globe newspaper was just

one of dozens of news outlets to cover

the student-organized vigil for the late

Coretta Scott King. Members of the

Morehouse Student Government

Association organized a candlelight

vigil to celebrate King’s life. More than

200 students from across the Atlanta

University Center participated.

■ Feb. 2, 2006 — DDaayyttoonnaa TTiimmeess

News that the world-famous

Morehouse Glee Club was coming to

the Daytona Beach area made front

page news. The story also was carried

by the Florida Courier.

■ Feb. 19, 2006 — NNeeww YYoorrkk TTiimmeess

From the New York Times to the

Tampa Tribune to the Dallas Morning

News and markets in between … news

that the Ray Charles tour bus was

coming to Morehouse caused a buzz.

The midnight blue tour bus was

donated to the College during

Founder’s Week. Joe Adams, Charles’

longtime manager and friend of the

College said, “This is where Ray

would have wanted it to be. It served

us well and now we want it to serve

the wonderful students at

Morehouse College.”

■ March 2006 — The Weather

Channel / CNN Inside Africa

A visit from Wangari Maathai made

national news. Maathai, who is the

first African woman to be awarded

the Nobel Peace Prize, received an

honorary doctor of science degree.

Her visit was made possible through

the efforts of the Andrew Young

Center for International Affairs.

■ March 22, 2006 — TThhee AAttllaannttaa


An article titled “Seedlings Give Rise

to Economic Uplift” featured a look

at Morehouse’s efforts to teach stu-

dents about the importance of under-

standing and respecting the land and

its contributions to society. The story

was part of the coverage the College

insidethehouse

MOREHOUSEin the

NEWS

■ October 20, 2005 — DDiivveerrssee IIssssuueess iinn HHiigghheerr

EEdduuccaattiioonn

My Brothers’ Keeper

Alumnus Said L. Sewell III ’92 has started a program at theUniversity of West Georgia that focuses on creating a brother-hood of successful black male students. The program iscalled the West Georgia Learning Community. “This programis about the mentorship of brothers supporting one another.We have high expectations of them, and we are telling themnot to lower their expectations,” said Sewell. The programwas featured as the magazine’s 2005 Retention andRecruitment Special Report.

■ February 2006 —

AAttllaannttaa TTrriibbuunnee:: TThhee

MMaaggaazziinnee

The “A” List

The Atlanta Tribune was

there for the drum roll

and cheers when the College celebrated a milestone in The Campaign for A

New Century. R&B songstress Roberta Flack was there to help the College

celebrate. She poses in a photo with President Walter E. Massey ’58 just

after her special performance at the Campaign celebration dinner at the

new Georgia Aquarium.

received in connection with Wangari

Maathai’s visit to the school.

■ April 12, 2006 — TThhee AAttllaannttaa


When 17 students from Morehouse and

other AUC schools traveled to Brazil

with administrators for two weeks, the

trip caught the attention of local media.

The headline in the AJC was “Atlanta,

Brazil Students Form Bond.”

■ April 13,2006 — GGeeoorrggiiaa BBuulllleettiinn

“Archbishop Honored at Morehouse

Ceremony.” Archbishop Wilton D.

Gregory was inducted into the Martin

Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers.

Gregory was one of 41 inductees at

the ceremony that took place during

Science and Spiritual Awareness Week.

■ April 21, 2006 — CChhrroonniiccllee ooff

HHiigghheerr EEdduuccaattiioonn

In April, Morehouse beat North

Carolina Central University to

become the champions, again, of the

Honda Campus All-Star Challenge.

This was Morehouse’s fourth victory.

The news was covered on several

news outlet web sites and in publica-

tions across the nation.

■ April 23, 2006 — NNeeww YYoorrkk TTiimmeess

Morehouse was featured in several edi-

tions of the New York Times in a large

story called “The Final Four.” The

story focused on the four remaining

all-male institutions in the country.

■ May 12, 2006 — TThhee AAttllaannttaa


The annual debate about whether to

hold spring Commencement exercises

inside or out made news in May.

With the help of minute-to-minute

forecasts and daily calls to leading

meteorologists at The Weather

Channel, Morehouse’s decision about

where to hold Commencement

caught the attention of The Atlanta

Journal-Constitution. Each year is a

tricky call. “We don’t want to forgo

out grand ritual,” said Anne Watts,

chairwoman of the Commencement

committee and associate vice presi-

dent for Academic Affairs, “but we

don’t want our friends and guests to

be in dire discomfort or danger.”

■ May 18, 2006 —

AAttllaannttaa BBuussiinneessss CChhrroonniiccllee

The Leadership Center facility was

named the Build Georgia Awards

Winner by the Atlanta Business

Chronicle. Dorita Herd, who works

for C.D. Moody Construction

Company, said she was impressed by

the high expectations that the admin-

istration has of the students. She said

she wanted to build a building that

matched the expectation of excel-

lence. “We wanted to give them a

facility that exceeded their expecta-

tions,” she said.

■ May 21,2006 — WWaasshhiinnggttoonn PPoosstt

News that Morehouse had graduated

its largest class in history made news

across the country. The Washington

Post was just one of hundreds of

newspapers, television and radio sta-

tions and web sites that covered the

story. The story was generated by the

Associated Press and hit more than

400 news outlets.

■ May 25, 2006 — Cleveland

CCaallll && PPoosstt

“Morehouse Names Building for

Olivet’s Pastor, Otis Moss Jr.” was the

headline when chairman emeritus of

the Board of Trustees received the

honor. Family members and a large

delegation from Olivet shared in the

naming ceremony on May 12, 2006.

■ June 2006 — NNeeww YYoorrkk TTiimmeess

“Morehouse College Gets the King

Papers!” That was the exclamation

across the nation and across media out-

lets in June, July and August. The heart-

stopping deal to avert the Sotheby’s sale

of the 10,000-piece collection – and

bring it back to Atlanta – hit more than

1,000 news outlets nationwide.

■ July 20, 2006 — TThhee AAttllaannttaa


Research by David Will Rice ’95, a

Morehouse instructor, on the black

male self-image made front-page

news of the Metro section of the The

Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The

headline for the story was “Altering

Black Male Stereotypes.” Rice is work-

ing on a book about his studies.

■ July 27, 2006 — TThhee AAttllaannttaa


An article on Summer

Commencement titled “Mayor

Inspires Morehouse Men” made news

in the Metro section of the AJC.

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin was

the speaker. During the speech, she

urged the graduates to make service

to those in need a priority.

■ September 15, 2006 —

DDiivveerrssee IIssssuueess iinn HHiigghheerr EEdduuccaattiioonn

When Walter E. Massey ’58 made

public his plans to retire at the end of

the 2006-07 academic year, news out-

lets made it front-page news. The

announcement appeared on the front

page of the The Atlanta Journal-

Constitution, on the web site for

Diverse Issues in Higher Education

and on the local news for every sta-

tion in Atlanta.

insidethehouse

■ February 24, 2006 — TThhee AAttllaannttaa JJoouurrnnaall--CCoonnssttiittuuttiioonn

The Opera Hopeful

When Ryan Smith ’99, an opera aficionado, was chosen to sing in the regional finalsaudition for the world famous New York Metropolitan Opera the AJC gave him a fullpage. Of the 16 contestants, Smith was the only one from Atlanta.


insidethehouse

SEVERAL TIMES EACH YEAR, the Morehouse College Corporate Alliance Program and the Leadership Center invite senior-level execu-tives from the world of business to participate in the Presidential Chat Series and Executive Lecture Series to share their experiencesand expertise with a select group of business students and other members of the campus community. The session includes a shortpresentation by the visiting professional and an opportunity for informal interaction between the executives and students.

Philip W. Tomlinson, CEO and director, Total

System Services, Inc., February 22, 2006

Philip I. Kent, chairman and CEO,

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.,

September 12, 2005

The Hon. Saxby Chambliss,

R-Georgia, United States

Senate, February 6,

2006

Colleen A. Goggins, Worldwide

chairman, Consumer and

Personal Care Group, Johnson

& Johnson, April 5, 2006

David Satcher ’63, M.D., Ph.D., interim

president, Morehouse School of Medicine,

February 9, 2006

John Krenicki Jr., presi-

dent and CEO, GE Energy,

March 29, 2006

George A Willis, vice presi-

dent, East Carolina, United

Parcel Service, Inc., January

24, 2006, as a part of the

Black Executive Exchange

Program.

Kenneth D. Lewis, chairman, CEO and presi-

dent, Bank of America Corporation, April 4,

2006

Cam

pus

Visi

ts


ontheshelf

Allen C. Carter ’66The Center for Scholastic && Actualization, 2005

Psychology professor Allen C. Carter ’66 isn’t oneto mince words. So when the Morehouse gradu-ate utters, “The mind is a liar,” many may sayCarter is being extreme.

In his book,“What Is This Thing Called I?”Carter discusses the concepts (or lack thereof)of truth and reality. By focusing on three gods– creator-god, we-god and i-god – and howthey dictate human thoughts and actions,Carter ties religion to what he considers theperpetuation of the idea that humans are separate from thetrue God.

The idea that he would link religion to fallacy, Carteracknowledges,could label him controversial.But Carter coun-ters with a “truth” of his own: “That which defines you, limits you.”

On a human level, Carter can be defined as a 1966Morehouse graduate with a degree in psychology. Afterreceiving his doctorate from Columbia University, he wenton to intern at the University of California Medical Center inSan Francisco. In addition to teaching at Morehouse for 25years, he has operated a private practice for more than aquarter-century. He is a past president of the Georgia

Psychological Association, the Georgia State Board ofExaminers of Psychologists and the Atlanta Chapter of theAssociation of Black Psychologists.

Yet, with all of these accomplishments, Carter will tell youhe’s not African American, he’s not even a person – that theseare nothing more than labels that place him in specific boxes.

He maintains that because of a need for mentalseparatism, humans are incapable of knowingwhat he calls the ultimate truth, because the mindhas its own beliefs of what is true.

“The mind thinks it knows who you are and tellsyou who you are,”Carter says.“But the mind is a liar.”

Carter uses the book in his teachings, and admitsthat many students find his concept’s challenging.

“Most [students] come here with ingrained reli-gious beliefs,” he said. “Many students find this dif-ficult – it challenges their most basic beliefs, what

Grandma taught them.”Carter’s ultimate goal is that the book helps readers learn who

they truly are, to learn that they lack nothing. A person who pursuesknowledge of truth, he says, will find that the world opens for him.

“He is not affected by anything that happens to him or is saidto him,” Carter says. “He will always be open, but won’t need todefend. Anyone who has truth has no need for anything, no wants.”

—SNA

An Introduction to Moore-Penrose Rings, Volume IGregory Battle ’77iUniverse, 2006

Gregory Battle ’77, associate professor of mathemat-ics, recently published a book on theoretical algebratitled “An Introduction to Moore-Penrose Rings,Volume I.” Battle analyzes the structure of MoorePenrose rings by examining the algebraic systems inthe engineering and physical science disciplines. Theearly portion of the book employs formal ring classi-fication. Subsequent sections contain both local and

global inspections of multifaceted Moore Penrose rings.Battle, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse, has performed

research at various government scientific laboratories, including the AirForce Geophysics Laboratory, the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center,the Material Sciences Laboratory at MIT, and the Coastal SystemsStation (Littoral Warfare Branch). Battle earned his doctorate in theo-retical algebra from Washington University in St. Louis.

Benjamin Elijah Mays: A Pictorial Life and TimesCarrie M. Dumas, with Julie Hunter, contributing editorMercer University Press, 2006

Abook chronicling the life of Benjamin E. Mays, the sixth pres-ident of Morehouse, through pictures and interviews withthose whose lives were affected by Mays’ sermons, speech-es and guidance has been released by author Carrie Dumas.Dumas spent several years drawing from numerous sources,compiling more than 100 images from Mays’ life. SaysDumas: “As a result of Benjamin Mays’ many contributions,he was not only recognized as one of the great minds of the

20th century, but also left an indelible impact on so many of those he touched.”In the foreword, Samuel DuBois Cook ’48 speaks about Mays’ contribu-

tions to the African American existence: “Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays representedthe best of America. He also symbolized and embodied the best of the AfricanAmerican experience and tradition, the best of the South, and the best of thehuman condition. His idealism, humanism, warm humanity and religious faithare as precious as they are rare. The deep beauty of his life and pilgrimage isthat they are a constant and dramatic reminder of the higher possibilitiesof human nature, existence and destiny.”

F O O T N O T E S


Allen Carter ’66

Human Existence Questioned in What Is This Thing Called I?

developmentnews


A FULL FOUR MONTHS before the official end of The Campaign fora New Century, the most ambitious fund-raising effort in the College’shistory,an announcement was made: Not only had the Campaign goalbeen met, it had been exceeded.

In February during the Founder’s Day celebration, at a dinnerat the new Georgia Aquarium to honor the Campaign’s majordonors, C.D. Moody, the ’78 Morehouse grad who was the con-tractor for the recently erected Leadership Center facility,committed $1 million to the Campaign, which brought thegrand total to…drum roll please……$$111177,, 224411,, 119977..

Though the Campaign officially would end June 2006 with agrand total of more than $120 million, the activities and celebratoryspirit of Founder’s Week provided the perfect backdrop for theannouncement. Amid the commemoration of the College’s historywas the celebration of one of the College’s most historic achievements.

TThe Campaign for a New Century was a resounding successthat already has made a great impact on the life and future of theCollege--from building construction that provides more roomfor academic pursuits, to technology that makes learning moreexciting, to scholarships that help young men achieve their dreamof a Morehouse education. The remarkable stories behind theCampaign’s success will be told in the Campaign SummaryReport, which will be published in the upcoming months.

But the College’s quest to provide students with an excellent21st century education is a continous journey. Following are giv-ing areas for which the College is currently seeking funding.

PRIORITY GIVING AREAS

Ray Charles Performing Arts Center The College seeks to raise $20 million to construct this state-of-the-artperforming center featuring celestial lighting, a U-shaped stage andloose chair seating in the wings. The 575-seat center will be the cen-terpiece of a larger complex, the Morehouse Center for the Arts. Thecomplex,which will be located on the corner of Lowery Boulevard andWest End Avenue, also will provide rehearsal, performance, instruc-tional and office space for the Department of Music.

Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation Challenge Grant In April 2005, the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundationawarded the College a $4.5-million endowment, which will sup-port 60 Bonner Scholars annually. By August 2007, Morehouseis expected to match this grant with a $2-million completion

grant that will be combined with foundation funds to create theBonner Scholar Endowment.

Dean’s Chair in Business and EconomicsThe College seeks to raise $1.5 million to endow a Dean’s Chairin the Division of Economics and Business Administration. TheChair Campaign allows donors to purchase a seat for a mini-mum investment of $2,000 to be paid over a five-year period.

Opportunity Fund ProgramEach year, third- and fourth-year students cannot return or completetheir education due to a lack of financial resources. The average short-fall ranges between $3,000 to $5,000 per student. Donations to thisfund help ensure a Morehouse education for a promising student.

Annual FundEach year, the Office of Alumni Relations issues a challenge to alumni toraise $1,000,000. The Annual Fund is the most convenient vehicle to doso. In large part to alumni contributions, our students are able to enjoyan affordable,first-rate education that fosters more dedication and com-mitment to the global community with each passing academic year.

Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. CollectionOn June 23, 2006, Morehouse College became the owner of oneof the greatest American archives of the 20th century. This mon-umental collection is noteworthy because it contains 10,000items dating from 1946 to 1968 and includes handwritten draftsof such famous speeches and writings as “I Have a Dream” andKing’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. The College is cur-rently seeking $1.5 million to ensure that the Collection is pro-fessionally archived and appropriately exhibited. ■

C.D. Moody ’78 announces to President Walter E. Massey ’58 a $1-million pledge to theCampaign during a Founder’s Day Celebration at Georgia Aquarium.

HISTORICAL ACCOMPLISHMENT:The Campaign for a New CenturyExceeds Goal By $15 Million

developmentnews


EIGHT MOREHOUSE FRESHMENwho plan to pursue careers in med-

icine have a lot riding on their shoulders.Many are hoping that they will be

among the future doctors who will help correct decades ofwrongs that have

left the African American community in a state of health-care crisis.

In fact, Catholic Healthcare West is banking on it.

The San Francisco-based company has given each of the students

$10,000 scholarships,renewable each year if they maintain at least a 3.0

grade point average, as well as continue to meet other criteria. CHW,

comprised of a system of 41 hospitals and medical centers in California,

Arizona and Nevada,is the eighth largest hospital system in the nation.

“The health-care industry is a mess right now, and a part of

that mess is because of underrepresentation and participation by

(African Americans), a fact that is both sad and significant,” said

Ernest H. Urquhart, senior vice president and chief human

resources officer for CHW. “We need to address the needs in our

community before the crisis becomes much worse.” ■

—VGH

Ernest H. Urquhart, CHW senior vice president and chief human resources officer, David Jones ‘83, CHW vice pres-ident of employment and labor relations, Morehouse freshmen John Martin, DeQuan Malone, Chad Lott, SterlingJohnson, Daryl Fields, Robert Johnson, Jamal Z. Bankhead, Everett Dixon; Deanna Kenard, CHW vice president oflearning and organization development, and Cherie Kunold, CHW director of diversity and organization development

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE has been named the beneficiary of a

$825,000 bequest from the estate of Edward Roberts ’38. Bernice

Jobe, trustee of the Roberts estate, and members of the Roberts fam-

ily joined President Walter E. Massey ’58 and Phillip Howard ’87,

vice president for Institutional Advancement, in announcing plans

on May 13, 2006, to use the gift. The gift will establish the Edward J.

and Hermese Roberts College Archivist and Learning Resource

Center Endowed Directorship; enhance the existing Edward J. and

Hermese Roberts Endowed Scholarship Fund; and fund the naming

of a conference room in the Learning Resource Center in honor of

Roberts’ mother, Lula Coffman Roberts. ■

Edward J. Roberts ’38 Leaves College $825,000

SSuuppppoorrtt ffrroomm aa SSttrraannggeerr

Centenarian Names Morehouse in WillJULIUS PRICE WAS A SELF-EDUCATED MAN, reading

everything he could on finance and politics. But when he left

the cotton fields of small-town Georgia as a teenager to seek

greener pastures in the North,he had only a fourth-grade edu-

cation. It took him years of attending night school to earn an

eighth-grade certificate—the pinnacle ofhis formal education.

When Price,a retired GM worker,celebrated his 100th

birthday in May 2005,he asked that,in lieu ofgifts,all his well-

wishers send donations to Morehouse College. The College

received $355.It was a mere fraction of what was to come in

commemoration of this man’s strong support for a college he knew only by reputation.

Exactly six months later, Price passed away. With no children or close relatives,

he named Morehouse the major beneficiary of this trust—leaving, to date, $356,000

to the College, with more to come once the estate is finalized. Incredibly, C. Maude

Thompson,his goddaughter and caretaker toward the end of his life, is unsure if Price

ever once stepped foot on the campus.

So why Morehouse? As an avid news reader, Price was especially interested

in stories on African Americans, Thompson explained. Many of the successful

black men he read about over his century-long life were Morehouse men.

“He believed in Martin Luther King,” recalled Thompson. “And Mr. Price

thought the world of Rev. Otis Moss.”

Until the reading of the will, no one had any idea the unassuming couple (his

wife, Exonia, died in November 1999) had amassed such savings.

“I don’t think we ever knew how much the man was worth,” said Thompson.

“He was just an ordinary man in an ordinary house, driving a GM car. He and his

wife traveled, but they didn’t spend a lot of money on things.”

Other than a 2.5 or better grade point average stipulation, Price wanted no other

limitations on who could receive his scholarship. “There are no certain majors or

certain regions or other restriction,” said Thompson. ■

—VGH

Catholic Healthcare West Presents Scholarships to Eight Freshmen

President Walter E. Massey ’58 and Phillip Howard ’87 (far right), vice president forInstitutional Advancement, accept a check from the Edward J. Roberts ‘38 estate fromBernice Jobe, (second from right) executor of the estate, as Jobe’s sister, Zinnia McKinney,looks on.

Julius Price

orehouse can now boast of two Maroon Tigers in theNFL. Isaac Keys ’00 joined the Arizona Cardinals asa linebacker in 2004. Prior to the Cardinals, Keys’

NFL career included stints with the Minnesota Vikings andthe Green Bay Packers.

As a three-year starter at Morehouse, Keys led the Tigerswith 26 quarterback sacks during his final two seasons, and40 tackles in his final season. The St. Louis, Mo., nativereceived a degree in health and physical education. Keys

gives back to the communi-ty through the developmentof the Keys to the FutureFoundation, various foot-ball camps and the St. LouisNFL Homegrown AthletesWeekend.

John David Washington ’06signed as an undrafted freeagent with the St. Louis Rams .

Washington, whose father isAcademy Award-winning actorDenzel Washington, ended his

Morehouse career as the school’s single-game (242 yards), single-season (1,198 yards), and career (3,699 yards) leading rusher. The 5-10 200 pound running back earned all-Southern IntercollegiateAthletic Conference first-team honors in 2005 as the conference’sleading rusher. Washington also earned SIAC Offensive Player ofthe Week six times throughout his career and was namedNational Player of the Week by D2Football.com.

Washington graduated with a degree in sociology. He is cur-rently a member of the Rams’ practice squad. ■

Morehouse Alums Tackle the NFL By Shaneesa N. Ashford


onthefieldandcourt

Washington plays on the practice squad for the St. Louis Rams.John David Washington ’06

A L L - A R O U N D

MOREHOUSE SHARES SIAC ALL SPORTS AWARDWinning championships in two sportsand finishing strong in two others,Morehouse grabbed a share of the2005-06 SIAC Commissioner’s All-Sports Award.

Morehouse shares the topsports award with Albany StateUniversity. Each team tallied 31 pointsin the competition that covers allsports sponsored by the SouthernIntercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Morehouse claimed a share ofthe prestigious award by winningconference championships in crosscountry and track and field, finish-ing second in tennis and third in

baseball. The top-place finish is thefirst for Morehouse since 2001,when the College won the all-sportsaward in a landslide.

F O O T B A L L

FIVE MAROON TIGERS ON PRESEASON ALL-SIAC TEAMThree Maroon Tigers were named tothe All-SIAC first team and two to thesecond team, voted on by conferencefootball coaches and announced bySouthern Intercollegiate AthleticConference officials.

Offensive linemen Claiborne Greenand Bryant Ervin and cornerback JohnnyEubanks were named to the preseasonfirst team, based on their selection to the

2005 post-season All-SIAC team. Green, a 6-4, 330-pound sen-

ior from Watkinsville, Ga., and Ervin,a 6-1, 325-pound senior fromKeysville, Ga., anchored aMorehouse offensive line that fin-ished third in total offense in theSIAC in 2005. Eubanks, a 5-10,170-pound junior from Atlanta, wasone of the conference’s top defensive

cover men, earning national DefensivePlayer of the Week honors.

Defensive lineman CharlesPrescott and kick-returner and widereceiver Ravenell DuPree, who werenamed to the second team, receivedtheir first All-SIAC honors. Prescottis a 6-1, 280-pound junior fromWaynesboro, Ga.; DuPree is a 5-8,170-pound senior from Atlanta.

Isaac Keys ’00 plays on the practice squadfor the Arizona Cardinals.

Johnny EubanksClaiborne GreenBryant Ervin

M

Sports Roundup


T E N N I S

RAFEAEL SMITH RECEIVES ACADEMIC HONORSRaFeael Smith ’06 was named to the2006 SIAC All-Academic Tennis Teamby conference officials in April.

Smith, the team captain whousually played in the No. 1 singles posi-tion, graduated magna cum laude with

a degree in busi-ness administra-tion. It was thethird time he hadbeen named to thea l l - a c a d e m i cteam. He waselected to Phi BetaKappa, and wasnamed to the

National Honor Roll, NationalScholastic Collegiate Scholars and theInternational Golden Key Honor Society.

T R A C K A N D F I E L D

HILL NAMED SOUTH REGIONCOACH OF THE YEARMorehouse head track and field coachWillie H. Hill was named the SouthRegion Coach of the Year for the 2006outdoor season.

Cited for his achievements by theU.S. Track and Field and Cross CountryCoaches Association, Hill will receivean award at Emporia State University,site of the NCAA Division II OutdoorTrack & Field Championships.

Hill coached the Flying MaroonTigers to an eighth-place finish at theNCAA Division II indoor champi-onships, followed by winning the SIACchampionship by more than 40 points.Hill has led the Morehouse cross coun-try team to 12 consecutive SIAC titles.

The coaches’ association alsotabbed Morehouse freshmanDamian Prince as the NCAA SouthRegion Athlete of the Year. Prince,from Decatur, Ga., won the SIACtitle in the 400-meter intermediatehurdles and placed second in theopen 400.

MOFFATT CLAIMS ANOTHER TITLEIN MEN’S HIGH JUMP COMPETITIONMorehouse high jumper Keith Moffattwon the men’s high jump competitionat the 2006 North American, CentralAmerican and Caribbean (NACAC)Under-23 Track and FieldChampionships, held in SantoDomingo, Dominican Republic in July.

Moffatt cleared 7’- 5” to surpass hisnearest competitor by more than two inch-es. His victory helped Team USA dominate

the internationalcompetition at thePan AmericanStadium. TeamUSA took the toptwo positions in 12separate events.

Moffatt, a juniorphysical educa-tion major from

Newport News, Va., is the 2006NCAA Division II and three-time SIAChigh jump champion. The MaroonTigers finished 10th in the NCAADivision II outdoor track and fieldchampionships in May.

During the Division II champi-onships, Moffatt broke the champi-onship meet record and tied theDivision II national high jump record.The meet record of 7’-5” was set byMorehouse alumnus Greg Roberts in1997. Moffatt’s previous national titlecame in the 2005 Division II champi-onships in Boston. The high-flyingleaper is the three-time SIAC highjump champion and has never finishedlower than second place in any colle-giate high jump competition.

Four other Maroon Tigers gainedAll-America status during the DivisionII championships by finishing in the topeight in their events. Cameron Dayne,who graduated magna cum laude inMay, achieved his 12th and 13th All-America ranking with a sixth-place finishin the triple jump and an eighth -place fin-ish in the 200-meter. Randall Flimmonsfinished fourth in the long jump with hisseason best leap of 25’-4.” DamianPrince, of Decatur, Ga., gained seventh

place in the 400-meter hurdles.Dominic Smith, of Memphis, Tenn.,took third place in the triple jump witha distance of 50’-1.” He finished sec-ond in the decathlon at the SIAC cham-pionships in April.

G O L F

MOREHOUSE FOURTH INMINORITY TOURNAMENTMorehouse finished fourth in the20th PGA Minority Collegiate GolfChampionship held in May.

After the first day of competition,Morehouse was in second place andtrailed eventual winner FayettevilleState University by only 13 strokes.But when the final shots were fired,

the Maroon Tigers were 54 holes offthe pace, landing in fourth place in theseven-team Division II field.

Approximately 125 contest-ants from 28 colleges and uni-versities, representing 14 coun-tries, comprised the field for thethree-day golfing and scholar-ship event. The competitors weredivided into NCAA Division I andDivision II groups.

Senior Jordan Heath led theMaroon Tigers with a three-day scoreof 242. Heath shot a 74 in the firstround, which was good for third placeamong all Division II golfers at the endof day one. However, Heath finished inninth place overall with a 54-holescore of plus-26. ■

NOVEMBER 20064 Sat Georgia Tech Atlanta, GA (exhibition) 7:30 PM

The Thanksgiving Classic24 Fri Ga. College and State Univ. Columbus, GA 6:00 PM25 Sat Columbus St. University Columbus, GA 8:00 PM

DECEMBER 20062 Sat Stillman College* Tuscaloosa, AL 7:00 PM9 Sat Miles College* Fairfield, AL 7:30 PM11 Mon Albany State University* Atlanta, GA 7:30 PM27-30 Black College Hoops Classic Los Angeles, CA TBA27-30 Peach State Classic

JANUARY 20072 Tue Kentucky State University* Forbes Arena 7:30 PM6 Sat Benedict College* Columbia, SC 7:30 PM8 Mon Paine College* Augusta, GA 7:30 PM13 Sat Miles College* Forbes Arena 7:30 PM15 Mon LeMoyne Owen College* Forbes Arena 7:30 PM18 Thu Kentucky State University* Frankfurt, KY 7:30 PM20 Sat Lane College* Jackson, TN 7:30 PM23 Tue Paine College* Forbes Arena 7:30 PM25 Tue Stillman College* Forbes Arena 7:30 PM27 Sat Tuskegee University* Forbes Arena 7:30 PM

FEBRUARY 20071 Thu Clark Atlanta University* Atlanta, GA (A) 7:30 PM6 Tue Fort Valley State University* Forbes Arena 7:30 PM8 Thu Benedict College* Forbes Arena 7:30 PM13 Tue Fort Valley State University* Fort Valley, GA 7:30 PM15 Thu Albany State University* Albany, GA 7:30 PM17 Sat Clark Atlanta University* Forbes Arena 2:00 PM19 Mon Tuskegee University* Tuskegee, AL 7:30 PM21 Wed LeMoyne Owen College* Memphis, TN 7:30 PMMar 1-Mar 4 SIAC Tournament

Basketball Schedule

RaFeael Smith ’06

Keith Moffatt


ounder’s Day is a time to reflect on the contributionsand sacrifices of those who had the vision to build aninstitution that would stand the test of time. But thisyear, perhaps more than others, the four-day celebra-

tion also heralded the promise of the future.The success of The Campaign for a New Century was

announced four months before its official end in June. TheLeadership Center made its mark as one of the College’s mostimpressive venues for major College events with a donor receptionand open house.

Of course, traditional Founder’s Day events, such as theconcert and the ever-popular “A Candle in the Dark” Gala,drew alumni, faculty, staff, students and College supportersalike to the annual celebration that honors our past andembraces our future. ■

1. Honorary Degree recipients Catherine Reynolds and Alphonso Jackson, along withPresident Walter E. Massey, listen intently during the Founder’s Week Convocation.

2. Emma and Joe Adams, donors to Emma and Joe Adams Public Service Institute, housed inthe Leadership Center, share a moment with John E. Williams ’69, dean of the Division ofBusiness Administration and Economics, during the Leadership Center Major DonorsAppreciation and Open House.

3. Shirley Massey, first lady of Morehouse, joins students in the electric slide after the “ACandle in the Dark” Gala.

4. Members of the Morehouse Glee Club show off their theatrical skills during the GleeClub’s Spring Concert.

5. Award recipients join Morehouse Men and guests in the singing of the College’s alma materduring the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala.

6. Dianne Reeves, known for her song “Better Days,” performs during the Founder’s WeekConcert on Friday.

7. Brian K. Blount, professor of New Testament Interpretation at the Princeton TheologicalSeminary, speaks during Worship Service.

8. President Massey and Willie “Flash” Davis ’56 congratulate the Otis Moss, Jr. OratoricalContest winners: Kashif Powell ’07, first place; Travers Johnson ’08, second place;Christopher Thomas ’07, third place; Abdul Kamara ’06, fourth place; and Avery Hines’08 and Donté Murry ’08, honorable mention.

F

Founder’s Day 2006Commemorating History, Making History

1

2

3

4


6

5

8

7

Flash ForwardFlash

NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

HOPES TO BRING HIS LEGACY OF

ACCOMPLISHMENT, ADEPTNESS

AND AGILITY TO NEW ROLE

ttorney Willie J. Davis ’56, the newly elected

chairman of the Morehouse Board of

Trustees, is affectionately known as “Flash.”

He came by the name honestly enough as a track star;

but the striking, affable former athlete just might be a

real-life version of the comic character Flash

Gordon—an all-American athlete who becomes a

hero by displaying extraordinary courage. Whether he

was excelling in the classroom, shattering records on

the track, serving his nation in the military or amass-

ing a no-loss record in the courtroom, Davis’s list of

accomplishments pushes him over the line of mere

success to undisputed heroism.

While serving a two-year stint in the United States

Army, Davis, a Morehouse two-letter sports star who

had initially wanted to be an FBI agent, heard the call

to be an advocate. A fellow draftee asked Davis to rep-

resent him before a panel of three officers in a special

court martial.

That experience was the beginning of Davis’ illus-

trious career in the courtroom, which has culminated

in the building of a successful law firm, Davis,

Robinson & White L.L.P., in Boston.

“I found [the courtroom] to be interesting and

fun,” Davis said. “Being in the courtroom is like being

in sandlot football, I love the action in the courtroom.

I decided that I was better in the courtroom than

arresting people.”

Just as Flash Gordon used his athletic prowess and

courage to defeat the vicious tyrant Ming the Merciless

in the comic series, Davis uses his tools, which include

a political science degree from Morehouse and a law

degree from Boston’s New England School of Law, to

fight society’s evils. As an assistant attorney general for

Massachusetts, he prosecuted criminal cases and han-

dled post-conviction cases.

A Boston barrister known for winning, Davis was

successful in all but one case: Commonwealth v.

Donald Painten, in which the defendant argued that

he was a victim of illegal search and seizure. The case

led to his first appearance before the United States

Supreme Court, where he was second chair to Eliot

Richardson, then-attorney general for the state of

Massachusetts. (The Supreme Court ruled against the


By Rori Francis Blakeney

A

Commonwealth.)

Davis, became the first United States

magistrate judge appointed in Mass-

achusetts, serving from 1971 to 1976.

While on the bench, Davis wrote the opin-

ion that declared the death row unconsti-

tutional in Massachusetts. The opinion is

still the rule of law in the commonwealth

of Massachusetts.

Davis has constantly demonstrated

his commitment to justice—a commit-

ment he picked up under the tutelage

of Morehouse’s beloved President

Benjamin E. Mays and political science

professor Robert Brisbane, whom

Davis credits with teaching him how to

be firm and fair.

Davis, who never ran for political

office as a student, attributes his success

in the courtroom to his days at

Morehouse. He remembers being ap-

pointed chairman of the elections com-

mittee for Miss Maroon and White dur-

ing his junior year.

“It was my first venture in politics. I

learned coalition building, what politics

was about and what you should not do.

Morehouse gave me the tools [to be an

effective lawyer],” he said.

Morehouse also taught him the ideals

of brotherhood.

Longtime friend and classmate the

Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr. ’56, former chair of

Morehouse’s Board of Trustees, said:

“Davis is legendary because of his unbro-

ken commitment, dedication and engage-

ment with and for Morehouse College. I

think if you called him at midnight and

asked him to say something about

Morehouse College, he would be pre-

pared to give you an elegant speech recall-

ing some event, experience, personality or

a current event at Morehouse.”

It is a commitment that Davis has

demonstrated to the College as past pres-

ident of the National Alumni Association,

and regional vice president for Region IV

(which includes the New England states

down to Virginia). In 1978, Davis became

president of the Boston Chapter of the

National Alumni Association. He also has

answered the call to recruit students and

to financially support the College.

The College honored him with the

Bennie Trailblazer Award in 2003 and the

Presidential Award of Distinction in 1999.

Just a year earlier, he was inducted into the

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Hall of Fame because of his standout foot-

ball and track performance during his

Morehouse days. The Fort Valley native says

it is his most cherished award.

But those who know Davis are most

impressed with his passion for law.

“Flash was determined to make his

mark and live out the dream – service to

mankind,” said one of Davis’s former

roommates, Ted Sparks Sr. ’56. “He

always had the ability to rally folks and

influence people. You could not tell him

no when it came to Morehouse. He

bleeds maroon blood.”

Sparks would know about maroon

blood. In addition to rooming with Davis,

the two played football together. He

recalled how Davis held the record for the

longest run from line of scrimmage. As

fate would have it, Sparks, an SIAC referee,

was the one to make the official call when

Davis’s record was broken.

Sparks also remembers providing

Davis an early start into his interest in the

law because Davis often defended him

because of his antics around Atlanta and

at Morehouse.

As for his new role as chair of the

board of trustees, Davis said: “It feels like

I have embarked on an awesome journey

with an awesome responsibility. I am

prepared to help the College meet the

challenge of becoming the best liberal

arts college.”

As chairman of the board, Davis says

he is going to focus on the policy and gov-

ernance of the College. “I don’t want to

get involved in the day-to-day operations

of the College. The president is the CEO,”

he said. “His decision is not to be ques-

tioned. I am going to concern myself with

policy-making.”

Davis expects to spend his time mak-

ing sure the College’s finances are in

order, which will include keeping a close

eye on investments. He also wants to

make sure the curriculum stays relevant.

“I want to do what is necessary to

make sure our students get the best possi-

ble education,” he said. ■

“ inperson

”

I want to do what is

necessary to make sure

our students get the best

possible education.


feature

ore than 500 men joined the ranks of the Class of2006 during Morehouse College’s spring andsummer Commencement exercises. But thegraduates who marched in the spring com-

mencement had more than family, friends and the College ontheir sides – they also had the Weather Channel.

Never have more people prayed for sun. This year marked thefirst that Morehouse College divulged a “weather plan” for Springcommencement – an alternative plan in case of inclement weath-er. While practical, it was not the wish of the students, whoembraced the tradition of Commencement on Century Campus.

Enter the Weather Channel, with up-to-the-minute weatherreports to Morehouse through the Office of Communications.For days, the campus community awaited reports of whether theweather would hold up. If so, the graduates would join the thou-sands of Morehouse Men who have crossed the stage under thewatchful eye of the statue of Benjamin E. Mays, the College’s sixthpresident. If not, proceedings would move to Forbes Arena, withArcher Hall as the overflow area.

As it drizzled on Century Campus during the 122ndCommencement, the graduates happily donned plastic ponchosand smiling faces. But those ponchos disappeared as it came timeto cross the stage into a new future. A little rain was not about tokeep these Morehouse Men down.

Threshold of PromiseAs family and friends gathered to celebrate duringCommencement and Reunion Weekend, the 2006 baccalaureateservice set the tone. The Rev. Matthew Vaughn Johnson Sr., a 1983graduate of Morehouse, recalled stories of his time at the College,

and the respect the institution garnered.Johnson focused his sermon on the troubles of a biblical peo-

ple who had been granted a birthright to land, but had to strug-gle to settle it. He advised the students that while they haveachieved a milestone, they would need to be prepared for what liesahead.

“We’re on the threshold of promise, but we haven’t settled theland,” Johnson said. “Settling the land may be a whole lot harderthan getting to it.”

Indeed, many believe black men are not allowed or are notpursuing opportunities to live up to their potential. According toa March 20, 2006, New York Times article titled “Plight Deepensfor Black Men, Studies Warn,” statistics show that black men facecritical situations regarding employment and education.

Johnson noted that even with a leg up through education,there still may be tough times ahead. He said the class of 2006must set themselves apart and take ownership of who they are.

“Don’t let anyone convince you that you are no more than average,”Johnson said.“Those are not the kind of men Morehouse makes.”

Inspiration from a Morehouse MomThe 2006 Commencement speaker was aware that Morehouse hasa reputation for countering negative statistics on the future of blackmen. Indeed, it was eight years ago when Dr. Ruth Simmons, the18th president of Brown University, watched as her son, KhariSimmons, graduated from Morehouse with a degree in music. Thisyear, her nephew, Jeremy Brown, graduated with a degree in busi-ness administration.

And so, on Mothers’ Day,“Morehouse Mom” Simmons notedthe importance of the release of so many educated black men into



MHope Reigns

feature


the world. To the mothers and grandmoth-ers of these graduates, she said, it is the giftof a lifetime, and it must be celebrated.

“This is a serious moment,” Simmonssaid. “And to the extent that there areyoung boys in this audience watching, theyneed to see clearly what we value as a peo-ple – not style, but substance. Not show,but achievement. Not frivolity, but sacri-fice. Not imitation, but respect for our cul-tural legacy.”

Echoing Johnson’s message, Simmonsspoke on the importance of remainingtrue to yourself and your cause. In a recentsurvey on the issues facing African American men, conducted byThe Washington Post, Harvard University and the Henry J. KaiserFamily Foundation, more than 60 percent of black male respon-dents noted that they are considered to be less intelligent and havebeen treated with less respect than others. She admonished thegraduates not to allow anyone to take away their dignity or free-dom to be who they are.

“You are equal to any, but it’s important that your deedsdemonstrate that,” Simmons said. “You have been blessed with aneducation, and it is your duty to make that possible for others.

“Never let anyone take from you what is your inalienableright to dignity and your freedom to be who you are,” Simmonssaid. “No success is worth that.”

She also noted that in order to succeed at Morehouse, onemust be motivated. That motivation will sustain these graduatesas they overcome myriad obstacles, said Simmons.

“You do know that an education from Morehouse will give youthe edge to overcome those challenges,” she said.“You were motivat-ed to achieve, and so you have, and so you will for a lifetime to come.

“Morehouse Men are built to last.”

‘Continue to Believe’The Class of 2006 of Morehouse, 545 strong, is far from average.Rather, it is a group of men who can boast that nearly 50 percent ofthem graduated with honors, 47 members were inducted into PhiBeta Kappa; and two were selected as 2006-2007 Fulbright Scholars.

This, many say, is far from the norm. Consider that, in thePost survey, black male respondents consider HIV/AIDS, crime,racial discrimination, poverty, job status, drug and alcohol abuseand irresponsible parenting as large problems for AfricanAmerican males. Perhaps not surprising, lack of seriousnessregarding education received the largest percentage of responses.

Notes one expert in the New York Times article: “There’ssomething very different happening with young black men, andit’s something we can longer ignore.”

Morehouse, however, counters these statis-tics with a group of men who are poised to takeon the world, including:

Alan Clarke, the 2006 valedictorian, whomaintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average anddeferred Harvard Law School for a year to par-ticipate in the Asia Pacific Leadership Program;

Chaz Clark, the first recipient of the UNCFLiberty Scholarship after 9/11, who will begin hiscareer in the Internal Audit Division of PriceWaterhouse Cooper;

Donald Washington, who went from beinghomeless to graduating with honors, and is therecipient of the Compton Mentor Fellowship;

Chris Campbell, an honors graduate who began his own non-profit foundation, the Cardinal Mentoring Program; and CameronDayne, a student-athlete who won the 2006 Franklin L. ForbesMost Outstanding Athlete Award, and garnered seven selections asan NCAA Division II All-American in track and field, all whilegraduating with honors and being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

“We are the next generation of Morehouse Men that has bold-ly climbed the mountaintop of educational excellence that so fewblack men are able to ascend,” said Clarke in his valedictory address.

But these successes, said Clarke, did not come without strug-gle. And there are struggles to come. “Tomorrow, the mountaingrows higher. Tomorrow, the path grows more treacherous.”

To navigate that path, he said, his classmates must continue tobelieve in themselves and in what Morehouse has instilled.

“We must continue to believe—to believe in ourselves, tobelieve in the education that Morehouse has afforded us, tobelieve that we can extend a helping hand to our brothers and sis-ters across the world who may stumble or even fall,” Clarke said.“I challenge each of us … to believe unconditionally, not only inone’s success, but to believe in the success of the class of 2006.” ■

Summer Commencement speaker Shirley Franklin, mayor of Atlanta, told the class to

be prepared to take advantage of opportunities when they knock. Franklin’s “Next

Step...The Atlanta Promise” helps Atlanta Public Schools high school seniors prepare

for their futures. Last year, the program raised $1.1 million in scholarships.

“They need to see clearly whatwe value as people—not style,but substance. Not show, butachievement. Not frivolity, butsacrifice. Not imitation, butrespect for our cultural legacy.”

—Ruth J. Simmons, president of BrownUniversity, Commencement Speaker

Saved, Sealed, DeliveredLiterally hours before the gavel was to drop

at Sotheby’s Auction House in New York, a

10,000-piece collection of Martin Luther

King Jr. ’48 was saved in a deal sealed by a

group of Atlantans who wanted to see it

return to its rightful home. The Collection,

which was delivered to Morehouse

through an unprecedented act of partner-

ship, offers the College a unique opportu-

nity to bear witness to a remarkable time

in U.S. history as its proud steward.



t was 9:30 p.m. on June 23 whenthe call came in. After muchwheeling and dealing, the personalpapers of one of the greatest lead-

ers of the 20th century would have a newhome: Morehouse College.

Evidence of the importance of theMorehouse College Martin Luther KingJr. Collection can be found in the entitiesthat wanted it, and the entities that ulti-mately got it. Scheduled to be auctionedby Sotheby’s on June 30, the Collectionwas coveted by many institutions, including the SmithsonianInstitution in Washington, D.C., and Boston University, whereKing received his doctorate in systematic theology in 1955.

However, it was Mayor Shirley Franklin who, intent on keep-ing the collection in Atlanta, rallied several public and privateentities to produce funding to purchase the Collection. In a dealsealed at the proverbial 11th hour, the papers were saved from theauction block. Morehouse became owner of the 10,000-piece col-

lection. Since that day, the College prepared to house theCollection, deemed one of the most important in recent history.

From Average Man to Morehouse ManKing was one of many men in his family to attend Morehouse,including his grandfather, Adam Daniel Williams, class of 1898,father Martin Luther King Sr. ’30, brother A.D. Williams King ’60,son Martin Luther King III ’79, and son Dexter Scott King, whoattended 1979 to 1984.

At Morehouse, King was a normal student, graduating with a“C” average. He enjoyed singing, loved football and practicedchivalry at every turn. But perhaps what is more interesting is thatthe man who would come to be known as one of the greatest ora-tors of the 20th century entered many speech contests on campus,but never won.

Yet, said Lawrence Carter, dean of King Chapel, his educationand experiences at Morehouse provided King with the tools need-ed in other phases of his life.

“Those attempts at trying – he built on those and was quitesuccessful, because he was the class speaker when he graduatedfrom Crozier Theological Seminary,” Carter said. “So you get theimpression of how well he did after he left Morehouse—at Crozierand at Boston—that what he got at Morehouse was cumulative.”

During his time at Morehouse,King became exposed to various

philosophies on the human condi-tion through sociology courses withdepartment chair Walter Chivers andweekly chapel addresses by his men-tor, Benjamin E. Mays, the sixthpresident of Morehouse.

“We know there was a mind-set on the faculty at Morehouse

that was determined to produce a gen-eration of graduates who would become the still,

small whisper of the mighty wind that would blow down the wallsof segregation,” Carter said.

Through his education at Morehouse, King was exposed tothe teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Henry David Thoreau,whose “essay on Civil Disobedience” helped to shape King’s ideals.Carter said these ideals, as told through papers in the KingCollection, provide a blueprint for a modern America.

“King offered a more noble vision of what is possible that willaffirm the dignity of difference,demonstrate more diversity,maturity, more humanity, evenfor our oppressors,” he said.“What makes these papers andMartin Luther King Jr. so signif-

icant is that he provides us the case for a more peaceful way toconflict resolution between groups, between individuals, betweennations.”

The collection of significant papers arrived on Sept. 14 amidvery little fanfare. Representatives from Morehouse and Robert W.Woodruff watched as a delivery truck pulled up to the WoodruffLibrary and unloaded 71 boxes containing report cards,

feature

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Xernona Clayton, corporate consultant and executiveproducer for Turner Broadcasting’s Trumpet Awards, and former U.N. AmbassadorAndrew Young, are among viewers of the King Collection at Sotheby’s in New York.

(Left) President Walter E. Massey ‘58 announces the arrival of theMorehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection in the King Chapel.

I

MLK’s Papers Are Home


telegrams, sermon notes, even a briefcase – all of which wereunloaded and moved to the archiving area for processing. There,Brenda S. Banks, former deputy director of the GeorgiaDepartment of Archives and History and chief archivist for thepapers, cataloged the boxes, arranging them for effective sorting.

“This, of course, is a very significant collection of a person whoactually changed the way most of us see life, what we do, what weknow in terms of our education, our lifestyles as AfricanAmericans,” Banks said. “It gives me a great deal of joy to even beassociated with it.”

But what was actually in the boxes? Loretta Parham,Woodruff ’s CEO and library director, opened the first box, discov-ering a typed copy of King’s “The Montgomery Story,” the speechhe gave to more than 1,000 delegates at the 47th NAACP conven-tion in San Francisco in 1956.

And then, the group realized what scholars for years to comewill discover. This Collection, containing thousands of pieces ofpaper and books, offers insight into the thoughts of a man whowould later lead a revolution of non-violence andcommand the attention and respect of the world.

Presenting to the WorldTwenty-five days later, the Martin Luther KingJr. Collection was officially presented to theworld. During a press conference on Oct. 9,representatives from the College, theCity of Atlanta, Woodruff Library andthe King family were on hand to cele-brate the papers’ arrival.

President Walter E. Massey ’58 saidthe College was honored to serve as the homeof the papers of one of the College’s most outstandingalumni.

“It was here that he was introduced to the ideals that wouldform the basis of his philosophy of non-violent social change –ideals that provided the energy and the inspiration for the civilrights movement in the United States and for similar movementsfor social justice and equality around the world,” Massey said.“Because of the pivotal role Morehouse played in Dr. King’s devel-opment, we believe there is no better place in the world for hispapers to reside.”

Massey reiterated that Morehouse is committed to three valuesin regards to the College's ownership of the Collection: stewardshipand care of the papers; scholarly access for researchers; and partner-ships with the City of Atlanta, various organizations and the public.

Mayor Franklin, who began her comments by quoting the civilrights leader, thanked the major players in the deal, includingSunTrust, who agreed to provide the $32 million loan to purchasethe Collection, and the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta,who created the company that purchased the papers and will trans-fer the title to Morehouse after the loan is paid off.

Franklin also acknowledged the 51 donors to the acquistion ofthe Collection.

Andrew Young, who worked directly with King during the civil

rights movement, said that Morehouse was always considered thehome of the papers.

“This was truly one of Coretta’s initial visions – that the papersreside at Morehouse College,” Young said. “I think [Martin] knew,and she knew, what was happening at [each point] in history, andwe needed to preserve it. This is our history, not black history. It’shistory; it’s Atlanta’s history.”

Now the Work BeginsNow that the papers have arrived,Banks and the archivists at Woodruffhave a large task at hand. The standard procedures for processing the

Collection include receipt; accession; arrangement anddescription of the pieces; and re-housing of the

Collection into standard archival folders andboxes. The archivists also will oversee the repairand conservation of the items, and digitize or

copy each item to establish a long-term facsim-ile of the materials.

“To be involved in the care, preservationand provision of scholarly access to the manuscripts,

writings and books of the Morehouse College MartinLuther King Jr. Collection is of historical significance and

a privilege,” said Woodruff ’s Parham during the press con-ference. “The City of Atlanta and the world can rest assured

that this collection is in good hands.”While the Collection is processed, a national advisory commit-

tee, chaired by Lonnie Bunch, director of the SmithsonianInstitution’s Museum of African American History and Culture, willadvise the College on ways to provide scholarly access to the papers.To ensure that the community is able to view the papers and bene-fit from the experience of seeing King’s works, Morehouse will part-ner with various groups and organizations, including the AtlantaHistory Center, to sponsor educational events and exhibits. The firstexhibit is scheduled tat the Atlanta History Center in January 2007,around the civil rights icon’s birthday and national King holiday.

But, according to Phillip Howard, Morehouse’s vice presidentfor Institutional Advancement, the group who will truly benefitfrom the Collection is the students.

“[The Collection] allows us to provide another academic com-ponent to enhance courses and provide additional courses,” he said.“But it also gives a 3D view of who King was. You see King in awholly different way, and the students will be able to have that kindof dimension during a time of their discovery and inquiry.” ■

The Martin Luther King Jr.Collection logo is a flamemade of paper, directlyrelating to the Collectionitself. The symbolic essenceof the paper torch is toguide, to lead the way andto enlighten. The papertorch also alludes to “carry-ing the torch” and “ACandle in the Dark.”

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE

KINGCOLLECTION

Jr.Martin Luther


n Monday, Aug. 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina torethrough the Gulf Coast,ripping a path of destruction inher wake. Meteorologists initially confirmed that NewOrleans had narrowly missed the brunt of the storm.Then the levees, which were supposed to protect the

bowl-shaped city that is surrounded by water on three sides, broke, inun-dating the city with several feet of water and washing away thousands oflives,property and memories in what is being called the worst natural dis-aster in American history.

Six Morehouse alumni share their stories of survival, resourceful-ness, relocation, birth and death as they face life after the storm.

‘‘II wwoouullddnn’’tt lleeaavvee hhiimm aalloonnee’’Jamal Caliste ’98AS THE NATION WATCHED in horror the TV images of New Orleansresidents being plucked from murky water and rooftops,Jamal Caliste ’98was living out the nightmare.He and his father,Fred,spent three days onthe roof of their Gentilly home before being rescued by a Coast Guardchopper.Caliste had planned to evacuate before the storm,but his father,a 71-year-old heart patient who had endured the brutal aftermath ofHurricane Betsy as a child, refused to leave.

“I wouldn’t leave him alone,so I stayed,”says Caliste.First,high windand heavy rain knocked out electricity. But Caliste did not realize themagnitude of the impending danger until he was awakened by the sound

of a rock crashing through their kitchen window. Within hours, waterbegan seeping into the low-lying den area of their house and graduallyrose to Caliste’s waist.

“We started grabbing stuff, mostly my mother’s—[who happenedto be out of town for the weekend]—and trying to get it into the attic.”

All the while Caliste repeatedly called 9-1-1 for help. “They prom-ised to send rescuers,but they never came,”he says.Rescue choppers hadbegun dotting the sky like mosquitoes, but Caliste knew he would haveto figure out a way to get their attention. He climbed onto the roofthrough the same window that had been cracked earlier. Eventually,neighbors passing by in a boat helped him hoist his father into the attic.For days, Caliste alternated between the roof and the attic, always sure toshine a lantern at night. “The choppers would hover above the house,shine their light on me, and—I want to say they saw that I was black—and they would go the other way,”he says.

Father and son toughed it out on the roof with only a jug of water,vanilla wafers and a few sandwiches until the proverbial cavalry finallyarrived on Aug.31,which happened to be Caliste’s birthday.His dad hadgotten so dehydrated that he had begun to hallucinate.

“When the chopper came,this guy wearing camouflage came downa rope like G.I. Joe and told us to come quickly.” The rescuer would notallow them to take any personal items,so they were forced to leave behindeverything—their identification, wallets, cell phones and even medicine.

From there they were dropped off on an interstate and left to fight

the StormBy Chandra R. Thomas

O

AfterPhotos courtesy of Calvin Mackie ’90


their way through a throng of about 1,000 frustrated evacuees, all trying toedge their way onto buses headed to a temporary shelter.Caliste’s father hadto be treated at a makeshift medical tent after he fainted from severe dehy-dration and the blistering heat. They eventually made it to the HoustonAstrodome where Caliste was able to reach his mother,Cynthia,by telephone.

Caliste and his parents have settled into a suburban Houston apart-ment where they plan to remain indefinitely. Caliste, who had worked asan elementary school music teacher, is now in a management trainingprogram for a local retail chain. Along with assistance from FEMA andthe American Red Cross,Caliste says he was grateful to receive monetarydonations from some of his old Morehouse friends like Khari Simmons.

As for what he’s learned in his Katrina experience, Caliste is veryblunt:“I learned that when they tell you to get out of town because a hur-ricane is headed for the city, you probably should listen!”

‘‘PPiiccttuurreess,,mmeemmoorriieess,,eevveerryytthhiinngg –– eerraasseedd jjuusstt lliikkee tthhaatt’’Vance Vaucresson ’92IT WAS DIFFICULT ENOUGH LOSING his childhood home and thenew home that he and his family were just weeks away from moving into.But Katrina also claimed another casualty that was close to VanceVaucresson’s heart: his family’s business that had been in operation since1899. The New Orleans native had headed Vaucresson’s SausageCompany ever since his father, Robert “Sonny”Vaucresson, died in 1998.

Shortly after news of Katrina’s impending arrival spread,Vaucresson, a1992 graduate, and his wife, Julie—then six months pregnant—packed uptheir son Kyce, 5, his mother and mother-in-law and pointed their massive,seven-seat Chevy Trailblazer in the direction ofthe nearby town ofNew Iberia,La.The trip,which normally takes two hours,lasted nine,and their arrival at ahouse already jam-packed with 12 other family members was far from ideal.

“My wife and I and my little boy had to share the same room with all ofour stuff,”he recalls.“She was pregnant and uncomfortable,it was horrible.”

Two weeks after the storm,Vaucresson and his brother-in-law wentback to the city to survey the damage.The home that he and his wife wererebuilding after a fire had destroyed it the year before was ruined, and hismother’s Lake Vista home had been under eight feet of water for twoweeks. “I saw all of my family history – pictures, memories, everything –erased just like that. It was an overwhelming feeling, and I started crying.This was the house I had grown up in.Why did it have to go like this?”

The family’s business didn’t fare much better. It had been water-logged, destroying equipment, fixtures, refrigeration units, deliverytrucks – everything. Computer problems left him unable to access anymoney, and the cramped living conditions were tough. A friend inWashington, D.C., raised $15,000 for the family, and Vaucresson’s for-mer Morehouse Glee Club Director David Marrow also stepped in tohelp. “He got me another copy of my diploma and copies of my tran-scripts. They came so fast in the mail it made my head spin,”he says.

The Vaucressons welcomed a healthy baby girl,Hilary,in December.The family now lives in a three-bedroom mobile home in New Iberia;Vaucresson hopes they can rebuild one day. But right now, he is scram-bling to get the family business running again. He has closed a deal toprocess the family’s famous spicy sausages at another New Orleans areameat company.

“It was an extremely humbling experience,” he says.“We, as a peo-ple, learned humanity in its truest form.”

‘‘BBiigg ddiiffffeerreennccee bbeettwweeeenn ppoooorr aanndd rriicchh’’Cedric Richmond ’95AS A LOUISIANA STATE REPRESENTATIVE and chair of theLouisiana Black Caucus,Cedric Richmond ’95 pledged to work hard as a

public servant. His dedication was put to the test when Katrina struck.After an alarming conference call with the governor and other state lead-ers a few days before the storm hit, Richmond knew that it would be the“big one” that had always been predicted for his hometown.“I could tellby the sound in their voices that this was the one,” says Richmond, a per-sonal injury attorney.

He immediately got to work,packing important papers and raisingvaluables to higher ground at his Eastern New Orleans home and at thehome of his relatives. Then he made the rounds at nightclubs and socialgatherings, warning residents to leave the city immediately. The nextmorning, he and his Western Terrier, Tito, headed by car to the Atlantahome of his former Morehouse roommate,Devetus Jones.As televisionimages of Katrina and subsequent flooding splashed across the televi-sion screen, Richmond knew he had to get to work. The long ride to theOffice of Emergency Preparedness Center in Baton Rouge, La., was fullof challenges. Power outages forced him to drive in total darkness andgas shortages nearly left him stranded. However, that paled in compari-son to the compelling sights along the way, including some homes liter-ally blown into the street. “The worst part was seeing people and chil-dren stranded on bridges in 100-degree weather with no help in sight.”

Richmond worked side by side with fellow Caucus members fornearly two weeks, coordinating supplies, housing and rescue efforts.“It was a lot of long hours, but you didn’t think about it because therewas so much to do,” he says.

Two weeks later, Richmond returned to New Orleans and visited hishome that had been buried under water. He says his network ofMorehouse brothers leaned on each other during the ordeal for emotion-al support and the exchange of critical information.Although he now splitshis time between homes in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, he hopes torebuild in New Orleans.Katrina,he says,reinforced in him the importanceof family,but he also feels the nation learned a lot.

“I think Katrina showed how the government fails to care for the poorand highlighted the big difference between poor and rich in this country,”he says.“New Orleans is a mess, but I think it will be back . . . one day.”

‘‘II kknneeww tthhiiss ssuucckkeerr wwaass ggooiinngg ttoo bbee tthhee bbiigg oonnee!!’’Calvin Mackie ’90KATRINA TOOK A TOLL on the lives of her many victims, but nonegreater than those who lost loved ones in the mayhem that ensued. It’s areality that is all too true for Calvin Mackie ’90. Months after the storm,the Tulane University professor and motivational speaker lost his fatherand stepmother just days apart. Their deaths, which he feels was largelythe result of declining health and stress from Katrina, are just one chap-ter in the melodrama that ensued after he,his wife,Tracy,and sons Mylesand Mason evacuated to Natchez, Miss.

“I’m a mechanical engineer,” he notes, matter-of-factly. “I saythat to say that is why I packed everything — my tailored suits, pic-tures, important files, the CPU to the computer, the kids’ stuff. I knewthis sucker was going to be the big one!” Mackie also had the fore-thought to withdraw $5,000 in cash (some of which he distributed tofamily members) before leaving town.

As the news ofKatrina’s devastation spread,Mackie began to panic.Fora week he was unable to reach his father, who just before Katrina hit hadbeen diagnosed with lung cancer. The Mackies stayed put in Mississippiuntil November, when they returned to New Orleans full time. Mackieimmediately busied himself trying to set up his father’s critical medical treat-ment that had been delayed in the chaos following the storm.

His stepmother died March 22.His dad passed away just six days later.

“I think it was all just too much for them,”he says.“It was a lot to deal with.”Mackie has since been appointed to the Louisiana Recovery Authority, the agency

created to lead the state’s rebuilding efforts.The authority will focus on key state issues suchas housing, jobs, transportation, health care and education. Mackie also is featured in“When the Levees Broke,”a documentary by another Morehouse alumnus,Spike Lee ’79.

As the rebuilding efforts continue, Mackie says it is important for the leadersinvolved to focus on the most important issues.“This is not a question of whetheror not to rebuild, this is about what we as a country are going to do for all thesehomeowners and taxpaying citizens who lost so much. It’s what they deserve.”

“I’ll never forget seeing people driving up in Hummers and Escalades standing in thefood line at the church,”he says.“You could tell they never thought this could be them.”

‘‘TThheeyy hhaadd nnootthhiinngg’’Maurice Baudy ’95 THE SAYING GOES THAT HOME IS where the heart is. Thanks to Katrina, thesaying is much more than a cliché for Maurice Baudy. Although he and his wife,Devanaha, both New Orleans natives, had lived in metro Atlanta for several years,most of their family still lived in the Crescent City. Luckily, his parents and grand-parents had evacuated to relatives’ homes in Baton Rouge.

“That Monday morning I watched from my desk at work satellite images on theInternet of the hurricane pummeling my city,”remembers Baudy, a strategic sourcinganalyst for The Home Depot.“I was in disbelief,”he says.“I was literally watching it andcrying at my desk.” Baudy and his wife immediately jumped into action, sending outfrantic e-mails appealing to friends for assistance.“I felt that was my role — to get myfamily back to some level ofnormalcy as soon as possible,”he says.“They had no clothes,no hygiene products,nothing,things we take for granted — like a comb or a brush.”

Baudy’s plea was answered by many — including several of his fellowMorehouse buddies – who sent boxes of clothes, gift cards and money. “We werereceiving boxes of stuff from everywhere — St. Louis, Texas, Ohio — for months.”

His parents’home in eastern New Orleans was destroyed along with his grand-mother’s home in the Pontchartrain Park area. He also was moved by the firsthandaccounts of those who were caught in the storm — like his parents’ neighbor whowatched his wife drown.

Baudy’s parents and grandparents have decided to remain in Baton Rougefor now.As for Baudy, he says he learned a lot from the ordeal. “It taught me a lotabout the character of a lot of people. It also made me really see how many livesI’ve come in contact with in my life.”

‘‘IItt hhaass ttaauugghhtt uuss aallll tthhee vvaalluuee ooff ppaattiieennccee’’Ike Spears ’83IKE SPEARS NEVER DREAMED that he would live in Boston, but that is wherehe and his family ended up after Hurricane Katrina. Spears, who was born andraised in New Orleans, his wife, Sonja, and sons, Diallo and Omari, initially rodeout the storm in a Houston hotel. After nearly a week of taking in the devastatingnews about their city, the Spearses decided that it was time to head to his wife’shometown. Soon they had an apartment, and the kids were enrolled in school.

“Let’s just say my wife and kids adjusted much better than I did,”says Spears ofhis experience in Beantown. He and his wife also were faced with the challenges ofjuggling their careers and family between both cities. Spears, an attorney, and hiswife,a judge, took turns returning to New Orleans for business,always sure that oneof them remained in town with the children.

Spears says he continues to connect with his Morehouse College family since thestorm.“We have created a collective network, passing on information about FEMA,Red Cross, housing and insurance companies to each other.” Despite the many chal-lenges of living in post-Katrina New Orleans, the Spears have decided to return andrebuild their Uptown home that,during the storm,steeped in nearly four feet of water.

“I think we have a problem with leadership in the city right now that has madeit hard for a lot of people to return. But, in the end, I think it has taught us all thevalue of patience.” ■

When the Levees Broke AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SPIKE LEE ’79By Deon Embry, senior music major

Filmmaker Shelton “Spike” Lee ’79 tells of the heartbreaking, personal storiesof those who endured the harrowing ordeal of Hurrican Katrina in the HBO doc-umentary “When The Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.”

Lee and HBO screened the documentary at Morehouse in August.Before the screening, Lee gave an exclusive interview to theMorehouse student newspaper, The Maroon Tiger. Following areexcerpts from that interview.

DE: When did you realize you had to do some type of work regardingthe tragedy of Hurricane Katrina?Lee: [Last year], I was in Venice at the Venice film festival and Tanya mywife called me and said, “Turn on the TV.” I saw all these horrific imagesand like everyone else I wondered, “Where was the government?” Rightthen and there I decided that I would like to do a documentary on Katrina.I felt it would be a pivotal moment in American history.

DE: Upon arrival [in New Orleans], what were you expecting from thecity and its condition, and were you mentally prepared?Lee: I was mentally prepared, but even with that mental preparation …Isaw the newspapers, magazines, and television, but to see it with mynaked eye — the devastation, it was… I mean just the scale, to see it3D is something that television cannot begin to show. It was crazy!

DE: What was the most devastating thing about New Orleans?Lee: The people, because I’m a person always to put life above propertyand just to see the effect that it had on the people that are still there.

DE: How important was it to actually get people from New Orleans, espe-cially musicians such as Wynton Marsellis, Terrance Blanchard, etc.?Lee: New Orleans is a cultural mecca, the birthplace of jazz, so it’s very importantto have these excellent musicians who are from New Orleans be a part of this film.

DE: Why HBO instead of a NBC or ABC? Some viewers don’t have theluxury of the premium cable channels.Lee: I have working relations with HBO, which produced my other doc-umentaries. There is no way in the world [network] stations wouldhave given me four hours of time. I did not want to have Kim Polk talk-ing about how her five-year-old daughter drowned and then here’s acommercial for deodorant — it doesn’t work like that.

DE: What do you feel Morehouse has contributed to you that allows you tokeep being innovative and coming up with different ways to portray life?Lee: Morehouse provided the foundation for me. I am a third-genera-tion Morehouse man. My father, my grandfather and my mother’sgrandmother went to Spelman, so it’s natural.

After the screening of "When the Levees Broke," Spike Lee '79 addressed the freshmanclass during Spirit Night.


brothertobrother


MY INSTALLATION THIS YEAR as the senior pastor ofAtlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church provides apersonal lens and an existential window through whichto view again the broad moral landscape upon whichMorehouse College has left its indelible mark.Ebenezer Baptist Church – which provided the wombin which Martin Luther King Jr.’s nascent dream couldbe nurtured and later a home pulpit from which itcould be proclaimed – has had only five pastors. Threeof us (A.D. Williams, class of 1898 from then-AtlantaBaptist College, Martin Luther King Sr. ’30 and myself)have been Morehouse Men. Moreover, all three of itsco-pastors, including Martin Luther King Jr. ’48, hisbrother A.D. Williams King ’60 and the College’sbeloved former chairman of the board Otis Moss Jr.’56, have been beneficiaries of Morehouse’s mission toboth train the head and tune the heart.

In that spirit, A.D. Williams, one of the founders ofthe Atlanta Branch of the NAACP, fought for the right ofcolored children to have the very high school from whichhis grandson would later graduate; Martin Luther KingSr. (Daddy King) courageously led a voting rights cam-paign in the heart of the Old South of 1935; and each ofEbenezer’s Morehouse-trained co-pastors sought tocarry out this liberationist legacy in his own way.

Yet,none demonstrated Morehouse’s mission more effec-tively or embodied it more clearly than Martin Luther King Jr.Dr.King,whose papers have now rightfully return to his “DearOld Morehouse,”early on embraced a prophetic pedagogy thatsaw education’s aim as that ofapprehending truthand achievingtransformation. He insisted that the two must always be held intandem;it is a concern that he raised as a student in the College’snewspaper,The Maroon Tiger. He avers:

“We must remember that intelligence is not enough.Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.The complete education gives one not only power of concentra-tion, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate…If weare not careful, our colleges will produce a group of close-minded,unscientific illogical propagandists, consumed with immoral acts.Be careful, ‘brethren!’Be careful, teachers!” (emphasis mine)

But King’s mentor, President Benjamin Elijah Mays,expressed a similar concern. “I am disturbed,I am uneasy aboutman because we have no guarantee that when we train a man’smind,we will train his heart;no guarantee that when we increasea man’s knowledge,we will increase his goodness.”

Mays’ uneasiness and King’s caution to those engaged inthe enterprise of higher education to “be careful”are as relevanttoday as ever. Therefore,Morehouse’s procurement of many ofthe papers and personal musings of its most distinguishedalumnus could not have come at a better time. The acquisitionof the King Papers represents a very high moment inMorehouse’s continuing effort to inform and inspire futureleaders at a very low moment in the moral quality of ournational and international life together.

Our nation is engaged in an unnecessary andunjust war in Iraq. Conflict abounds in the MiddleEast. Mass media have marginalized and national gov-ernments have largely ignored the evil of genocide inthe Sudan. Moreover, four decades after King launchedhis Poor People’s Campaign to challenge LyndonJohnson’s abandonment of the War on Poverty, thepoor of Hurricane Katrina provide a glaring reminderof America’s unfinished business with poverty and theneed for a re-ordering of its priorities.

How desperately do we need a steady infusion ofKing’s ethical principles and moral courage woventhroughout the curriculum and culture of Morehouseand other places where young minds are shaped. Againstthe backdrop of our xenophobic proclivities and war-ring madness, I hear him say,“We are all tied in a single gar-ment of destiny. Caught up in an inescapable network ofmutuality. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirect-ly…Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

As an 18-year-old from the housing projects ofSavannah, Ga., I was blessed to attend Morehouse and tocome of age under the looming shadow of Dr. King’simposing statue. It is exciting to think that future genera-tions of young Morehouse Men will come of age in suchclose proximity to those charged with the stewardship of hiswords. Perhaps they, too, will rise up as mighty truth tellersin their own right, transforming some corner of our brokenworld. The Palestinian Jewish rabbi who inspired Kingmost put it best: “You will know the truth, and the truthwill make you free.” ■

By Raphael G. Warnock ‘91

Truth and Transformation

TThhee RReevv.. DDrr.. RRaapphhaaeell GG..WWaarrnnoocckk ’’9911 serves as seniorpastor of Atlanta’s EbenezerBaptist Church. He receivedhis Ph.D. in systematic theol-ogy this past spring from NewYork’s Union TheologicalSeminary.

Raphael G. Warnock '91 was installed as the senior pastor of EbenezerBaptist Church, becoming the fifth pastor in the 120-year history of thechurch where Martin Luther King Jr. '48 was ordained as a minister.

alumninews

Brothers,

As a new administration begins with the 2006-2007 fiscal year, I would like to thank all of thosealumni who accepted the challenge of leadershipnationally, regionally and locally. Additionally, thefinancial support of all our members is greatlyappreciated, and I ask you to continue your activeinvolvement.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank GeneralJames R. Hall ’57 for his solid and consistent leadership as president from2002 to 2006. Jim certainly demonstrated the ‘true Morehouse spirit’ throughhis dedication and hard work in supporting the mission of the Association inassisting the College in the achievement of its goals and objectives. I person-ally appreciate his guidance, counsel and friendship, and I look forward to hiscontinued support.

My vision for the Association is that of relevance to all stakeholders.By implementing programs and activities that are meaningful to alumniand significant to students, the Association continuously builds valuethat will ensure sustained viability. As we all know, our membership con-tinues to be far too low. With more than 12,000 graduates, the current 10percent rate of financial members must be increased. Working togetherwith innovative initiatives, we should expect to increase the active mem-bership level to at least 45 percent over the next two to three years. As wemove forward, you should expect to hear about and be asked to participatein programs designed to increase our membership levels. We can and mustsucceed in this effort.

Your Association is working diligently to improve its financial positionand provide support to the College and students. Our initial Career Fair inFebruary 2006 was a great success. We expect an even larger number of par-ticipants next year. Our insurance program sponsored by Liberty Mutual andcredit card program sponsored by MBNA continue to grow and are examplesof additional income opportunities that we will continue to explore with newcorporate partners.

We encourage all alumni to update your contact information with theAssociation. To assist you in paying dues and life memberships, theAssociation’s new website address is morehousecollegealumni.com.

The board, staff and I look forward to working with all of you to supportthe Association and Morehouse College!

Special thanks to all alumni who gave to The Campaign for a New Century. Yourcontribution helped ensure that the strong legacy of our alma mater will notonly continue, but be stronger. ■


A Letter from Phillip McCall Jr. ’69N A T I O N A L A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N P R E S I D E N T

Life Membership Challenge for theYear 2000 and The NewMillennium Classes 2001-05Did you graduate from Morehouse College?Do you own a Morehouse College license plate?Do you wear Morehouse College paraphernalia?Did you list Morehouse College on job applications?Does the name Morehouse College appear anywhere onyour resumé?Do you routinely use the name Morehouse College toadvance your personal or professional status?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then MorehouseCollege has in some way added value to your life. Invest inyour future; invest in your Alumni Association. Will you bethe next Life Member in your class?

Kevin R. McGee ’93President, Atlanta Metro Chapter

CLASS OF 2000Elite Thousandaire Club - $1,000Marcus K. Shaw - First Member of the Elite Clubin his classLindsay Edwards - Second Member of the EliteClub in his classDemetrius J. Ingram – Third Member of the EliteClub in his classLife Membership Club - $700James D. Whitney – First Life Member in his class

CLASS OF 2001Elite Thousandaire Club - $1,000Warner L. Pinchback - First Member of the EliteClub in his class Life Membership - $700Anthony S. Neal — First Life Member in his class

CLASS OF 2002Elite Thousandaire Club - $1,000Charles J. Willoughby Jr. – First Member of theElite Club in his classLLiiffee MMeemmbbeerrsshhiipp -- $$770000Brian (Shawn) Easler - First Life Member in hisclass

CLASS OF 2003 Elite Thousandaire Club - $1,000Who will be the first in the Class of 2003?Life Membership - $700Adriel A. Hilton - First Life Member in his class

CLASS OF 2004Who will be the first Elite or Life Member in thisclass?

CLASS OF 2005Who will be the first Elite or Life Member in thisclass?

alumninews


6s1sClasses In

Reunion1956

1951

19661961

1941 1946

1971

alumninews


1981

1991

20011996

1986

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William Bacon Charles “Pops” Brown Finley Campbell Peter Chatard Willie “Flash” Davis

Reginald Eaves Elliott Franks J. Leon Gilchrist Heager Hill Aaron Jackson

William Jackson James Johnson Leonard Lee Otis Moss Jr.

Lyndon Wade

Major Owens

Ted Sparks Paul Thompson

Reunion Weekend 2006GOLDEN TIGERS BREAKFAST

CLASS OF 1956

alumninews


Bakari Sellers ’05 is Youngest African AmericanElected to S.C. House of Representatives

BAKARI T. SELLERS ’05 has made South Carolinahistory by being the youngest African Americanelected to the state’s House of Representatives. Usingthe manta,“No Politics…Just Public Service,”Sellers,21, garnered close to 2,000 votes defeating 84-year-old incumbent Thomas Rhoads, who currently is theoldest member of the state’s House of Representativesand is concluding his 12th term in the House.Sellers, a second-year law student at the

University of South Carolina, will be sworn into the legislativebody in January 2007 and will serve until 2008. ■

Bakari Sellers ’05

Johnie M. Floyd ’50 Tells Life StoryJOHNIE M. FLOYD ’50 was featured on the frontpage of The Rome News Tribune in Rome, Ga.,during Black History Month. Floyd, the directoremeritus of Admissions at Central ConnecticutState University in New Britain, Conn., moved toRome in 2001.

The article profiled Floyd’s journey throughMorehouse, his active duty as an officer in the Army, his role in thecivil rights movement and his expansive career as an educator. In thearticle, Floyd emphasized the importance and vitality of black histo-ry, especially the role blacks played in the development of America.

In his native hometown of Bristol, Conn., Floyd was recently induct-ed into the Bristol Sports Hall of Fame for his contribution to sportsin the city as a player and coach. During his coaching years, he ralliedhis baseball, basketball, track and cross-country teams to many unde-feated seasons and championships, and was named “Coach of theYear” in cross-country. ■

Johnie M. Floyd ’50

Spike Lee ’79 Holds Benefit for Alma Materson Maiden Voyage of “Freedom of the Seas”

SPIKE LEE’S 40 Acres & A Mule Productions celebrated its 20-yearanniversary by hosting a benefit dinner party aboard the RoyalCaribbean’s “Freedom of the Seas” cruise ship. Proceeds from the partybenefited programs at Lee’s two alma maters: the Sports JournalismProgram at Morehouse and the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television,Graduate Division/Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

Martin Scorsese was the honorary chair, and NaomiCampbell, George Lucas and Chris Rock were among the hon-orary committee members.

The May 12 event was aboard the maiden voyage of “Freedomof the Seas,” the largest cruise ship in the world. Activities included asalute to 40 Acres & A Mule Production’s two decades of filmmaking,a five-course dinner, a concert featuring some of the biggest names inmusic, and a short cruise from the New York harbor to internationalwaters so that guests could play in the Casino Royale. ■

Spike Lee ’79 and Samuel L. Jackson ’72 at a benefit dinner party for Morehouse.

ROBERT R. JENNINGS ’72 HAS BEEN NAMED the 10th president ofAlabama A&M University.Prior to assuming his role as president,he served asexecutive vice president and chief operating officer of Future Focus 2020, anagency dedicated to engaging minority communities in a national discussionabout the future. The agency is housed in the Babcock Graduate School ofManagement at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem,N.C.

Jennings,who earned a bachelor’s degree insociology from Morehouse in 1972,received botha master’s degree in educational psychology and adoctorate in interrelated learning from AtlantaUniversity (now Clark Atlanta) in 1974 and 1979,respectively.In 1982,he also earned a doctorate ineducational administration and policy studiesfrom Atlanta University. In 1978, Jennings servedas a Fulbright-Hays Fellow assigned to theInstitute of Pernambuco in Recife,Brazil.

Jennings’ long career in education included serving as a professorat Atlanta University, Morris Brown College and the Union GraduateSchool in Cincinnati, Ohio. He also has served in top administrativepositions at Atlanta University, Norfolk State University, Albany StateUniversity and North Carolina A&T State University.

He has worked for several government agencies, includingthe Environmental Protection Agency and the Equal EmploymentOpportunity Commission, and he represented the U.S. Embassyand U.S. State Department as a consultant/trainer at theUniversity of Naimey in Niger, Africa.

Jennings, who has written several articles in magazines andjournals, is a sought-after consultant and speaker on grants admin-istration, education administration and supervision, and otherrelated areas. Throughout his career, he has provided expertise todozens of advisory and editorial boards and panels, and to numer-ous civic, community and other nonprofit organizations. ■

Robert R. Jennings ’72 Named President of Alabama A&M University

Robert R. Jennings ’72

Asa Yancey ’37, a notedAtlanta physician, was recentlyawarded the Red Hill Half-Century Prize by the Bell-Brazeal and Moore BrotherFund. This prize is presentedto the Morehouse alumnuswho distinguishes himself inmany areas.

Lerone Bennett Jr. ’49 wasrecently honored by theNational Association of BlackJournalists during its nationalconvention in Indianapolis.

Walter E. Massey ’58 wasrecently awarded the hon-orary doctorate of humaneletters from NorthwesternUniversity in Boston andColgate University in NewYork during their recent

commencement ceremonies.

David Satcher ’63 will bethe first person to hold theposition of endowed chairfor the Poussaint-Satcher-Cosby Chair in MentalHealth at the MorehouseSchool of Medicine. Theendowment was made possi-ble by a $3-million donationfrom Bill and Camille Cosby,the largest individual gift theschool has ever received.The chair is also named inhonor of Alvin Poussaint, aprominent child psychiatristat Harvard Medical School,and comedian Bill Cosby.

Marcellus C. Barksdale’65, professor of historyand director of the AfricanAmerican Studies Programat Morehouse, participatedin the Oxford Round Tableon “Diversity in Society” at

Oxford University inMarch. Barksdale’s paperwas titled “The Black Imagein the Black Mind asRevealed in Attitudestoward Mayors of Atlanta,1973-2006.” Barksdale alsohas assumed the role ofpresident of the SouthernConference on African-American Studies, Inc.

Carey Wynn II ’70, a histo-rian and theologian,recently displayed “TheAmistad” series, the firstAfrican American art exhi-bition in the ArkansasSupreme Court.

Keith H. Jackson ’75recently was named vicepresident for research atFlorida A&M University(FAMU). In this role, he isresponsible for developingFAMU’s research communi-ty, as well as overseeing theUniversity’s grant-manage-ment process.

Rodney L. Howard Sr. ’76was recently selected “Teacherof the Year” for the 2005-06academic year at the PaulLaurence Dunbar ElementarySchool in Atlanta. The first-

grade teacher has taught inthe Atlanta school system for28 years.

Keith A. Troy ’76 was recent-ly named president of LottCarey Foreign Mission, one ofthe oldest and most prestigiousmissions organizations in theworld, during its 109th annualconvention held in Richmond,Va. Troy also serves as pastor ofNew Salem Missionary BaptistChurch in Columbus, Ohio.

Oscar Sistrunk ’78 recentlyappeared on NBC’s “Deal or NoDeal.” Sistrunk, who teachesentrepreneurship and heads theEntrepreneurial Center atMorehouse, was a contestant onthe game show episode that wastaped on May 1.He also was inter-viewed by Entertainment Tonight.

Emmett Carson ’81 hasbeen named the first presidentand CEO of the Silicon ValleyCommunity Foundation, whichwas created from the merger ofthe Peninsula CommunityFoundation and the CommunityFoundation Silicon Valley, two ofthe Bay Area’s largest founda-tions. Carson previously servedas the president and CEO of theMinneapolis Foundation.

Ernest A. Swain ’38 was recently honored by the University of North CarolinaWilmington with the establishment of the Ernest A. Swain Merit Scholarship,which was initiated by the Omicron Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.The scholarship honors the educator, his profession and his service to the NewHanover County community.

classnotes

1930s

1940s

1960s

1970s

Keith H. Jackson ‘75

Keith A. Troy ‘76

1950s


1980s

AS UNDERCLASSMEN, Willis Walker III ‘95 and Morgan Tucker ‘95 shareda love for Morehouse and very little else.

“We’d see each other at Piedmont Park and rollerblade together, but we weren’treally tight friends,” recalls Walker, a former English major from Little Rock, Ark.

Little did they know that nearly a decade after they graduated in 1995,they, along with their wives, would eventually become co-owners of a thriv-ing business in the heart of the district named for a fellow Morehouse broth-er, Martin Luther King Jr. ’48.

The couples co-own and operate Javaology, a cozy coffeehouse locatedat the corner of Edgewood and Boulevard near downtown Atlanta’s KingHistoric District. Javaology offers light fare, spirits, wireless Internet accessand a spacious upstairs loft that keeps customers loyal. The business is awelcome hangout for coffee connoisseurs in search of a java fix, as well asfor nearby intown loft dwellers who live in this ever-developing neighborhood.

Businesses like Javaology are giving the community a much needed joltafter decades of crime and neglect in the Sweet Auburn district. A spate ofnew developments is planned for the historic neighborhood that was once thecommercial and cultural heart of Atlanta’s black community.

Willis, who spent several years working in the restaurant industry atAtlanta’s airport, vividly recalls the day in April 2004 when he called Tucker,who then worked for the government in Washington, D.C., to pitch his brainedidea of opening their own branch of the Florida-based franchise.

“He was the only person I knew who seemed crazy enough to do it,” saysWillis, laughing.

Adds Tucker, who has a master’s degree in information technology: “Ittook me about five and a half minutes to decide. I knew in my heart I want-ed to do this.” He and his wife immediately relocated to Atlanta, and the newbusiness partners jump-started their endeavor by each selling some rental

property to get the more than $200,000 needed to transform a century-oldbrick building into their dream.

Since Javaology officially opened its doors in the fall of 2004, a steadystream of customers, many current and former Morehouse students, alongwith others from the extended Atlanta University Center family, have kept thebusiness going.

“At just about any given time it seems like someone from Morehouse orthe AUC is in here,” says Tucker. “Early on, Dr. [Walter] Massey sent over acommendation for our efforts helping to revitalize the King District. His wifehas even come through and brought people. Everyone has been so supportive.”

Although business ownership comes with its share of challenges,including occasional disagreements, both men concur that lessons learned atMorehouse have been instrumental in their success.

“If anything, Morehouse taught me that you always have to be on topof your game,” says Willis.

Tucker agrees. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without the lead-ership and experience we learned at Morehouse” he says.

—Chandra R. Thomas

Brewing Up Business in Historic King DistrictWillis Walker III ‘95 and Morgan Tucker ‘95

(From left) Owners Willis W. Walker ‘95 and Sonya D. Walker, with their son

Willis W. Walker IV, and Morgan S. Tucker ‘95 and Jennifer W. Tucker

classnotes


Gordon D.Greenwood ’85 wasrecently elevated to the status ofpartner of the law firm Kazan,McClain,Abrams, Fernandez,Lyons, Farrise & Greenwood inOakland, Calif. The firm repre-sents plaintiffs in product liabilityand toxic tort litigation involvingexposure to asbestos, benzene, lead,beryllium and other environmen-tal contaminants. Prior to joining

the firm, Greenwood served as sen-ior trial attorney at the SanFrancisco Public Defender’s Office.

John Lewis Jr. ’87 has beennamed senior managing coun-sel - litigation for The Coca-Cola Company in its global legalcenter in Atlanta. In his newrole, Lewis manages the attor-neys and staff responsible for liti-gation and disputes throughout

the 200-plus countries around theworld where the company doesbusiness. Prior to joining Coca-Cola as litigation counsel in 2002,Lewis was a commercial litigatorin private practice who special-ized in bankruptcy, creditorsrights and other related matters.

Christopher Cowan ’87recentlyreceived the Vice Chancellor’sAchievement Award from the

University of the West Indies at itsninth annual gala in New York.Theaward honors individuals ofCaribbean heritage who are rising starswithin U.S.organizations.Cowanworks for the Overseas PrivateInvestment Corporation,where heexecutes infrastructure and otherproject financings in the emergingmarkets of Africa,Asia,LatinAmerica and Eastern Europe.

ProfilesinLeadership

Bernee Dunson ’87 hasassumed the presidency ofthe Southern District of theAmerican Academy ofImplant Dentists (AAID).The AAID is the oldest pro-fessional organization in theworld dedicated to implantdentistry and educationregarding dental implants.

Monte Harris ’88, co-founder of Cultura MedicalSpa in Washington, D.C.,was recently featured in aTV One documentary,“Black Don’t Crack: TheCosmetic Surgery Debate.”The documentary offered ahistorical perspective onnegative attitudes towardAfrican American beautyand how these attitudesaffected blacks’ self image.

Gregory T. Burrell ’90,president and CEO of TerryFuneral Home, Inc., inPhiladelphia, was recentlyelected corporate secretary ofthe six-person executivecommittee for the NationalFuneral Directors andMorticians Association, Inc.

Calvin Mackie ’90, a NewOrleans native and survivor ofHurricane Katrina, wasappointed a member of theLouisiana’s Recovery Authority,the guiding agency designatedto lead the state’s rebuildingefforts following HurricanesKatrina and Rita. He also repre-sented New Orleans at the U.S.National Day celebration.

Jimmie L. Davis Jr. ’92,senior software systems engi-neer with the MITRECorporation, was recently

appointed by Florida Gov. JebBush to a three-year term onthe board of directors forSpace Florida. The SpaceFlorida Board providesstatewide leadership andadvocacy for space-relatedissues, and actively works tostrengthen the state’s existingleadership in civil and mili-tary aerospace activity.

Otis Bakari Moss III ’92will join the staff at TrinityUnited Church of Christ inChicago as pastor under theRev. Jeremiah Wright. Healso has applied for thedoctoral ministry programat the Chicago TheologicalSeminary.

Seith Mann ’95 recentlydirected an episode of ABC’sGrey’s Anatomy. Mann is agraduate of NYU’s TischFilm School. For the lastyear, he has been working asa directorial fellow at ABC.He was listed as one ofFilmmaker magazine’s “25Filmmakers to Watch.”

Nicholas Bassey ’97joined the staff of theCouncil for Opportunity inEducation as assistant vicepresident for programdevelopment. The Council,a nonprofit organizationestablished in 1981, worksin conjunction with col-leges, universities and agen-cies that host federal TRIOprograms to specificallyhelp low-income Americansenter college and graduate.

Dewon M. Chaney ’98,Gyasi C. Chisley ’98, MichaelJ. Hervey II M.D. ’98 andWilliam Sellers IV ’98 werecollectively named finalists in


classnotes

1990s

ProfilesinLeadership

SURE HE HAS RECEIVED tons of acco-lades for his involvement in theMorehouse Glee Club, forensics anddebate teams, musical theater productionsand community television shows. But onespecial memory of his days at Morehouseis forever etched in Patrick Riley’s mind.

“Just before I graduated, I wasselected to represent Morehouse duringthe CBS network special ‘Kennedy Center Honors.’ I had the opportunity towork with CNN’s Bernard Shaw. That was such an honor. I remember itlike it was literally yesterday.”

That experience, it seems, was merely foreshadowing Riley’s suc-cessful career in the news/entertainment business. After graduating cumlaude with a degree in broadcast journalism (he was one of the last fewstudents who took part in the now-defunct program that allowed students,including filmmaker Spike Lee ‘79, to cross-register into Clark AtlantaUniversity’s mass communications program), Riley hit the ground running—landing a job as an associate producer on Fox 5’s “Good Day Atlanta”morning show.

“Morehouse was very instrumental in preparing me for a life in jour-nalism and show business,” says Riley, who is now based outside of NewYork City in Ridgefield Park, N.J. “It instilled in me the importance of excel-lence and hard work.”

As an independent producer and writer for eight years, Riley’s clientshave included NBC, BET, I-StyleTV.com, Crosswalks TV, Levi’s and HBO. Themultimedia journalist, whose specialty is entertainment and pop culture, hasinterviewed and produced stories on a number of high-profile celebrities,including Diana Ross, President Bill Clinton, Beyoncé Knowles, Mary TylerMoore and Quincy Jones.

Riley also has received a number of industry nods for his work, includ-ing awards from the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and theAtlanta Association of Media Women. Current credits include a host slot onthe TLC network’s “Pros and Cons: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” and,through his talent agency ICM, on-camera work with shows like ESPN-2’s“Cold Pizza” and “tvQ,” a pilot he co-hosted for Hurricane Productions. Healso moonlights as a singer and serves as chairman of the NationalAssociation of Black Journalists’ Arts and Entertainment Task Force.

He is currently writing his first book, a collection of narratives called“Big Willies and Amazing Graces: Gay Men and Their Best Girlfriends.”

Nowadays, Riley is especially proud to pass the Morehouse torch tohis nephew, Henry Lee Riley III, who enrolled in the school this past fall. “Iam so excited to watch another Morehouse man in the making.”

— Chandra R. Thomas

Multitalented in MultimediaPatrick Riley ‘91

the 2005 Miller UrbanEntrepreneurs Series andBusiness Plan Competition inChicago. The team’s businessplan was chosen over 150 planssubmitted from participants inseveral states. The winners willreceive a cash award to helpfinance their proposed business.

Bryce Hairston Kennard ’01was recently honored as one ofHouston Style magazine’s 2005“Thirty Under 30” honorees.The “Thirty Under 30” awardrecognizes professionals, ages18-29, for their community con-tributions, personal accomplish-ments and educational pursuits.Kennard was honored for hiswork in the City of Houston, theHouston Area Urban League, theAmerican Red Cross and theHouston Museum of Fine Arts.

Cedric Dark ’01 recently gradu-ated from the New York UniversitySchool of Medicine.Last year,hereceived a master’s of public healthfrom Columbia University. Heplans to intern at WashingtonHospital Center through 2007and George WashingtonUniversity EmergencyMedicine through 2008.

MarriagesCharlie R. Dean Jr. ’82 marriedNadajalah Bursey Dean inFrisco, Texas, on April 28, 2005.Dean is senior vice presidentand regional credit executivefor First Horizon NationalCorporation in Frisco, and hiswife is director for executiverecruiting for Tenet Healthcarein Dallas.


classnotes

2000s

Melvin Hampton Watson Sr. ’30Chaired Department of Philosophyand Religion for 30 Years

Melvin H. Watson Sr. ’30, who for30 years was the chair of theDepartment of Philosophy andReligion at Morehouse, died onJune 19. He was 98.

Watson graduated from Morehousein 1930 with a degree in religion andphilosophy. His ties to the Collegeremained close throughout his life, hav-ing been named professor emeritus of

the philosophy and religion department in 1979. He remained anactive member of the Morehouse School of Religion’s board ofdirectors well into his retirement. In 1998, in recognition of his life-time of service to the College, Watson was awarded an honorarydoctorate of divinity, as well as a distinguished alumnus award.

Watson attended Oberlin College and its School ofTheology, where he received a bachelor’s and two master’sdegrees. He also attended the Pacific School of Religion inBerkeley, Calif., where he received the doctorate in theology.

His long career in education also included positions as adean and religion professor at Shaw, Dillard and Howard uni-versities. In 1946, he returned to Morehouse, and two yearslater helped found the Interdenominational Theological Center,where he served as a professor for 10 years.

Watson’s wider service to the Atlanta community wasthrough his ministry as pastor of Liberty Baptist Church from1958 to 1990.

CLARENCE LITTLEJOHN ’49, died on April 26, in Corona,Calif. He served the Los Angeles community for more than50 years as a pediatrician, civil rights activist, universityinstructor and entrepreneur.

ODELL HORTON ’51, the first black federal judge inTennessee since Reconstruction, died of respiratory failure ata Memphis retirement home on Dec. 13, 2005. A Bolivarnative, Horton became a U.S. district judge in the WesternDistrict of Tennessee after being nominated by PresidentJimmy Carter in 1980 and then confirmed by the U.S.Senate. From 1970 to 1974, he also served as president ofLeMoyne-Owen College.

CALVIN CALHOUN ’48 died on Dec. 23, 2005, at his homein Nashville. He was a retired chair of neurology at MeharryMedical College. At the time of his death, Calhoun was volun-teering his service to the 100 Black Men of Tennessee, theBoard of Trustees of Meharry Medical College, Nashville MetroHospital and the HIV/AIDS Minority Community Core Councilof the state health department. He was a consistent supporterof Morehouse College, having established the Evelyn andCalvin Calhoun Endowed Emergency Student Loan Fund.

A. ROMEO HORTON ’50 died on Dec. 13, 2005, after alengthy illness. Horton received a degree in economics and wasa second generation graduate of Morehouse. His father wasone of the early international students at the College. Hortonwas the founder and first president of the Bank of Liberia andwas the first minister of Commerce Industry and Transportationduring the administration of Liberian President W.V.S. Tubman.

E. BRUCE PHILLIPS ’52 died on Dec. 9, 2005, after a briefillness. A noted dentist in Southwest Atlanta, Phillips servedthe community for nearly 50 years. He was a dedicatedmember of Eta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi AlphaFraternity, Inc., and the National Dental Association.

MACHION GARRISON ’54 died on Dec. 21, 2005, after abrief illness. Garrison was an avid fan and supporter of theMorehouse athletic department, a member of theTorchbearers and a lifetime member of the MorehouseNational Alumni Association. He was retired from Sears ascommunity affairs director for Metro Atlanta and was thesecond African-American criminal investigator for the FultonCounty (Ga.) Superior Court.

TOUSSAINT HALE ’55 died on Dec. 20, 2005, in Chicago.Hale was a retired officer of Bank One, a life trustee ofConstitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago, vice chair of theIllinois Community College Board and past chair of itsSystem Funding Task Force.

OSCAR E. “SKEETS” STROTHERS ’55, former chief lawlibrarian at the U.S. Department of Energy, died of heart dis-ease on Nov. 19, 2005, in Washington, D.C. He spent hisentire career as a law librarian for the federal governmentworking for the Department of Commerce, the CivilAeronautics Board, the Department of Transportation, and,finally, the Energy Department.

FREDERICK BOYD WILLIAMS ’59 was memorialized onApril 10, 2006, in New York City. His ashes will be interredin his hometown of Chattanooga, Tenn. He was the ninthvicar and 14th rector of the Episcopal Church of theIntercession in Harlem, N.Y., where he served from 1972until June 2005.

PARNELL CEPHUS ’64, a former member of the MorehouseCollege Glee Club, died in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 23,2005, after a lengthy illness. At the time of his death,Cephus was employed for Jefferson State Community Collegein Birmingham.

MICHAEL HART ’68 died of an apparent heart attack whileon business in Los Angeles. He was formally the secretary ofthe National Alumni Association and was the current presidentof the Torchbearers (Morehouse’s athletic support organization).

ROBERT M. TAYLOR ’70, assistant U.S. attorney, died on May30 after a brief illness. Taylor was a member of the WashingtonState Bar Association and served on the staff of several UnitedStates attorneys for the Western District of Washington.

WADE S. BAKER ’79 was funeralized in Jamesburg, N.J.,on Dec. 12, 2005.

JAMES “JIMMY” CALLOWAY WASHINGTON ’52 died onJan. 5.

FRANK E. DRUMWRIGHT JR. ’79 died on March 22 inBaltimore after a lengthy illness.

VIRGIL JOHN MAUPIN ’97 died from injuries received inan automobile accident on April 13, in Nashville, Tenn. Atthe time of his death, Maupin was employed by AsurionInsurance Services Inc. of Nashville. While a student atMorehouse, he was actively involved as a member of theMorehouse College Pre-Alumni Association. He was the sonof Meharry Medical College President John E. Maupin.

LOUIS MARION SMITH SR. ’40 died on Sunday, May 28.

Passages

“

”

hen I graduated fromMorehouse in 1958, mygoal was to become a scien-tist, a physicist. And I spentthe greater part of my

career doing just that – teaching and con-ducting research in physics – first for about10 years at Brown University, then at theUniversity of Chicago. After I left the class-room, I was always involved in positionsdirectly related to science and technology orresearch — as director of the ArgonneNational Laboratory, and then as director ofthe National Science Foundation. Even asprovost at the University of California, I wasresponsible for their three national researchlaboratories. That had been my life, and I wasvery happy and very satisfied with the careerpath I had chosen.

So, in 1995, when I received a call frommembers of the Morehouse Board of Trusteesasking me whether I would be interested inbeing considered for the position of presidentof the College, I really had to give it somethought. My first thought was aboutMorehouse. Of course, I knew of the College’soutstanding reputation. I had no doubtsabout that. After all, as an alumnus, I am aproduct of this institution’s commitment tohigh academic standards and the cultivationof character in its students. I recognized that I

would not have been able to enjoy the suc-cessful career I had had up to that point with-out the preparation I received at Morehouse.

As an educator, I also recognizedMorehouse’s importance in the pantheon ofhigher education. Simply stated: Morehouse isunique. These days, the word unique is oftenoverused and misused. To describe a thing asunique is to literally say that there is nothingelse like it, and Morehouse is exactly that –unique. It is the only college in the nationwhose primary mission is the education anddevelopment of the African American male,and other males who want this experience.Therefore, it is almost impossible to compareMorehouse with other institutions.

My second thought was about the presi-dency itself – about the awesome responsibil-ity the president of Morehouse wouldassume in securing and ensuring the futureof this special place. Frankly, it was notimmediately clear to me that I was the best ormost suitable candidate to fill those shoes.Fortunately, something my younger son saidhelped me put my concerns into perspective.

He said,“Dad, in your position as provostof the University of California, and even if youbecame president of the University ofCalifornia (a position for which I was beingconsidered), there are many people who coulddo that job. But there are not many people


During my

tenure, I have

worked to ensure

that, above all, we

are servants to

Morehouse’s

special mission

and unique role in

the education of

African-American

men.

by Walter E. Massey ‘58

W

THE Physicist WHO WOULD BE PresidentTHE Physicist WHO WOULD BE President

who have your connections and your rela-tionship with Morehouse who could bepresident there.”

The more I thought about it, and themore I discussed it with friends and fam-ily, the more it became clear to me that Ihad an opportunity to fill one of the mostimportant positions at one of the mostimportant institutions of higher educa-tion in America. So, I interviewed for thejob. And when chairman Otis Moss andthen vice-chairman Willie Davis offeredme the position of president, I said Iwould be honored to accept.

In the end, my decision to accept theoffer came down to my conviction thatMorehouse was the right place, that thepresidency was the right job, and that Iwas the right person – the right leader atthe right time – for Morehouse College….

I assumed the presidency of my almamater 11 years ago, I set out, first, todefine reality, and I defined that reality interms of my vision for the College. I saidthat Morehouse would be among thevery finest, private, undergraduate liberalarts colleges in the nation – period. I alsosaid that the universe of institutionsagainst which we measure our progressand standards must encompass all of thefinest colleges and universities – not justthose with origins similar to our own.And, I said that all the while, we will con-tinue to be an institution that focuses onthe development of leaders, and the col-lege of choice for African American men.

I know that, initially, a few people (wellmaybe more than a few), thought myvision was too lofty, that that goal would beimpossible to reach. But it was a very realvision to me. As I said earlier, I knew aboutMorehouse – its unique role in higher edu-cation, its outstanding reputation, and theimpact it had had on me, personally.

Once I arrived at Morehouse, one ofthe things that inspired and encouragedme most in creating and standing behindmy vision for the College is somethingRev. Moss said, which I shared in my first

Opening Convocation speech. He haddescribed Morehouse as an “UnfinishedCathedral of Excellence.” So, in my speech,I drew a parallel between Morehouse andhistory’s great cathedrals, which requiredhundreds of years to build. I pointed outthat some cathedrals are still not finished,and that they require constant work,undergirding and enhancement. Yet, theyare always in use – integral to the develop-ment of those who carry on the construc-tion, those who strive toward some distantpoint in the future – because perfection isnever truly achieved.

So, armed with my definition of reali-ty – my vision of excellence for Morehouse– I reached out and enlisted members ofthis community to help me shape andrefine that vision. I talked with trustees,faculty, staff, students, alumni, supportersand parents – anyone who would listen.And I listened to them – to their visionsand their dreams. What I learned was thatwhat I saw for Morehouse, others saw,too. Pretty soon, my vision forMorehouse became our shared vision forMorehouse. Then, we set about doing thehard work to make that vision a reality….

As president of Morehouse, I cer-tainly am proud of our many accom-plishments. But I know – and I believeyou know, too – that all of these accom-plishments – all of the scholarship funds

we raised, all the faculty research wefunded, all the flowers and trees we plant-ed – are not ends of themselves, butrather means to the end of servingMorehouse’s mission. During my tenure,I have worked to ensure that, above all,we are servants to Morehouse’s specialmission and unique role in the educationof African American men…

In addition to Max De Pree, anotherperson I admire is Robert Galvin, thelong time chairman and CEO ofMotorola Inc. He often said, “The job of aleader is to spread hope.”

I have interpreted that phrase thathope is like a fertilizer. Hope allowsnew ideas to grow and flourish. It nur-tures and reinvigorates old ideas thatstill have value, and it encourages theplantings of new seeds that will generatethe next crop of innovations. As presi-dent of Morehouse, I hope that I havebeen able to spread hope. ■

TheRoadTaken

If so, we want to hear about it.

Send to: [email protected]

Taking the Road Less Traveled?

N

S

EW

Taking the Road Less Traveled?


President Massey ’58 receives standing ovation at the2006 Opening Convocation after announcing his retire-ment planned for June 2007.


ALBANY CHAPTER Chester A. Taylor ’82 President, Albany ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Association1008 N. Vanburen StreetAlbany, Georgia 31701Cell: [email protected]

ATHENS CHAPTERAndre E. Bell ’91President, Athens ChapterMorehouse National Alumni AssociationPO Box 6762Athens, Georgia 30604Cell: [email protected]

ATLANTA CHAPTERKevin R. McGee ’93 President, Atlanta ChapterPO Box 110095Atlanta, GA 30311Cell: 404-790-2963Home: [email protected]

AUGUSTA CHAPTER Solomon W. Walker ’58Interim President, Augusta ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Association29 Park Place CircleAugusta, GA 30909Home: 706-738-4230Office: [email protected]

BIRMINGHAM CHAPTERJerome Luke ’79President, Birmingham ChapterMorehouse College Alumni AssociationBirmingham ChapterP. O. Box 360072Hoover, AL 35236Home: 205-620-1522Business: 205-5605364Email: [email protected]

COLUMBUS CHAPTERDonald McCarthy ’89President, Columbus ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Association6115 Bayberry DriveColumbus, GA 31907Home: [email protected]

HUNTSVILLE/NORTH ALABAMA CHAPTERHerman Mixon ’65President, Huntsville/N. Alabama Chapter3910 Gardenside Dr., N.W.Huntsville, AL 35810Phone: [email protected]

MACON MIDDLE GEORGIA CHAPTER Emory E. Lamar ’66President, Macon ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.116 White LaneGray, Georgia 31032Home: 478-986-1744Office: [email protected]

MOBILE CHAPTERReginald A. Crenshaw ’78 President, Mobile ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.PO Box 10796Prichard, Alabama 36610Home: [email protected]

MONTGOMERY/TUSKEGEE CHAPTERTyrone C. Means ’74President, Montgomery-Tuskegee ChapterMorehouse National Alumni AssociationP.O. Box 5058Home: 334-277-6832Office: [email protected]

SAVANNAH/HILTON HEAD CHAPTERLeonard Law Jr. ’58President, Savannah/Hilton Head ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Association9 Bradley Beach RoadHilton Head Island, SC 29928Home: 843-842-5622 [email protected]

REGION II CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

BROWARD CO. CHAPTERRobert Holmes ’581577 NW 7th AvenuePompano Beach, FL 33060Home: [email protected]

CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTERKenneth J. Thompson ’82President, Central Florida ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.2517 Madron CourtOrlando, FL 32806Office: 407-867-5133Home: [email protected]

JACKSONVILLE CHAPTERAnthony Ammons ’84President, Jacksonville ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.2001 Art Museum Drive,Jacksonville, Florida 32207Home: 904-262-6177Office: 904-396-0899Fax: [email protected]

MIAMI – DADE CHAPTERVacant

TAMPA ST. PETERSBURG CHAPTERPerry A. Little ’66President, Tampa St. Petersburg ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Association9428 Pebble Glen AvenueTampa, FL 33647Home: [email protected]

TALLAHASSEE CHAPTERLinzie F. Bogan ’88President, Tallahassee Chapter1807 Vineland LaneTallahassee, Florida 32317Home: 850-656-2278Email: [email protected]

WEST PALM BEACH CHAPTERVacant

NASSAU BAHAMAS CHAPTERTraver Whylly ’91President, Nassau Bahamas ChapterMorehouse National Alumni AssociationPost Office Box N8412Nassau, BahamasOffice: 242-322-7548/9Home: 242-322-7373Pager: 242-380-1518

REGION III CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

CHARLOTTE CHAPTERMelvin D. Caldwell ’75President, Charlotte ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.11312 Treebark DrivePineville, NC 28134Home: [email protected]

CHATTANOOGA CHAPTERReginald S. Capers ’79President, Chattanooga ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.2475 North Briar CircleChattanooga, Tennessee 37406Home: 615-899-7807

M O R E H O U S E C O L L E G E N A T I O N A L A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N

Phillip H. McCall Jr. ’69President Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

14 West High Ridge Road

Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

Office: 215-636-0590

[email protected]

Joseph Arrington ’58Vice President-at-LargeMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

1255 Veltre Circle, SW

Atlanta, GA 30311

Home: 404-699-1063

[email protected]

Joseph Draper ’57 Executive DirectorMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

655 Bolton Rd NW

Atlanta, GA 30331

Home: [email protected]

Guy B. Richardson ’79SecretaryMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

142 Beckley Farm Way

Springboro, OH 45066

Home: 937-748-1906Work: [email protected]

Marvin C Mangham ’69Financial Secretary2815 The Duke of Windsor

Atlanta, GA 30344

Office: 404-816-1153

Home: 404-768-7034

[email protected]

James D. Henry ’61General CounselMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

114 St. Andrews Drive, E.

Ft. Washington, MD 20744

Home: 301-292-2171

[email protected]

Calvin H. Harris ’92 TreasurerMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

9401 Hickory Limb

Columbia, MD 21045


Jeffrey L. Riddle ’90Parliamentarian901 Cascade Crossing

Atlanta, GA 30331

Office: [email protected]

Harold O. Braithwaite ’77Faculty RepresentativeMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

830 Westview Drive, S.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30314

[email protected]

Henry M. Goodgame Jr. ’84 Director, Alumni AffairsMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

830 Westview Drive, S.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30314

Office: 404-215-2658Home: [email protected]

REGION I-IX VICE PRESIDENTS

Howard C. Willis ’76Vice President, Region IMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

PO Box 428

Talbotton, GA 31827


Perry A. Little ’66Vice President, Region IIMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

9428 Pebble Glen Avenue

Tampa, FL 33647

Home: 813-272-5775

[email protected]

James M Boykin II ’81Vice President, Region IIIMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

8220 Fallen Maple Drive

Chattanooga, TN 37421


Stuart T. Turner ’86

Vice President, Region IVMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

311 Arbor Lane

Ambler, PA 19002


Charles H. Neal ’64Vice President, Region VMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

13957 Stahelin

Detroit, MI 48223


Jonathan Palmer ’94Vice President, Region VIMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

4100 Sheridan Avenue N

Minneapolis, MN. 55403

Home: 612-529-2502Office: [email protected]

Charlie R. Dean Jr. ’82Vice President, Region VIIMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

1699 Wildfire Lane

Frisco, TX 75034

Office: 214-441-7052Home: [email protected]

Donald E. Long ’64 Vice President, Region VIIIMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

7950 Alida Street

LaMesa, CA 91942


Nashon Hornsby ’93Vice President, Region IXMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.

3 Huron Way

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648


2 0 0 6 - 2 0 0 8 O F F I C E R S

GREATER COLUMBIA CHAPTERElliot E. Franks ’56President, Greater Columbia ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.464 Annondale RoadColumbia, South Carolina 29212Home: 803-781-8542Office: [email protected]

CHARLESTON CHAPTERDaryl Milligan ’79President, Charleston ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.200 Meeting StreetBank of AmericaCharleston, S.C. 29401Office: 843-723-6867

MEMPHIS CHAPTERDouglas G. Scarboro ’97President, Memphis Chapter1770 Carr AvenueMemphis, TN [email protected]

NASHVILLE CHAPTERVacant

WINSTON-SALEM CHAPTERReggie Hunt ’02President, Winston-Salem ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.3145 Shaftesbury LaneWinston Salem, NC 27105Office: [email protected]

TRIANGLE CHAPTERMark J. Simeon ’79President, Triangle ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.4009 Cottonwood DriveDurham, North Carolina 27705Home: 919-489-5492Office: [email protected]

GREENSBORO CHAPTERGerald L. Truesdale ’71President Greensboro ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.2716 Henry St.Greensboro, North Carolina 27405Office: [email protected]

REGION IV CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

BALTIMORE CHAPTERMark W. Hill ’67President, Baltimore ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.103 Persimmon CircleReisterstown, MD [email protected]

DELAWARE CHAPTERErnest R. Council Jr. ’764 Beverly PlaceWilmington, DE 19809Home: [email protected]

THE GREATER PHILADELPHIACHAPTERFreddie R. Rayford ’63President, Greater Phil ChapterPO Box 52Eagleville, PAHome: [email protected]

HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTERThomas J. Conage ’64President, Hampton Roads ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.110 Coliseum Crossing #142Hampton, VA 23666Office: 757-851-4304Home: [email protected]

RICHMOND METRO CHAPTERRandy Dillard ’758235 Tarragon DriveMechanicsville, VA 23111Home: 804-569-1616Office: [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. CHAPTERJames D. Henry ’61 President, Washington, D.C. ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.114 St. Andrews Drive, E.Ft. Washington, MD 20744Home: [email protected]

EUROPEAN CHAPTERRichard Allen ’70President, European ChapterMorehouse National AlumniAssociation32, Rue de la Quintinie75011 Paris FranceHome: [email protected]

REGION V CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

CHICAGO CHAPTERDarryl Holloway ’83President, Chicago ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.2345 West 71st StreetChicago, IL. 60636Home: 773-306-0207Email: [email protected]

CINCINNATI CHAPTERBryan K. Nelson ’93President, Cincinnati ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.3817 Spring House LaneCincinnati, OH 45217Home: [email protected]

CLEVELAND CHAPTERJustin R. Horton ’97 President, Cleveland ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.9835 Country Club CircleCleveland Heights, OH [email protected]

COLUMBUS CHAPTERAdam K. Troy ’82President, Columbus ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.340 E. Town St. 8-300Columbus, Ohio 43215Home: 614-461-8212Office: [email protected]

TOLEDO CHAPTERGeorge E. Rice ’95President, Toldeo ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.P.O. Box 2995Toledo, Ohio 43606Home: 419-537-9207Email: [email protected]

DETROIT CHAPTERCurtis H.B. Kilpatrick II ’69President, Detroit ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.16860 SnowdenDetroit, MI 48235Home: [email protected]

MIAMI VALLEY CHAPTERCharles Hall Jr. ’55President, Miami Valley ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Ass2800 Olt RoadDayton, Ohio 45418Home: 513-835-5812

LOUISVILLE CHAPTERVacant

INDIANAPOLIS CHAPTERJames A. Duke ’90President, Indianapolis ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.4042 N. Graham AvenueIndianapolis, IN 46226Office: 317-487-5249Fax: [email protected]

REGION VI CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

ST. LOUIS CHAPTERA.K. Turner ’95President, St. Louis ChapterMorehouse National AlumniAssociation2007 Wilbert DriveSt. Louis, MO 63136Office: 314-276-4078Home: 314-868-4930

MINNESOTA CHAPTERJonathan Palmer ’94President, Minnesota ChapterMorehouse National AlumniAssociation4100 Sheridan Avenue NMinneapolis, MN. 55403Home: 612-529-2502Office: [email protected]

KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREACHAPTERKeith A. Cutler ’86President, Kansas City ChapterMorehouse National AlumniAssociationPost Office Box 414587Kansas City, Missouri 64141-4587Office: 816-471-8575Home: [email protected]

MILWAUKEE CHAPTEREdward Ward ’80President, Milwaukee Chapter6551 North 56th StreetMilwaukee, Wisconsin 53223Home: 414-353-5837

REGION VII CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

HOUSTON CHAPTERAntoy J. Bell ’00Interim President, Houston ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.9219 Sorrento Ct.Humble, TX 77396Home: [email protected]

JACKSON CHAPTERAlfred Junior ’60President, Jackson ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.1775 Oakland AvenueJackson, MS 39213Home: 601-366-2062Office: [email protected]

NEW ORLEANS CHAPTERJames Wallace ’58President, New Orleans ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.7016 Lake Wilow DriveNew Orleans, LA 70126Office: 504-734-4570Home: [email protected]

AUSTIN CHAPTEREdward Hill, III ’90President, Austin ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.17005 Bishopsgate DrivePflugerville, TX 78660Office: 512-343-7297Home: [email protected]

DALLAS CHAPTERRonald L. Jeans ’91President, Dallas ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.3013 Penstemon CourtGarland, Texas [email protected]

SAN ANTONIO CHAPTERVacant

BATON ROUGE CHAPTERVacant

REGION VIII CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

GREATER LOS ANGELES CHAPTEREric D. Rice ’95President, Los Angeles ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.8208 New Hampshire #2Los Angeles, CA 90044Home: [email protected]

DENVER CHAPTERKristopher M. Colley ’78President, Denver ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.24671 E. Park Crescent DriveAurora, CO 80016Office: 303-330-0260Home: [email protected]

SAN DIEGO AREA CHAPTERAnthony R. Haile ’01President, San Diego ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.4414 Alabama Street #1San Diego, CA 92116Home: [email protected]

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA CHAPTERTadd O. Scott ’91President, San Francisco Bay AreaChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.322 Hanover Ave #304Oakland,, CA 94606Home: 510-593-7461Office: [email protected]

SEATTLE CHAPTERShaun A. Spearmon ’01President, Seattle ChapterMorehouse College National Alumni Assoc.4020 NE 4th PlaceRenton, WA 98056Home: [email protected]

REGION IX CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

BROOKLYN QUEENS LONG ISLANDCHAPTERPresident, Brooklyn-Queens-LongIsland ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.P.O. Box 681New York, NY 10009Office: [email protected]

GREATER CONNECTICUT-RI CHAPTERCharles Turner, Jr. ’59President, Connecticut ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc45 Glen RoadNew Haven, CT 06511Home: [email protected]

GREATER BOSTON CHAPTERSean Keenan Daughtry ’93President, Boston ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.9 Beech Glen StreetRoxbury, MA [email protected]

MANHATTAN CHAPTERLamarr R. Jones ’98President, Manhattan ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.221 DeKalb Avenue #4Brooklyn, New York, NY 11205Home: [email protected]

NORTHERN NEW JERSEY CHAPTERJameel A. Scott ’05President, Northern New Jersey ChapterMorehouse National Alumni Assoc.622 E. Curtis Street Linden, NJ 07036Home: [email protected]

M O R E H O U S E C O L L E G E N A T I O N A L A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N

140TH FOUNDER’S DAY CONVOCATIONFebruary 15, 2007 - Martin Luther King Jr.

International Chapel

REFLECTIONS OF EXCELLENCEFebruary 17, 2007 - Sale Hall Chapel

"A CANDLE IN THE DARK" GALA February 17, 2007 - Hyatt Regency Atlanta

BACCALAUREATE SERVICEMay 19, 2007 - Martin Luther King Jr.


123RD COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES May 20, 2007 - Century Campus Green

SUMMER COMMENCEMENT EXERCISESJuly 21, 2007 - Martin Luther King Jr.


Save the Dates


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• Ranked for the third consecutive time as the number one college inthe nation for educating African American students by BlackEnterprise magazine in October 2004

• Recognized by The Wall Street Journal as one of the top feederschools for the 15 most prominent graduate and professional schoolsin the country in September 2003

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