Daytona Times - February 04, 2015

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‘Greased Lightning’ fundraiser to aid racing association SEE PAGE 2

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JULIANNE MALVEAUX: Remember those ‘Hallowed Grounds’ during Black History Month SEE PAGE 4

SEMINAR HELPS SENIORS AND VETERANS ACCESS LOCAL RESOURCES SEE PAGE 3

East Central Florida’s Black Voice FEBRUARY 4 - FEBRUARY 10, 2016

YEAR 41 NO. 5

www.daytonatimes.com

Leaving school job, but not students Vickie Presley retires after 36 years in Volusia district BY DAYTONA TIMES STAFF

COURTESY OF VICKIE PRESLEY

Vickie Presley shares expressions at her retirement celebration last month.

Vickie Presley, area superintendent for Volusia County Schools, retired on Jan. 5 after 36 years of service to the district. While she’ll be giving up her administrative position, Presley still plans to “serve our community and work with young people. ‘’ She retires after a storied career in education that began in

1980 at Campbell Junior High School. Presley started out as an English teacher at the school that year. She was hired by the late Earl C. McCrary II, who promoted her to administrative assistant. From there, she became an assistant principal at Campbell Middle School in 1990.

Top principal Presley later served as principal of Starke Elementary in DeLand and Galaxy Middle School in Deltona. She was appointed principal of Campbell Middle School in November 2003. During her tenure there,

she was named Volusia County’s 2010 Secondary Principal of the Year. She was at the helm of Campbell until she was appointed director of Human Resources in 2011 by Dr. Margaret Smith, former superintendent of Volusia County Schools. In 2013, she appointed her to area superintendent, a position she held until her retirement last month. “Do what is right by and for people’’ has been the educator’s mantra.

District honor On Jan. 17, Presley’s family

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

Remembering Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune

and friends celebrated her retirement at the Center for Civic Engagement on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University. At the annual joint meeting of Phi Delta Kappa and the Volusia Association of School Administrators on Jan. 27, she was recognized by Phi Delta Kappa as the Educator of the Year and received the District Administrator of the Year Award from the Volusia Association of School Administrators. Presley said she’s “anticipating the joy that retirement holds in store for her.’’

B-CU signs 28 new players for football team COMPILED BY DAYTONA TIMES STAFF

Bethune-Cookman University’s football program announced the signing of 28 student-athletes on Wednesday, National Signing Day. The Signing Day headquarters was at B-CU’s Michael & Libby Johnson Center for Civic Engagement. Coach Terry Sims, who was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Coach of the Year last year during his first year leading the Wildcats, said he feels “great about this year’s class.’’ The class was announced as one of the largest in recent memory for the Wildcats. Sims remarked, “It’s Coach Terry an overall aggressive, Sims talented, fast class that will certainly help us moving forward in Daytona Beach. They should help in our attempts not only to win the MEAC, but earn a spot in the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta.”

22 Floridians

COURTESY OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune became a world-renowned educator, civil and human rights leader, champion for women and young people, and an advisor to five U.S. presidents. The founder of Bethune-Cookman University is captured in photographs taken on campus in 1943 by legendary photographer Gordon Parks. In the top right photo, she prepares to turn over her office to James Colston, who succeeded her as the school’s president. In the bottom left photo, she bows her head while listening to a chorus sing “The Lord’s Prayer’’ during a chapel service. Before retiring each night, she read from the Bible.

Black History Month salutes include recognition for local icon Here’s a look at some of the Black History Month recognitions and events planned throughout February in Volusia and Flagler counties.

WESH honors Huger, others WESH 2 News is honoring Black Central Floridians this month who have made significant historical contributions. Daytona Beach’s Dr. James Huger is one of the seven featured. Huger, the city’s first Black

ALSO INSIDE

elected official, served as a commissioner from 1965 to 1971. He also was the first Black to serve on the Volusia County Council, holding office from Dr. James 1973 to 1978 and Huger serving as chairman in 1975 and 1978. One of Huger’s greatest honors was serving as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s general secretary

and the role the brothers played in helping Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he was arrested in Alabama supporting civil rights icon Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a public bus to a White man in the 1950s. Huger received a major honor in 2012 when he was given the Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. He was among a group of African-American Marines called the Montford Point Marines who broke the color barrier during World War II. The TV station’s spots will air throughout February and are posted on WESH.com. Along with Huger, others highlighted are Bessie Coleman, a pi-

B-CU signed nine defensive backs, seven offensive linemen and five receivers in the class of 28. “I feel like every need that we wanted to address was filled in those particular positions,” Sims stated. “The coaches did an excellent job evaluating and securing what we feel is an exciting and brilliant 2016 signing class.” Twenty-two of the players are from Florida. They include four players that signed consecutively within minutes of each other from the highly respected Raines High School in Jacksonville. “Florida always has great talent, and we think that’s always an added bonus when we recruit and stay at home, if you will,” admitted Sims. “I think that’s what has allowed Bethune-Cookman to consistently be a league title contender for a number of years, stretching back to even the days in the SIAC, (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) and now the MEAC for over three decades.”

oneer aviator from Jacksonville; the town of Eatonville; slain civil rights leader from Mims, Harry T. Moore; football Hall of Famer David “Deacon’’ Jones, who was born in Eatonville; Dr. James R. Smith, a pioneer medical doctor in Orlando; and Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy, Orlando’s first AfricanAmerican elected official.

New Smyrna festival The Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum will present the 25th Annual Black Heritage Festival, Feb. 5-7, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Pettis Park, 314 N. Duss St., New Smyrna Beach. Activities at the free festival are designed to interest students as well as seniors of many cultures

Please see B-CU, Page 2

and backgrounds. It includes educational tours, music, art, cultural exhibits and demonstrations, historical tools, food, storytelling, as well as life stories told by seniors from the New Smyrna Beach Westside community. Visitors can watch woodcarving techniques; observe chores of the past, including clothes washing, soap making and quilting; see cane-grinding demonstrations; and tour a “shotgun” house. More information: 386-4169699

Black History Reality Program The 13th Annual Youth Black Please see EVENTS, Page 2

COMMENTARY: REV. JESSE JACKSON: FLINT’S WATER CRISIS AND THE GOP CLASS WAR | PAGE 4 HEALTH: READY TO QUIT SMOKING? HELP IS A PHONE CALL OR CLICK AWAY | PAGE 5


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