Morehouse Magazine Fall 2006 by Morehouse College

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King Collection Comes Home to Morehouse The 10,000-piece collection is spared from the auction block and, in an unprecedented act of partnership, returns to the College that nurtured one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century.

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

For more than a decade Walter 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.

Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Programs 830 Westview Drive, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30314 (404) 215-2658 www.morehouse.edu

Whether an alumnus, student, or parent, you have a stake in Morehouse Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future. Year after year, loyal supporters provide the financial basis for a quality educational experience. Every gift greatly enhances the value and prestige of a Morehouse College degree.

MOREHOUSE M A G A Z I N E

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FLASH FORWARD

HOPE REIGNS

SAVED, SEALED AND DELIVERED

AFTER THE STORM

Willie “Flash” Davis ’56 earned his nickname because of his talent in track as a student. Now, “Flash” is still an appropriate moniker for the new chairman of the Morehouse Board of Trustees, not only for his flashes of brilliance in the courtroom, but also for the speed in which he comes to the support of his alma mater. Both forecasts were cloudy as Commencement 2006 approached. The weather called for showers, and, for the first time in College history, an alternative plan for inclement weather was developed. The other forecast was a dismal look into college-bound rates for African American men. But when the largest number of graduates in the College’s history prepared to march across the stage, the weather cooperated and hope reigned. Literally 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 partnership, offers the College a unique opportunity to bear witness to a remarkable time in U.S. history as its proud steward.

A year after the deadliest natural disaster in modern U.S. history, there are still plenty of stories to be told about the terror of Hurricane Katrina. Several Morehouse alumni share their tales of relocation, resourcefulness and restoration. Sidebar: Shelton “Spike” Lee ’79 screens his documentary “When the Levees Broke” at Morehouse.

departments FALL 2006

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ON THE COVER: This briefcase with

M A G A Z I N E

some of Dr. King’s

personal effects is among the 10,000piece Collection recently acquired by the College.

Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s.

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INSIDE THE HOUSE IN THE NEWS ON THE SHELF DEVELOPMENT NEWS ON THE FIELD AND COURT FOUNDER’S DAY BROTHER TO BROTHER ALUMNI NEWS CLASS NOTES THE ROAD TAKEN

contents

FALL 2006

p r e s i d e n t ’s m e s s a g e 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 elephant – 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 created 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 education — 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 saying 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 concerned, and are doing our part to help address problems such as crime, violence, and the low academic 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 opportunities 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 fundamentally wrong with black men. At Morehouse, instead of pathology, we see possibility. Documenting and sharing our perspective about the success of African American men, sometimes 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.

“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.”

Walter E. Massey ‘58

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letters to the editor Toni Mosley advised readers in the fall/winter issue of Morehouse Magazine to “enjoy the journey.” As a long-time and seasoned employee of ‘da House I did just that when I read the last issue of the magazine. Publications of such high quality make me even “prouder” to be a Morehouse employee. The articles and layout are indeed superb. Kudos to Toni and her staff. Phyllis M. Bentley Director, Academic Operations Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Morehouse College

(Editor’s Note: The following letter was written to Emma Perry regarding an article that appeared in the Fall 2005/Winter 2006 issue of the magazine about the founding of the Jeff Perry Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund. The reader was moved to donate to the fund.) I received the Morehouse Magazine yesterday. I read the wonderful article

about you, Jeff and his scholarship with intense interest. It was a fascinating article. Your successful effort to establish Jeff’s scholarship is so inspiring. I believe your story and example will motivate others to philanthropic efforts that are equally as touching. It is rare that those of us in fund raising find an individual with your commitment to a cause. I remember Dr. Benjamin Mays paraphasing Sir Winston Churchill in saying “We make our living by what we earn, and we make our lives by what we give.” You have given so much in honoring Jeff’s legacy! You are an exemplar of this creed.

GREAT job on the latest issue of Morehouse Magazine. My wife and several others who are not even tied to the college gave many positive comments. Keep up the good work. John Easton ’95 President Eastonsweb Multimedia

l e t u s h e a r f r o m yo u I just finished reading Morehouse Magazine. It’s really great. The layout, stories, flow, pictures, and everything is wonderful!! As a publisher, I know what goes into putting together a great book and you guys do an execellent job. I can’t wait until I get the next one and I’ll be sure to keep you posted on what’s new with Johnson Media Inc. and Río Negro. Kevin D. Johnson ’01 Business Development Johnson Media Inc.

We welcome all letters and reserve the right to edit for clarity and space. Letters must be one typed page in length and signed. Please include complete contact information. Send to: The Editor, Morehouse Magazine, Office of Communications, Morehouse College, 830 Westview Drive, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30314. Email: morehousemageditor@morehouse.edu Fax: 404-215-2729

Fall 2006

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e d i t o r ’s n o t e s

MAGAZINE

Dr. Walter E. Massey ‘58 President

Seeing Beyond The Known Dear Friends: ne of our biggest fears is losing what we have. I read somewhere 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 –– abundance, 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, people, 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 borrow 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, gaining 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.

Dr. David V. Taylor Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Keep reading!

Toni O’Neal Mosley

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Phillip Howard ’87 Vice President for Institutional Advancement

STAFF Executive Editor Editor Assistant Editor In the News Editor Contributing Writers

Toni O’Neal Mosley Vickie G. Hampton Shaneesa N. Ashford Elise Durham Rori F. Blakeney Deon Embry Chandra R. Thomas Alumni News Editor Henry M. Goodgame Jr. ’84 Class Notes Julie Pinkney Tongue Sports Writer Yusuf Davis Photography Philip McCollum Ron Witherspoon Graphic Design Glennon Design Administrative Assistant Margaret Bryant

EDITORIAL ADVISER Adrienne S. Harris, Chief of Staff

Morehouse Magazine is published by Morehouse College, Office of Communications, Division of Institutional Advancement. Opinions expressed in Morehouse Magazine are those of the authors, not necessarily of the College. Letters and Comments: Letters must be one typed page in length and signed. Please include complete contact information. Send to: Morehouse Magazine Editor, Morehouse College, Office of Communications, 830 Westview Dr., S.W., Atlanta, GA 30314. E-mail: morehousemageditor@morehouse.edu Fax: 404-215-2729

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

Morehouse College is the nation’s largest liberal arts college for men. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the 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 the recruitment and admission of its students, in the administration of its educational policies and programs, or in its staff, as specified by federal laws and regulations.

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insidethehouse Land Transfer Allows for Expansion

Ray Charles’ Bus Makes Final Stop at the ‘House THE MOTOR COACH that ushered “The Genius” from city to city during his touring days now belongs to Morehouse. The tour bus, which features Ray Charles’ silhouette on the back, is fully equipped with 35 customized seats, four televisions and a kitchen. Plans are in the works to allow student groups to use the bus for trips. The bus is the latest in a series of connections between Morehouse, and the late Charles and his long-time manager, Joe Adams. Adams is responsible for introducing Charles to Morehouse and nurturing his relationship with the College. In 2001, Charles, who received an honorary degree from the College the same year, gave Morehouse two $1-million gifts to seal a mutual commitment to find, educate and inspire the next generation of music pioneers. Those gifts set into motion the plans for the proposed Morehouse College Center for the Arts, which will house The Ray Charles Performing Arts Center. Adams is also a donor to the Center for the Arts, having given $2 million toward the project. ■

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A LAND TRANSFER between the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) and College Partners Inc. (CPI), of which Morehouse is a member, has given the College and other AUC schools room to grow. During Founder’s Day festivities, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced a land transfer between Morehouse, Spelman College and the Morehouse School of Medicine. The entities will swap land near the Harris Homes public housing development, allowing for campus expansion and the redevelopment of the area’s public housing and the surrounding community. The exchange makes room for the construction of the new Morehouse College Center for the Arts. The AHA deeded 10.2 acres of land adjacent to the colleges to CPI in exchange for the approximate 12-acre site adjacent to Harris Homes. The revised AHA master plan will be the catalyst for the restoration of the surrounding neighbor- Back row (from left to right): President Walter E. Massey '58; Lisa hood, creating a mixed- Borders, president, Atlanta City Council; Alphonso Jackson, secretary, income community. The Department of Housing and Urban Development; Beverly Danielmain residential develop- Tatum, president, Spelman College; David Satcher '63, interim presiment will be comprised of dent, Morehouse School of Medicine; (front row seated): Renee 662 rental units and 74 Glover, CEO, Atlanta Housing Authority; and Louis Sullivan '54, chairhomeownership units. ■ man, College Partners Inc., sign land transfer deeds.

Honda All-Star Champs

Morehouse College defeated North Carolina Central University to win the 17th Annual Honda Campus AllStar 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.

MASSEY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

’The Time is Right’ FOR PRESIDENT WALTER E. MASSEY ’58, a physicist with a propensity for numbers and meticulous calculations, retirement has always been about timing. Since beginning his presidency in 1995, Massey has said that he wanted to serve his alma mater for 10 years. At decade’s end, he could check off many of his set goals, including the creation of the academic village and the culmination of the historic Campaign for a New Century, which surpassed its $105-million goal by $15 million. For Massey, the numbers were better than expected. And though he was satisfied that he had met his goals, he knew that it was not time to leave the College. True to his scientific breeding, he wouldn’t leave until the timing was precise. Near Massey’s 10-year mark, Willis B. Sheftall ’64 left the position of vice president for Academic Affairs to return to teaching. Not much later, Shirley Williams, chief financial officer, made plans for her retirement known. “I didn’t think it was in the best interest of the College for the top three senior

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.

officers to leave at the same time,” Massey explained in three different settings: a September faculty and staff combined meeting and the Opening Convocation and a press conference the following day. But with the new provost, David V. Taylor, in place, and William’s successor joining the College in October, Massey said in the faculty and staff meeting,“Now it’s my turn.” “The school is in good shape and I feel very good about what has been accomplished. We have a strong board, a strong senior cabinet team and a strong faculty. We have strategic planning and budget managing processes that help keep the College in good

financial shape.” Massey said what helped him finally know the pendulum had truly swung in favor of retirement was his and first lady Shirley Massey’s summer with their young grandchildren. “It made us realize that there is life after being president,” he said, “and Shirley and I are going to pursue it.” ■ —VGH President Massey talks candidly about his career-changing decision to return to his alma mater as president 11 years ago, and his decision to retire at the end of the 2006-07 academic year in “The Road Taken” on page 44.

Anchors Away

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. F A L L

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Apartment Suites Named for Otis Moss Jr. ‘56 THE REV. DR. OTIS MOSS Jr. ’56 says words deliberately—slowly, articulately, with just a faint hint of the Southern Baptist preacher’s singsong reminiscent of his roots. No doubt, the listener is sure that each word—nay, each syllable—is uttered with intent. So when Moss took the time to call a dozen or so family members by name–from Edwina, his wife of nearly 40 years to his youngest grandchild, two-year-old Makayla—during the renaming of the Morehouse Suites in his honor, the litany was purposeful. Here was a man who put family first. In spite of the pulls and pressures of being a hands-on pastor, a sought-after speaker and lecturer, and a consultant, he took out time for his family and was “always caring and compassionate to his wife, children and extended family,” said his son, Otis Moss III ’92. While the dedicatory prayer by Lawrence E. Carter, dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, reminded everyone of Moss’s remarkable contribution to various organizations—his consultancy with presidents and his accolades, honors and awards— it was the vignettes of how Moss touched individuals that brought this towering figure (in stature and reputation) to everyman size, and thus were the most poignant. Indeed, if you borrow from the “It’s a Wonderful Life”premise and imagine Morehouse without Moss, the College would be a different place. King Chapel wouldn’t be “international.” Massey perhaps wouldn’t be president.And at least one student who was short on means but tall on determination would not be poised to become a Morehouse man. During the morning naming dedication ceremony on May 12, 2006, Carter recalled, when he first proposed adding “national” to the Chapel’s name, Moss told him he was “thinking too small” and suggested instead “international.” MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE

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Otis Moss Jr. '56, who served for nearly 25 years on the Board of Trustees and recently stepped down as its chairman, is the namesake of the renamed Morehouse Residential Suites.

HONORING TWO By Vickie G. Hampton President Walter E. Massey ’58 credited Moss, along with current Board of Trustees chairman Willie “Flash” Davis ’56, with helping him to decide to return to his alma mater as president. And Basheer James, a 2006 Morehouse graduate from Cleveland, delivered the most impassioned endorsement: “I speak from the stories, mouths and souls of all those touched by Rev. Moss.” James is from the Huff area in Cleveland. “If you were to ever visit Huff, you would say there is no way a person can come from here and get [to Morehouse]”he said. Not only was he from the wrong side of the tracks, but, academically, his grades were off-track. He recalled going to Moss’s office saying, “If you give me an opportunity, I promise I won’t let you down.” While James, who graduated with honors in May, represented a kind of “before” pic-

ture of life under the Moss influence, several slightly older Morehouse men presented the successful “after” picture, including Moss’s son, Otis Moss III, and Kevin R. Johnson ’96. The younger Moss is pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, while Johnson is the assistant pastor of the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. Johnson worked with Moss as a summer intern in 1996, and later, from 1999 to 2002, as assistant pastor of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, which Moss pastors.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS When Moss was a student at Morehouse, finances were tight. In his sophomore year, he recalls receiving two letters one day. The first was from the Morehouse Business Office asking him to move off campus because he had failed to pay his room and board fees.

`The second letter was from a church in Detroit where he had earlier served as a summer volunteer. It contained the seeds of his faith. “It had a check sufficient enough to take care of my bills for the rest of the school year,” said Moss.“The pastor of the church had written: ‘I don’t want you to ever stop your education for lack of money.’ “I learned in literal fashion that God does move in mysterious ways.”

SUITE RECOGNITION The Morehouse Suites is a sprawling residential complex consisting of two buildings, 375 beds, and units of one-room studios, and two- and three-bedroom suites and apartments (which include living areas and full kitchens). With its computer labs, convenient laundry facilities, and meditation and study rooms, Moss said that, if he were a 21st century student, it would be where he would want to reside on campus. The fact that Moss’s name will reside

LEGENDS permanently on the residential complex speaks volumes about a legacy of service that is already set in stone. “There are only so many buildings on campus, so you can only imagine that naming this building after him tells of his significant contributions,” said Willie “Flash” Davis ’56, who succeeded Moss as chairman of the Board of Trustees and is one of his classmates. (Moss continues to serve as a member of the Board.) “Moss is a salutary influence of example, of vision, of faith,” said Massey. “He embraces a grand vision—not an ordinary vision—for the College in making it one of the best colleges in the nation, period. “Generations of young men will dream, learn, study and pray in this hall they will call home.”

Technology Tower named for John Hopps ’58 WHEN JOHN H. HOPPS’ PORTRAIT was unveiled on April 24, a day named in his honor at Morehouse,June Hopps kissed the tips of her fingers then pressed them to the canvas that held a lifelike image of her late husband of 41 years. With trembling hands, she then reached for a handkerchief to wipe away tears. In a row of seats holding family members,Pentagon executives and educators in front of Technology Tower, a few handkerchiefs followed suit. Before acquiescing the podium to the “speaker” of the family, Hopps uttered words that vibrated with emotion:“I was glad when he said unto me, let us go to Morehouse, the institution that meant so much to him.” Within minutes of the hourlong ceremony to rename the $7-million Technology Tower to the John H. Hopps Jr. Technology Tower, the veracity of her soft-spoken words had already become evident. President Walter E. Massey ‘58, Hopps’ classmate and lifelong friend, said: “John Hopps was instrumental in my career. More importantly, he was instrumental in shaping the College.” From 1995 to 1999, Hopps served as the College’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “During his tenure, he was especially interested in the quality of science, teaching and especially interdisciplinary teaching. This building grew from his vision of interdisciplinary study.”

When James Short, director of the Defense Laboratory Programs with the Department of Defense, decided to apply for a job under Hopps a few years ago, he set out to discover more about the job and the man. “When I learned about the man, I learned about Morehouse, because both are so intertwined,” he recalled. Short read a letter from Michael W.Wynne, Secretary of the Air Force,that announced plans to sponsor a scholarship in Hopps’ honor. A $1.7-million grant from the Department of Defense will establish the Hopps Research Scholars Program. The program will strengthen the research curriculum, provide scholarships and one-on-one mentoring,establish a summer educational and research component, and provide internships at top research institutions for students who major in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics. Hopps’ remarkable career included serving as the director of the Division of Material Research at the National Science Foundation, a principal member of the Technical Staff and chief of Photonics Technology at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory at MIT, and as the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Laboratories and Basic Sciences, where he provided direction to the organization’s university-based basic research, instrumentation, graduate fellowship and education programs in 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. F A L L

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insidethehouse SCIENCE AND SPIRITUAL AWARENESS WEEK

Lecture Named in Honor of President Massey By Shaneesa N. Ashford IN THE COURSE OF MATRICULATION, a Morehouse student may hear about the importance of various forms of unity.But it was a “fundamental unity oflife”that provided the theme for the inaugural Walter E.Massey Lecture on Science and Spirituality during Science and Spiritual Awareness Week Crown Forum on April 6. Guest lecturer John Hagelin, a quantum physicist and director of the Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, discussed the upsurge of research on how a transcendental or meditative state can lead to the ability to understand the fundamental unity of the universe. “Nature is superficially diverse but fundamentally unified,” Hagelin said.“Experience of our core unity is fundamental not just to inner peace, but to outer peace.” A published scholar, Hagelin also focused on how humans can use the same meditative state to improve their everyday lives. He noted that some researchers believe a higher state of consciousness can lead to

Milestones Carter Honored for 25 Years of Spiritual Leadership and Service at Morehouse Lawrence E. Carter, dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel and professor of religion, joins his wife, Marva, in admiring an oil portrait 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. MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE

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John Hagelin, a quantum physicist, was the inaugural lecturer for the Walter E. Massey Lecture on Science and Spirituality.

better physical and mental health. “Fragments in the human brain lead to high levels of stress.” Hagelin said. “Unity brings deep peace. That spiritual experience is our birthright.” A physicist in his own right, President Walter E. Massey ’58 acknowledges that Hagelin’s theories are controversial in the scientific community, and does not necessarily agree with his point of view. “I certainly do not find science and spirituality to be incompatible,” Massey said. “However, the fact that science and spirituality are not incompatible does not mean that

they share the same processes and methodologies, and frames of reference or understanding of how the universe, including ourselves, function.” That difference in schools of thought illustrates the fundamental purpose of the lectures: to be provocative and stir debate among the campus community. “My hope is that in years to come, the Walter E. Massey Lecture on Science and Spirituality will be characterized by a great diversity of opinion – and, most important – healthy dialogue and debate about what science and spirituality can contribute, both separately and collectively, to our understanding of what it means to be human,” Massey said. The Science and Spiritual Awareness Crown Forum served as the induction of the 20th annual Martin Luther King Jr. College of Ministers and Laity,where 41 religious and community scholars were honored. Among them were 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 with the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Community Builder’s Prize. The chapel paid tribute to King, humanitarian Kaneko Ikeda and his wife, Daisaku Ikeda, by unveiling oil portraits of the three community leaders. ■

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AUG 29-SEPT 12, 2005

Morehouse, Spelman Join Forces to Build Better Relationships PRESIDENT WALTER E. MASSEY ’58 and Spelman President Beverly Daniel Tatum held a meeting on Oct. 13 in Woodruff Library to introduce members of the Spelman-Morehouse Task Force on Gender Relations, Violence and Campus Safety. The task force was convened after the two presidents announced their first ever joint initiative this September in an effort to promote a climate of safety and mutual respect on both campuses. The presidents, along with task force co-chairs Kevin Rome ’89, vice president for Student Services at Morehouse, and Sherry Turner, vice president for Student Affairs at Spelman, announced the goals of the task force, which include raising awareness and addressing issues associated with dysfunctional male-female relationships, examining the impact of racism, sexism and media/pop culture images on male-female relationships, and developing educational programs and training to reduce or eliminate sexual and other forms of violence among students. Massey and Tatum talked about the need for changes that will affect the climate of gender dynamics on both campuses. Massey zeroed in on the damaging affect of rumors. “Rumors can be the most debilitating, demoralizing thing that can happen because no one knows what really happened,” he said. “We have to create a climate where students feel comfortable getting the facts out.” Although the task force is a joint effort, both presidents also acknowledged that there 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 in November. Morehouse’s task force representatives are Rome; Jann Adams, associate professor, Department of Psychology; Aaron Parker, associate professor, Department of Philosophy and Religion; Rosemary Armstrong, director, Wellness Resource Center; Kellye Blackburn-Eccles, director, Career Planning and Placement; sophomore Desmond Diggs and junior Dean Parchia. ■

Trees of Life 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 planting a tree in Grant's memory in front of Sale Hall. Maathai visited campus in March 2006 during a special convocation in her honor. She also received an honorary doctor of science degree from the College.

Bernard S. Smith ’57 Took Care of Life’s Details BERNARD S. SMITH ’57 brought a keen attention to detail to everything in his life, from the meticulous care he took in his job in strategic planning and monitoring assessment activities at the College to the dapper attire he sported; and from the brilliant, manicured gardens he landscaped to the decks he built for family members. Smith, associate vice president for Planning and Assessment and director of Title III, died on March 19. “Bernie’s commitment to seeing that Morehouse achieved our goals and objectives helped keep us on track. And I am certain that the College is all the stronger, all the better for him having insisted that we plan our work, work our plan, and, most important—(as his colleagues here will tell you)—document everything,” said President Walter E. Massey ‘58. Smith was a staff member at Florida A&M University and Florida State University before working with the United Board of College Development, a consortium of 52 schools in the state of Georgia. Smith went on to serve as the assistant chancellor for the Atlanta University Center Consortium, followed by serving as the assistant to the president for Planning and Development/Title III Program and subsequently the vice president for Development and Public Affairs at Morris Brown College. Following a stint as chief officer of Institutional Advancement and director of Development at Talladega College, Smith served as executive director and program designer of the United Negro College Fund/Lilly Endowment Leadership and Organization Development Program. The Morehouse alumnus received his master’s from Florida A&M University in 1969 and his doctorate in educational administration from Florida State University. ■ F A L L

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insidethehouse LESSON FROM SOUTH AFRICA:

‘To Forgive is Divine’ FOR INTERMINABLE DECADES,South Africa was ravaged by the pernicious disease of hatred. Today, another disease, AIDS, is scourging the country. 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 an exquisite sense of humor? Who would have thought that South Africa would become a beacon of hope?” The white-haired, soft-spoken man posing the questions during a specially called Nonviolence and Peace Convocation on Jan. 26, 2006, was not speaking in hyperbole. Indeed, perhaps more than anybody, Desmond Tutu, the former general secretary of the South African Council of Churches and archbishop of Cape Town, understood 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 more restrictive and violent. He became an international figure in the fight against apartheid in the ‘70s and ‘80s.And, in the ‘90s, Tutu was selected by President Nelson Mandela to chair South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Tutu—once jailed, threatened and barred from leaving South Africa because of his cry for freedom—has now amassed accolades and

awards in apartheid’s aftermath. The King Chapel presented him with the Gandhi King Ikeda Community Builder’s Prize. The 1984 Nobel Peace Prize laureate also received the Global Award at the 2006 Trumpet Awards ceremony. With the addition of Tutu, Morehouse now has given all South African 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 the virtues of forgiveness. South Africans are teaching that, regardless of how heinous the offense, forgiveness is possible, said Tutu. “Even victims of some of the most ghastly atrocities,they would forgive the perpetrators—even sometimes embrace them publicly,” he said. Tutu wants the world to look to his countrymen for answers on how to resolve conflict. It is a lesson the United States could benefit from 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 war on terror as long as there are conditions in the world that made people desperate,” said Tutu. ■ —VGH

Milestones New CIO Takes the Driver Seat on Information Superhighway STEPHEN WATSON ’87, associate vice president for Information Services, Instructional and Information Technology and the College’s firstever chief information officer,was recently hired to steer the College on the information superhighway. A 1987 computer science and mathematics graduate, 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 MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE

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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 system to train 12,000 personnel for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. “Technology is all over. It is about under-

Stephen Watson ’87 joins the College as CIO.

standing the pieces. My goal is to balance technology and the environment.” Watson said his focus will be on the customer. “Technology is a tool, but the people— student, faculty and staff—are the focus,” he said. ■ —Rori Francis Blakeney

insidethehouse CHANGING THE SCALE:

B.E.’s New Emphasis on Graduation Rates Impacts Ranking WHEN BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine’s latest ranking of the top 50 schools for African American students listed Morehouse as No. 45— down from the No. 1 spot it had held for the past four years—it was obvious something had changed. BE magazine’s new criteria put more emphasis on graduation rates and the size of African American population at colleges and universities, as explained in the September 2006 issue where the rankings were published. At Morehouse, things changed, as well—but for the better. “What the Black Enterprise ranking does not show is that over the past four years, our six-year graduation rate has averaged about 55 percent, and in 2005, rose to 60 percent – the College’s highest graduation rate ever,” said President Walter E. Massey ’58 during Opening Convocation in September 2006. “So, by any standard, Morehouse really is a better institution today than it was when we were ranked No. 1.” However, the particular year that was the focus of the Black Enterprise ranking – 2004 – was an anomalous year for Morehouse in which the graduation rate dropped from 55 percent to 49 percent. “It is also a fact that even at 55 percent – a rate we are continually striving to improve – Morehouse’s graduation rate is significantly higher than the national average graduation rate for African American men, which is about 33 percent. So, any way you look at it, Morehouse is still at the top of the list when it comes to producing black male college graduates – period,” Massey said. To fully appreciate how impressive these numbers are, David V. Taylor, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said

pared to 55 percent for Morehouse. Furthermore, are several indicators predict graduation rates at Morehouse are, in fact, continuing to improve, said Taylor. For example, the freshman retention rate – the number of freshmen who return for their sophomore year – was 84 percent in 2005, up from 81 percent in 2004. Other signs of progress include a 2006 graduating class of 529, the largest number in the College’s history. And despite increasing competition,Morehouse continues to attract some of the best and brightest students in the nation. Entering students’ average high school GPAs have remained stable since 2001 (3.2 in 2005) and their average combined SAT scores have increased each year since 2001 (1088 in 2005). Massey said that one positive outcome of the publicity about the College’s change in the BE ranking is that it presents an opportunity for Morehouse to bring greater attention to the disparity between male and female college attendance and graduation rates. “We see this opportunity as our responsibility, indeed, as part of what it means to be a leader and a servant. Think about it: As the college that enrolls and graduates the largest number of African American men in the nation, we are the preeminent leader on this subject.” An upcoming provost report will provide more information about the Morehouse Male Initiative and the overall state of academic affairs at Morehouse, as well as additional analysis of the Black Enterprise ranking. ■

Morehouse College Six-Year Graduation Rate

PERCENT

100 75

59.6% 55.6%

55.0%

49.6%

25 0 2002

2003

2004*

2005

*Year accessed for current BE ranking.

you must understand the relentless competition out there for black male students, especially considering that black men enter college at half the rate of black women. “Nationally, African American men are not attending college or earning college degrees at the same rate as African American women,” he said. “Currently, for every one African American male in college, there are two African American females, and the graduation rate for African American females is significantly higher than for African American males.” The fact that Morehouse continues to thrive in this competitive, low-supply, highdemand market also is evident when comparing the College’s graduation rate to other HBCUs that achieved ranking in the BE survey. The Office of Institutional Research at Morehouse accessed the U.S. Department of Education Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System directly and found that for the HBCUs included in the current BE survey, the average six-year graduation rate for those institutions over the past four years is 49.3 percent for all African American students, and 38.5 percent for African American males, as com-

—VGH

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insidethehouse MOREHOUSE

in the

NEWS

Tips for Parents and Students.”

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October 6, 2005 — The Atlanta

Journal-Constitution

August 28, 2005 — The Atlanta

Jumpstart program, which appeared

nonprofit in its second year at the Atlanta University Center. The story

Director of the Learning Resource

focused on efforts to build a library

Center and College archivist the Rev.

for the program, spearheaded by

Herman “Skip” Mason was profiled in

Adrienne Harris, Morehouse chief of

the Pursuits/People and Their Passions

staff. Harris is a six-year volunteer

section of the paper. The headline was

with Literacy Volunteers of America.

“Unlocking a Family’s History.” The

■

profile focused on Mason’s recent

Journal-Constitution

genealogical work. He was quoted

Morehouse psychology student

saying, “I feel like I have a heavenly

Timothy Flemming Jr. was featured

host of ancestors interceding for me.”

after winning a $25,000 prize in

■

Hollywood’s Famous Poetry Society

October 6, 2005 — The Atlanta

The September issue of Delta Sky

Contest. Flemming, who also is an

magazine, which is circulated on

assistant pastor at Mount Carmel

Delta Air Lines flights across the

Baptist Church, won for his poem

nation, included a two-page adver-

“Magdalene Suit.” He said he plans to

tisement for the Atlanta University

use some of the prize money toward

Center. Morehouse was featured

his tuition at Morehouse.

prominently in the ad.

■

Issues in Higher Education

October 3, 2005 — Jet magazine

October 6, 2005 — Diverse

Tony and Susan Cox are parents of

In advance of the first ever Leadership

Morehouse sophomore Kevin Cox.

Conference at Morehouse College,

The family was featured in the

Walter E. Fluker wrote an editorial on

Education section of Jet after attend-

the need for ethical leadership in the

ing New Student Orientation during

wake of Hurricane Katrina. The edi-

Kevin’s freshman year. The story was

torial was published in Diverse

titled “Surviving the College Scene:

Forum in the magazine. In the edito-

■

October 20, 2005 — Diverse Issues in Higher Education

My Brothers’ Keeper Alumnus Said L. Sewell III ’92 has started a program at the University of West Georgia that focuses on creating a brotherhood of successful black male students. The program is called the West Georgia Learning Community. “This program is about the mentorship of brothers supporting one another. We have high expectations of them, and we are telling them not to lower their expectations,” said Sewell. The program was featured as the magazine’s 2005 Retention and Recruitment Special Report.

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The “A” List

in both the City Life and South Metro

Journal-Constitution

September 2005 — Delta Sky

February 2006 — Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine

The AJC featured a write-up on the

sections of the paper. Jumpstart is a

■

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.

rial, Fluker said: “The failure of ethi-

by the Florida Courier.

cal leadership is far more dangerous

■

and costly, and in the end, more dam-

From the New York Times to the

aging than even the worst hurricanes

Tampa Tribune to the Dallas Morning

that wreak devastation on our

News and markets in between … news

shores.” Fluker is the Coca-Cola

that the Ray Charles tour bus was

Professor of Leadership Studies and

coming to Morehouse caused a buzz.

executive director of the Leadership

Feb. 19, 2006 — New York Times

The midnight blue tour bus was

Center at Morehouse.

donated to the College during

■

November 2, 2005 —

Founder’s Week. Joe Adams, Charles’

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

longtime manager and friend of the

The Faith and Values section of the

College said, “This is where Ray

AJC gave extensive advance coverage

would have wanted it to be. It served

on the Morehouse Leadership

us well and now we want it to serve

Conference. The story was titled

the wonderful students at

“Developing Ethical Leaders: Compass

Morehouse College.”

Watchers Weigh In.” Coverage includ-

■

ed quotes on the definition of ethical

Channel / CNN Inside Africa

leadership and photos of seven of the

A visit from Wangari Maathai made

conference participants.

national news. Maathai, who is the

■

first African woman to be awarded

February 2006 — Boston Globe

March 2006 — The Weather

The Boston Globe newspaper was just

the Nobel Peace Prize, received an

one of dozens of news outlets to cover

honorary doctor of science degree.

the student-organized vigil for the late

Her visit was made possible through

Coretta Scott King. Members of the

the efforts of the Andrew Young

Morehouse Student Government

Center for International Affairs.

Association organized a candlelight

■

vigil to celebrate King’s life. More than

Journal-Constitution

200 students from across the Atlanta

An article titled “Seedlings Give Rise

University Center participated.

to Economic Uplift” featured a look

■

at Morehouse’s efforts to teach stu-

Feb. 2, 2006 — Daytona Times

March 22, 2006 — The Atlanta

News that the world-famous

dents about the importance of under-

Morehouse Glee Club was coming to

standing and respecting the land and

the Daytona Beach area made front

its contributions to society. The story

page news. The story also was carried

was part of the coverage the College

insidethehouse received in connection with Wangari

chairwoman of the Commencement

■

Maathai’s visit to the school.

committee and associate vice presi-

Journal-Constitution

the speaker. During the speech, she

■

dent for Academic Affairs, “but we

Research by David Will Rice ’95, a

urged the graduates to make service

April 12, 2006 — The Atlanta

July 20, 2006 — The Atlanta

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin was

Journal-Constitution

don’t want our friends and guests to

Morehouse instructor, on the black

to those in need a priority.

When 17 students from Morehouse and

be in dire discomfort or danger.”

male self-image made front-page

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other AUC schools traveled to Brazil

■

news of the Metro section of the The

Diverse Issues in Higher Education

May 18, 2006 —

September 15, 2006 —

with administrators for two weeks, the

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The

When Walter E. Massey ’58 made

trip caught the attention of local media.

The Leadership Center facility was

headline for the story was “Altering

public his plans to retire at the end of

The headline in the AJC was “Atlanta,

named the Build Georgia Awards

Black Male Stereotypes.” Rice is work-

the 2006-07 academic year, news out-

Brazil Students Form Bond.”

Winner by the Atlanta Business

ing on a book about his studies.

lets made it front-page news. The

■

announcement appeared on the front

Chronicle. Dorita Herd, who works

■

“Archbishop Honored at Morehouse

for C.D. Moody Construction

Journal-Constitution

page of the The Atlanta Journal-

Ceremony.” Archbishop Wilton D.

Company, said she was impressed by

An article on Summer

Constitution, on the web site for

Gregory was inducted into the Martin

the high expectations that the admin-

Commencement titled “Mayor

Diverse Issues in Higher Education

Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers.

istration has of the students. She said

Inspires Morehouse Men” made news

and on the local news for every sta-

Gregory was one of 41 inductees at

she wanted to build a building that

in the Metro section of the AJC.

tion in Atlanta.

the ceremony that took place during

matched the expectation of excel-

Science and Spiritual Awareness Week.

lence. “We wanted to give them a

■

facility that exceeded their expecta-

April 13, 2006 — Georgia Bulletin

April 21, 2006 — Chronicle of

Higher Education

tions,” she said.

In April, Morehouse beat North

■

Carolina Central University to

News that Morehouse had graduated

become the champions, again, of the

its largest class in history made news

Honda Campus All-Star Challenge.

across the country. The Washington

This was Morehouse’s fourth victory.

Post was just one of hundreds of

The news was covered on several

newspapers, television and radio sta-

news outlet web sites and in publica-

tions and web sites that covered the

tions across the nation.

story. The story was generated by the

■

Associated Press and hit more than

April 23, 2006 — New York Times

May 21, 2006 — Washington Post

Morehouse was featured in several edi-

400 news outlets.

tions of the New York Times in a large

■

May 25, 2006 — Cleveland

story called “The Final Four.” The

Call & Post

story focused on the four remaining

“Morehouse Names Building for

all-male institutions in the country.

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

■

headline when chairman emeritus of

May 12, 2006 — The Atlanta

July 27, 2006 — The Atlanta

Journal-Constitution

the Board of Trustees received the

The annual debate about whether to

honor. Family members and a large

hold spring Commencement exercises

delegation from Olivet shared in the

inside or out made news in May.

naming ceremony on May 12, 2006.

With the help of minute-to-minute

■

forecasts and daily calls to leading

“Morehouse College Gets the King

meteorologists at The Weather

Papers!” That was the exclamation

Channel, Morehouse’s decision about

across the nation and across media out-

where to hold Commencement

lets in June, July and August. The heart-

caught the attention of The Atlanta

stopping deal to avert the Sotheby’s sale

Journal-Constitution. Each year is a

of the 10,000-piece collection – and

tricky call. “We don’t want to forgo

bring it back to Atlanta – hit more than

out grand ritual,” said Anne Watts,

1,000 news outlets nationwide.

June 2006 — New York Times

■

February 24, 2006 — The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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

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Campus Visits

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

The Hon. Saxby Chambliss, R-Georgia, United States Senate, February 6, 2006

George A Willis, vice president, East Carolina, United Parcel Service, Inc., January 24, 2006, as a part of the Black Executive Exchange Program. Philip I. Kent, chairman and CEO, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., September 12, 2005

David Satcher â&#x20AC;&#x2122;63, M.D., Ph.D., interim president, Morehouse School of Medicine, February 9, 2006

Philip W. Tomlinson, CEO and director, Total System Services, Inc., February 22, 2006

Kenneth D. Lewis, chairman, CEO and president, Bank of America Corporation, April 4, 2006

John Krenicki Jr., president and CEO, GE Energy, March 29, 2006

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Colleen A. Goggins, Worldwide chairman, Consumer and Personal Care Group, Johnson & Johnson, April 5, 2006

ontheshelf Human Existence Questioned in What Is This Thing Called I? Psychological Association, the Georgia State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and the Atlanta Chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists. Psychology professor Allen C. Carter ’66 isn’t one Yet, with all of these accomplishments, Carter will tell you to mince words. So when the Morehouse graduhe’s not African American, he’s not even a person – that these ate utters, “The mind is a liar,” many may say are nothing more than labels that place him in specific boxes. Carter is being extreme. He maintains that because of a need for mental In his book,“What Is This Thing Called I?” separatism, humans are incapable of knowing Carter discusses the concepts (or lack thereof) what he calls the ultimate truth, because the mind of truth and reality. By focusing on three gods has its own beliefs of what is true. – creator-god, we-god and i-god – and how “The mind thinks it knows who you are and tells they dictate human thoughts and actions, you who you are,” Carter says.“But the mind is a liar.” Carter ties religion to what he considers the Carter uses the book in his teachings, and admits perpetuation of the idea that humans are separate from the that many students find his concept’s challenging. true God. “Most [students] come here with ingrained reliThe idea that he would link religion to fallacy, Carter Allen Carter ’66 gious beliefs,” he said. “Many students find this difacknowledges, could label him controversial. But Carter counficult – it challenges their most basic beliefs, what ters with a “truth” of his own: “That which defines you, limits you.” Grandma taught them.” On a human level, Carter can be defined as a 1966 Carter’s ultimate goal is that the book helps readers learn who Morehouse graduate with a degree in psychology. After they truly are, to learn that they lack nothing. A person who pursues receiving his doctorate from Columbia University, he went knowledge of truth, he says, will find that the world opens for him. on to intern at the University of California Medical Center in “He is not affected by anything that happens to him or is said San Francisco. In addition to teaching at Morehouse for 25 to him,” Carter says. “He will always be open, but won’t need to years, he has operated a private practice for more than a defend. Anyone who has truth has no need for anything, no wants.” quarter-century. He is a past president of the Georgia —SNA

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

F O O T N O T E S An Introduction to Moore-Penrose Rings, Volume I Gregory Battle ’77 iUniverse, 2006 Gregory Battle ’77, associate professor of mathematics, recently published a book on theoretical algebra titled “An Introduction to Moore-Penrose Rings, Volume I.” Battle analyzes the structure of Moore Penrose rings by examining the algebraic systems in the engineering and physical science disciplines. The early portion of the book employs formal ring classification. 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 Air Force Geophysics Laboratory, the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, the Material Sciences Laboratory at MIT, and the Coastal Systems Station (Littoral Warfare Branch). Battle earned his doctorate in theoretical algebra from Washington University in St. Louis.

Benjamin Elijah Mays: A Pictorial Life and Times Carrie M. Dumas, with Julie Hunter, contributing editor Mercer University Press, 2006 Abook chronicling the life of Benjamin E. Mays, the sixth president of Morehouse, through pictures and interviews with those whose lives were affected by Mays’ sermons, speeches 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. Says Dumas: “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’ contributions to the African American existence: “Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays represented the best of America. He also symbolized and embodied the best of the African American experience and tradition, the best of the South, and the best of the human condition. His idealism, humanism, warm humanity and religious faith are as precious as they are rare. The deep beauty of his life and pilgrimage is that they are a constant and dramatic reminder of the higher possibilities of human nature, existence and destiny.” F A L L

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developmentnews HISTORICAL ACCOMPLISHMENT:

The Campaign for a New Century Exceeds Goal By $15 Million A FULL FOUR MONTHS before the official end of The Campaign for a New Century, the most ambitious fund-raising effort in the College’s history, an announcement was made: Not only had the Campaign goal been met, it had been exceeded. In February during the Founder’s Day celebration, at a dinner at the new Georgia Aquarium to honor the Campaign’s major donors, C.D. Moody, the ’78 Morehouse grad who was the contractor for the recently erected Leadership Center facility, committed $1 million to the Campaign, which brought the …$117, 241, 197. grand total to…drum roll please… Though the Campaign officially would end June 2006 with a grand total of more than $120 million, the activities and celebratory spirit of Founder’s Week provided the perfect backdrop for the announcement. Amid the commemoration of the College’s history was the celebration of one of the College’s most historic achievements. The Campaign for a New Century was a resounding success that already has made a great impact on the life and future of the College--from building construction that provides more room for academic pursuits, to technology that makes learning more exciting, to scholarships that help young men achieve their dream of a Morehouse education. The remarkable stories behind the Campaign’s success will be told in the Campaign Summary Report, which will be published in the upcoming months. But the College’s quest to provide students with an excellent 21st century education is a continous journey. Following are giving areas for which the College is currently seeking funding.

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

PRIORITY GIVING AREAS

Annual Fund

Ray Charles Performing Arts Center

The College seeks to raise $20 million to construct this state-of-the-art performing center featuring celestial lighting, a U-shaped stage and loose chair seating in the wings. The 575-seat center will be the centerpiece of a larger complex, the Morehouse Center for the Arts. The complex,which will be located on the corner of Lowery Boulevard and West End Avenue, also will provide rehearsal, performance, instructional 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 Foundation awarded the College a $4.5-million endowment, which will support 60 Bonner Scholars annually. By August 2007, Morehouse is expected to match this grant with a $2-million completion MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE

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

Dean’s Chair in Business and Economics

The College seeks to raise $1.5 million to endow a Dean’s Chair in the Division of Economics and Business Administration. The Chair Campaign allows donors to purchase a seat for a minimum investment of $2,000 to be paid over a five-year period. Opportunity Fund Program

Each year, third- and fourth-year students cannot return or complete their education due to a lack of financial resources. The average shortfall ranges between $3,000 to $5,000 per student. Donations to this fund help ensure a Morehouse education for a promising student.

Each year, the Office of Alumni Relations issues a challenge to alumni to raise $1,000,000. The Annual Fund is the most convenient vehicle to do so. In large part to alumni contributions, our students are able to enjoy an affordable,first-rate education that fosters more dedication and commitment to the global community with each passing academic year. Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection

On June 23, 2006, Morehouse College became the owner of one of the greatest American archives of the 20th century. This monumental collection is noteworthy because it contains 10,000 items dating from 1946 to 1968 and includes handwritten drafts of such famous speeches and writings as “I Have a Dream” and King’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. The College is currently seeking $1.5 million to ensure that the Collection is professionally archived and appropriately exhibited. ■

developmentnews Suppor t from a Stranger

Centenarian Names Morehouse in Will

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

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

JULIUS 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 education. It took him years of attending night school to earn an eighth-grade certificate—the pinnacle of his formal education. When Price,a retired GM worker,celebrated his 100th birthday in May 2005,he asked that,in lieu of gifts,all his wellwishers send donations to Morehouse College. The College Julius Price 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 EIGHT MOREHOUSE FRESHMENwho plan to pursue careers in medicine 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 president of employment and labor relations, Morehouse freshmen John Martin, DeQuan Malone, Chad Lott, Sterling Johnson, Daryl Fields, Robert Johnson, Jamal Z. Bankhead, Everett Dixon; Deanna Kenard, CHW vice president of learning and organization development, and Cherie Kunold, CHW director of diversity and organization development

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onthefieldandcourt

Morehouse Alums Tackle the NFL By Shaneesa N. Ashford orehouse can now boast of two Maroon Tigers in the NFL. Isaac Keys ’00 joined the Arizona Cardinals as a linebacker in 2004. Prior to the Cardinals, Keys’ NFL career included stints with the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. As a three-year starter at Morehouse, Keys led the Tigers with 26 quarterback sacks during his final two seasons, and 40 tackles in his final season. The St. Louis, Mo., native received a degree in health and physical education. Keys gives back to the community through the development of the Keys to the Future Foundation, various football camps and the St. Louis NFL Homegrown Athletes Weekend. John David Washington ’06 signed as an undrafted free agent with the St. Louis Rams . Washington, whose father is Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington, ended his Isaac Keys ’00 plays on the practice squad

John David Washington ’06

Washington plays on the practice squad for the St. Louis Rams.

Morehouse career as the school’s single-game (242 yards), singleseason (1,198 yards), and career (3,699 yards) leading rusher. The 510 200 pound running back earned all-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first-team honors in 2005 as the conference’s leading rusher. Washington also earned SIAC Offensive Player of the Week six times throughout his career and was named National Player of the Week by D2Football.com. Washington graduated with a degree in sociology. He is currently a member of the Rams’ practice squad. ■

for the Arizona Cardinals.

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MOREHOUSE SHARES SIAC ALL SPORTS AWARD Winning championships in two sports and finishing strong in two others, Morehouse grabbed a share of the 2005-06 SIAC Commissioner’s AllSports Award. Morehouse shares the top sports award with Albany State University. Each team tallied 31 points in the competition that covers all sports sponsored by the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Morehouse claimed a share of the prestigious award by winning conference championships in cross country and track and field, finishing second in tennis and third in MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE

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baseball. The top-place finish is the first for Morehouse since 2001, when the College won the all-sports award in a landslide. FOOTBALL

FIVE MAROON TIGERS ON PRESEASON ALL-SIAC TEAM Three Maroon Tigers were named to the All-SIAC first team and two to the second team, voted on by conference football coaches and announced by Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference officials. Offensive linemen Claiborne Green and Bryant Ervin and cornerback Johnny Eubanks were named to the preseason first team, based on their selection to the

Bryant Ervin

Claiborne Green

2005 post-season All-SIAC team. Green, a 6-4, 330-pound senior from Watkinsville, Ga., and Ervin, a 6-1, 325-pound senior from Keysville, Ga., anchored a Morehouse offensive line that finished third in total offense in the SIAC in 2005. Eubanks, a 5-10, 170-pound junior from Atlanta, was one of the conference’s top defensive

Johnny Eubanks

cover men, earning national Defensive Player of the Week honors. Defensive lineman Charles Prescott and kick-returner and wide receiver Ravenell DuPree, who were named to the second team, received their first All-SIAC honors. Prescott is a 6-1, 280-pound junior from Waynesboro, Ga.; DuPree is a 5-8, 170-pound senior from Atlanta.

TENNIS

TRACK AND FIELD

HILL NAMED SOUTH REGION COACH OF THE YEAR Morehouse head track and field coach Willie H. Hill was named the South Region Coach of the Year for the 2006 outdoor season. Cited for his achievements by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, Hill will receive an award at Emporia State University, site of the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Hill coached the Flying Maroon Tigers to an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Division II indoor championships, followed by winning the SIAC championship by more than 40 points. Hill has led the Morehouse cross country team to 12 consecutive SIAC titles. The coaches’ association also tabbed Morehouse freshman Damian Prince as the NCAA South Region Athlete of the Year. Prince, from Decatur, Ga., won the SIAC title in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and placed second in the open 400.

place in the 400-meter hurdles. Dominic Smith, of Memphis, Tenn., took third place in the triple jump with a distance of 50’-1.” He finished second in the decathlon at the SIAC championships in April. GOLF

MOREHOUSE FOURTH IN MINORITY TOURNAMENT Morehouse finished fourth in the 20th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship held in May. After the first day of competition, Morehouse was in second place and trailed eventual winner Fayetteville State University by only 13 strokes. But when the final shots were fired,

the Maroon Tigers were 54 holes off the pace, landing in fourth place in the seven-team Division II field. Approximately 125 contestants from 28 colleges and universities, representing 14 countries, comprised the field for the three-day golfing and scholarship event. The competitors were divided into NCAA Division I and Division II groups. Senior Jordan Heath led the Maroon Tigers with a three-day score of 242. Heath shot a 74 in the first round, which was good for third place among all Division II golfers at the end of day one. However, Heath finished in ninth place overall with a 54-hole score of plus-26. ■

Basketball Schedule NOVEMBER 2006 4 Sat Georgia Tech The Thanksgiving Classic 24 Fri Ga. College and State Univ. 25 Sat Columbus St. University

Atlanta, GA (exhibition) 7:30 PM

DECEMBER 2006 2 Sat Stillman College* 9 Sat Miles College* 11 Mon Albany State University* 27-30 Black College Hoops Classic 27-30 Peach State Classic

Columbus, GA Columbus, GA

6:00 PM 8:00 PM

Tuscaloosa, AL Fairfield, AL Atlanta, GA Los Angeles, CA

7:00 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM TBA

JANUARY 2007 2 Tue 6 Sat 8 Mon 13 Sat 15 Mon 18 Thu 20 Sat 23 Tue 25 Tue 27 Sat

Kentucky State University* Benedict College* Paine College* Miles College* LeMoyne Owen College* Kentucky State University* Lane College* Paine College* Stillman College* Tuskegee University*

Forbes Arena Columbia, SC Augusta, GA Forbes Arena Forbes Arena Frankfurt, KY Jackson, TN Forbes Arena Forbes Arena Forbes Arena

7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM

FEBRUARY 2007 1 Thu 6 Tue 8 Thu 13 Tue 15 Thu 17 Sat 19 Mon 21 Wed Mar 1-Mar 4

Clark Atlanta University* Fort Valley State University* Benedict College* Fort Valley State University* Albany State University* Clark Atlanta University* Tuskegee University* LeMoyne Owen College* SIAC Tournament

Atlanta, GA (A) Forbes Arena Forbes Arena Fort Valley, GA Albany, GA Forbes Arena Tuskegee, AL Memphis, TN

7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 2:00 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM

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Sports Roundup

RAFEAEL SMITH RECEIVES ACADEMIC HONORS RaFeael Smith ’06 was named to the 2006 SIAC All-Academic Tennis Team by conference officials in April. Smith, the team captain who usually played in the No. 1 singles position, graduated magna cum laude with a degree in business administration. It was the third time he had been named to the all-academic team. He was elected to Phi Beta RaFeael Smith ’06 Kappa, and was named to the National Honor Roll, National Scholastic Collegiate Scholars and the International Golden Key Honor Society.

MOFFATT CLAIMS ANOTHER TITLE IN MEN’S HIGH JUMP COMPETITION Morehouse high jumper Keith Moffatt won the men’s high jump competition at the 2006 North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Track and Field Championships, held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in July. Moffatt cleared 7’- 5” to surpass his nearest competitor by more than two inches. His victory helped Team USA dominate the international competition at the Pan American Stadium. Team USA took the top two positions in 12 separate events. Moffatt, a junior Keith Moffatt physical education major from Newport News, Va., is the 2006 NCAA Division II and three-time SIAC high jump champion. The Maroon Tigers finished 10th in the NCAA Division II outdoor track and field championships in May. During the Division II championships, Moffatt broke the championship meet record and tied the Division II national high jump record. The meet record of 7’-5” was set by Morehouse alumnus Greg Roberts in 1997. Moffatt’s previous national title came in the 2005 Division II championships in Boston. The high-flying leaper is the three-time SIAC high jump champion and has never finished lower than second place in any collegiate high jump competition. Four other Maroon Tigers gained All-America status during the Division II championships by finishing in the top eight in their events. Cameron Dayne, who graduated magna cum laude in May, achieved his 12th and 13th AllAmerica ranking with a sixth-place finish in the triple jump and an eighth -place finish in the 200-meter. Randall Flimmons finished fourth in the long jump with his season best leap of 25’-4.” Damian Prince, of Decatur, Ga., gained seventh

Founder’s Day 2006 Commemorating History, Making History ounder’s Day is a time to reflect on the contributions and sacrifices of those who had the vision to build an institution that would stand the test of time. But this year, perhaps more than others, the four-day celebration 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. The Leadership Center made its mark as one of the College’s most impressive venues for major College events with a donor reception and open house. Of course, traditional Founder’s Day events, such as the concert and the ever-popular “A Candle in the Dark” Gala, drew alumni, faculty, staff, students and College supporters alike to the annual celebration that honors our past and embraces our future. ■

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1. Honorary Degree recipients Catherine Reynolds and Alphonso Jackson, along with President 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 in the Leadership Center, share a moment with John E. Williams ’69, dean of the Division of Business Administration and Economics, during the Leadership Center Major Donors Appreciation and Open House. 3. Shirley Massey, first lady of Morehouse, joins students in the electric slide after the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala. 4. Members of the Morehouse Glee Club show off their theatrical skills during the Glee Club’s Spring Concert. 5. Award recipients join Morehouse Men and guests in the singing of the College’s alma mater during the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala. 6. Dianne Reeves, known for her song “Better Days,” performs during the Founder’s Week Concert on Friday. 7. Brian K. Blount, professor of New Testament Interpretation at the Princeton Theological Seminary, speaks during Worship Service. 8. President Massey and Willie “Flash” Davis ’56 congratulate the Otis Moss, Jr. Oratorical Contest 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.

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NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD HOPES TO BRING HIS LEGACY OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, ADEPTNESS AND AGILITY TO NEW ROLE

By Rori Francis Blakeney

Flash Forward 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 amassing 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 represent him before a panel of three officers in a special court martial. That experience was the beginning of Davis’ illustrious career in the courtroom, which has culminated in the building of a successful law firm, Davis,

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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 handled 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

“

inperson

I want to do what is

Commonwealth.) Davis, became the first United States magistrate judge appointed in Massachusetts, serving from 1971 to 1976. While on the bench, Davis wrote the opinion that declared the death row unconstitutional in Massachusetts. The opinion is still the rule of law in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Davis has constantly demonstrated his commitment to justice—a commitment 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 appointed chairman of the elections committee for Miss Maroon and White during 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 unbroken commitment, dedication and engagement 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 prepared to give you an elegant speech recall-

necessary to make sure

our students get the best

”

possible education.

ing some event, experience, personality or a current event at Morehouse.” It is a commitment that Davis has demonstrated to the College as past president 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 football 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 governance 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 questioned. I am going to concern myself with policy-making.” Davis expects to spend his time making 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 possible education,” he said. ■ F A L L

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feature

Hope Reigns M

ore than 500 men joined the ranks of the Class of 2006 during Morehouse College’s spring and summer Commencement exercises. But the graduates who marched in the spring commencement had more than family, friends and the College on their sides – they also had the Weather Channel. Never have more people prayed for sun. This year marked the first that Morehouse College divulged a “weather plan” for Spring commencement – an alternative plan in case of inclement weather. While practical, it was not the wish of the students, who embraced the tradition of Commencement on Century Campus. Enter the Weather Channel, with up-to-the-minute weather reports to Morehouse through the Office of Communications. For days, the campus community awaited reports of whether the weather would hold up. If so, the graduates would join the thousands of Morehouse Men who have crossed the stage under the watchful eye of the statue of Benjamin E. Mays, the College’s sixth president. If not, proceedings would move to Forbes Arena, with Archer Hall as the overflow area. As it drizzled on Century Campus during the 122nd Commencement, the graduates happily donned plastic ponchos and smiling faces. But those ponchos disappeared as it came time to cross the stage into a new future. A little rain was not about to keep these Morehouse Men down.

Threshold of Promise As family and friends gathered to celebrate during Commencement and Reunion Weekend, the 2006 baccalaureate service set the tone. The Rev. Matthew Vaughn Johnson Sr., a 1983 graduate of Morehouse, recalled stories of his time at the College,

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By Shaneesa N. Ashford

and the respect the institution garnered. Johnson focused his sermon on the troubles of a biblical people who had been granted a birthright to land, but had to struggle to settle it. He advised the students that while they have achieved a milestone, they would need to be prepared for what lies ahead. “We’re on the threshold of promise, but we haven’t settled the land,” Johnson said. “Settling the land may be a whole lot harder than getting to it.” Indeed, many believe black men are not allowed or are not pursuing opportunities to live up to their potential. According to a March 20, 2006, New York Times article titled “Plight Deepens for Black Men, Studies Warn,” statistics show that black men face critical 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 2006 must 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 Mom The 2006 Commencement speaker was aware that Morehouse has a reputation for countering negative statistics on the future of black men. Indeed, it was eight years ago when Dr. Ruth Simmons, the 18th president of Brown University, watched as her son, Khari Simmons, graduated from Morehouse with a degree in music. This year, her nephew, Jeremy Brown, graduated with a degree in business administration. And so, on Mothers’ Day,“Morehouse Mom” Simmons noted the importance of the release of so many educated black men into

feature Morehouse, however, counters these statisthe world. To the mothers and grandmothtics with a group of men who are poised to take ers of these graduates, she said, it is the gift on the world, including: of a lifetime, and it must be celebrated. Alan Clarke, the 2006 valedictorian, who “This is a serious moment,” Simmons “They need to see clearly what maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average and said. “And to the extent that there are young boys in this audience watching, they we value as people—not style, deferred Harvard Law School for a year to parneed to see clearly what we value as a peo- but substance. Not show, but ticipate in the Asia Pacific Leadership Program; Chaz Clark, the first recipient of the UNCF ple – not style, but substance. Not show, achievement. Not frivolity, but but achievement. Not frivolity, but sacri- sacrifice. Not imitation, but Liberty Scholarship after 9/11, who will begin his fice. Not imitation, but respect for our culrespect for our cultural legacy.” career in the Internal Audit Division of Price Waterhouse Cooper; tural legacy.” Donald Washington, who went from being Echoing Johnson’s message, Simmons —Ruth J. Simmons, president of Brown spoke on the importance of remaining University, Commencement Speaker homeless to graduating with honors, and is the recipient of the Compton Mentor Fellowship; true to yourself and your cause. In a recent Chris Campbell, an honors graduate who began his own nonsurvey on the issues facing African American men, conducted by profit foundation, the Cardinal Mentoring Program; and Cameron The Washington Post, Harvard University and the Henry J. Kaiser Dayne, a student-athlete who won the 2006 Franklin L. Forbes Family Foundation, more than 60 percent of black male responMost Outstanding Athlete Award, and garnered seven selections as dents noted that they are considered to be less intelligent and have an NCAA Division II All-American in track and field, all while been treated with less respect than others. She admonished the graduating with honors and being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. graduates not to allow anyone to take away their dignity or free“We are the next generation of Morehouse Men that has bolddom to be who they are. ly climbed the mountaintop of educational excellence that so few “You are equal to any, but it’s important that your deeds black men are able to ascend,” said Clarke in his valedictory address. demonstrate that,” Simmons said. “You have been blessed with an But these successes, said Clarke, did not come without strugeducation, and it is your duty to make that possible for others. gle. And there are struggles to come. “Tomorrow, the mountain “Never let anyone take from you what is your inalienable grows higher. Tomorrow, the path grows more treacherous.” right to dignity and your freedom to be who you are,” Simmons To navigate that path, he said, his classmates must continue to said. “No success is worth that.” believe in themselves and in what Morehouse has instilled. She also noted that in order to succeed at Morehouse, one “We must continue to believe—to believe in ourselves, to must be motivated. That motivation will sustain these graduates believe in the education that Morehouse has afforded us, to as they overcome myriad obstacles, said Simmons. believe that we can extend a helping hand to our brothers and sis“You do know that an education from Morehouse will give you ters across the world who may stumble or even fall,” Clarke said. the edge to overcome those challenges,” she said.“You were motivat“I challenge each of us … to believe unconditionally, not only in ed to achieve, and so you have, and so you will for a lifetime to come. one’s success, but to believe in the success of the class of 2006.” ■ “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 of them graduated with honors, 47 members were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa; and two were selected as 2006-2007 Fulbright Scholars. This, many say, is far from the norm. Consider that, in the Post survey, black male respondents consider HIV/AIDS, crime, racial discrimination, poverty, job status, drug and alcohol abuse and irresponsible parenting as large problems for African American males. Perhaps not surprising, lack of seriousness regarding education received the largest percentage of responses. Notes one expert in the New York Times article: “There’s something very different happening with young black men, and it’s something we can longer ignore.”

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. F A L L

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By Shaneesa N. Ashford

Saved, Sealed, Delivered Literally hours before the gavel was to drop at Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Auction House in New York, a 10,000-piece collection of Martin Luther King Jr. â&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 partnership, offers the College a unique opportunity to bear witness to a remarkable time in U.S. history as its proud steward.

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

t was 9:30 p.m. on June 23 when the call came in. After much wheeling and dealing, the personal papers of one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century would have a new home: Morehouse College. Evidence of the importance of the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection can be found in the entities that wanted it, and the entities that ultimately got it. Scheduled to be auctioned by Sotheby’s on June 30, the Collection was coveted by many institutions, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and Boston University, where King received his doctorate in systematic theology in 1955. However, it was Mayor Shirley Franklin who, intent on keeping the collection in Atlanta, rallied several public and private entities to produce funding to purchase the Collection. In a deal sealed at the proverbial 11th hour, the papers were saved from the auction block. Morehouse became owner of the 10,000-piece col-

feature During his time at Morehouse, King became exposed to various philosophies on the human condition through sociology courses with department chair Walter Chivers and weekly chapel addresses by his mentor, Benjamin E. Mays, the sixth president of Morehouse. “We know there was a mindset on the faculty at Morehouse that was determined to produce a generation of graduates who would become the still, small whisper of the mighty wind that would blow down the walls of segregation,” Carter said. Through his education at Morehouse, King was exposed to the 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 King Collection, provide a blueprint for a modern America. “King offered a more noble vision of what is possible that will affirm the dignity of difference, demonstrate more diversity, maturity, more humanity, even for our oppressors,” he said. “What makes these papers and Martin Luther King Jr. so significant is that he provides us the case for a more peaceful way to conflict resolution between groups, between individuals, between nations.” The collection of significant papers arrived on Sept. 14 amid very little fanfare. Representatives from Morehouse and Robert W. Woodruff watched as a delivery truck pulled up to the Woodruff Library and unloaded 71 boxes containing report cards,

MLK’s Papers Are Home lection. Since that day, the College prepared to house the Collection, deemed one of the most important in recent history.

From Average Man to Morehouse Man King 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, who attended 1979 to 1984. At Morehouse, King was a normal student, graduating with a “C” average. He enjoyed singing, loved football and practiced chivalry at every turn. But perhaps what is more interesting is that the man who would come to be known as one of the greatest orators of the 20th century entered many speech contests on campus, but never won. Yet, said Lawrence Carter, dean of King Chapel, his education and experiences at Morehouse provided King with the tools needed in other phases of his life. “Those attempts at trying – he built on those and was quite successful, because he was the class speaker when he graduated from Crozier Theological Seminary,” Carter said. “So you get the impression of how well he did after he left Morehouse—at Crozier and at Boston—that what he got at Morehouse was cumulative.”

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Xernona Clayton, corporate consultant and executive producer for Turner Broadcasting’s Trumpet Awards, and former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young, are among viewers of the King Collection at Sotheby’s in New York. F A L L

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telegrams, sermon notes, even a briefcase – all of which were unloaded and moved to the archiving area for processing. There, Brenda S. Banks, former deputy director of the Georgia Department of Archives and History and chief archivist for the papers, cataloged the boxes, arranging them for effective sorting. “This, of course, is a very significant collection of a person who actually changed the way most of us see life, what we do, what we know in terms of our education, our lifestyles as African Americans,” Banks said. “It gives me a great deal of joy to even be associated with it.” But what was actually in the boxes? Loretta Parham, Woodruff’s CEO and library director, opened the first box, discovering a typed copy of King’s “The Montgomery Story,” the speech he gave to more than 1,000 delegates at the 47th NAACP convention in San Francisco in 1956. And then, the group realized what scholars for years to come will discover. This Collection, containing thousands of pieces of paper and books, offers insight into the thoughts of a man who would later lead a revolution of non-violence and command the attention and respect of the world.

Presenting to the World Twenty-five days later, the Martin Luther King Jr. Collection was officially presented to the world. During a press conference on Oct. 9, representatives from the College, the City of Atlanta, Woodruff Library and the King family were on hand to celebrate the papers’ arrival. President Walter E. Massey ’58 said the College was honored to serve as the home of the papers of one of the College’s most outstanding alumni. “It was here that he was introduced to the ideals that would form the basis of his philosophy of non-violent social change – ideals that provided the energy and the inspiration for the civil rights movement in the United States and for similar movements for social justice and equality around the world,” Massey said. “Because of the pivotal role Morehouse played in Dr. King’s development, we believe there is no better place in the world for his papers to reside.” Massey reiterated that Morehouse is committed to three values in regards to the College's ownership of the Collection: stewardship and care of the papers; scholarly access for researchers; and partnerships with the City of Atlanta, various organizations and the public. Mayor Franklin, who began her comments by quoting the civil rights leader, thanked the major players in the deal, including SunTrust, who agreed to provide the $32 million loan to purchase the Collection, and the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, who created the company that purchased the papers and will transfer the title to Morehouse after the loan is paid off. Franklin also acknowledged the 51 donors to the acquistion of the Collection. Andrew Young, who worked directly with King during the civil MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE

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The Martin Luther King Jr. Collection logo is a flame made of paper, directly relating to the Collection itself. The symbolic essence of the paper torch is to guide, to lead the way and to enlighten. The paper torch also alludes to “carrying the torch” and “A Candle in the Dark.”

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

Now the Work Begins Now that the papers have arrived, Banks and the archivists at Woodruff have a large task at hand. The standard procedures for processing the Collection include receipt; accession; arrangement and description of the pieces; and re-housing of the Collection into standard archival folders and boxes. The archivists also will oversee the repair and conservation of the items, and digitize or copy each item to establish a long-term facsimile of the materials. “To be involved in the care, preservation and provision of scholarly access to the manuscripts, writings and books of the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection is of historical significance and a privilege,” said Woodruff’s Parham during the press conference. “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 committee, chaired by Lonnie Bunch, director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of African American History and Culture, will advise the College on ways to provide scholarly access to the papers. To ensure that the community is able to view the papers and benefit from the experience of seeing King’s works, Morehouse will partner with various groups and organizations, including the Atlanta History Center, to sponsor educational events and exhibits. The first exhibit 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 president for Institutional Advancement, the group who will truly benefit from the Collection is the students. “[The Collection] allows us to provide another academic component to enhance courses and provide additional courses,” he said. “But it also gives a 3D view of who King was. You see King in a wholly different way, and the students will be able to have that kind of dimension during a time of their discovery and inquiry.” ■

Photos courtesy of Calvin Mackie ’90

After the Storm

n Monday, Aug. 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina tore through the Gulf Coast,ripping a path of destruction in her wake. Meteorologists initially confirmed that New Orleans 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, inundating the city with several feet of water and washing away thousands of lives,property and memories in what is being called the worst natural disaster in American history. Six Morehouse alumni share their stories of survival, resourcefulness, relocation, birth and death as they face life after the storm.

‘I wouldn’t leave him alone’ Jamal Caliste ’98 AS THE NATION WATCHED in horror the TV images of New Orleans residents being plucked from murky water and rooftops,Jamal Caliste ’98 was living out the nightmare. He and his father, Fred, spent three days on the roof of their Gentilly home before being rescued by a Coast Guard chopper. Caliste had planned to evacuate before the storm, but his father, a 71-year-old heart patient who had endured the brutal aftermath of Hurricane Betsy as a child, refused to leave. “I wouldn’t leave him alone,so I stayed,” says Caliste.First,high wind and heavy rain knocked out electricity. But Caliste did not realize the magnitude of the impending danger until he was awakened by the sound

By Chandra R. Thomas

of a rock crashing through their kitchen window. Within hours, water began seeping into the low-lying den area of their house and gradually rose to Caliste’s waist. “We started grabbing stuff, mostly my mother’s—[who happened to 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 promised to send rescuers, but they never came,” he says. Rescue choppers had begun dotting the sky like mosquitoes, but Caliste knew he would have to figure out a way to get their attention. He climbed onto the roof through 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 to shine 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 finally arrived on Aug. 31, which happened to be Caliste’s birthday. His dad had gotten so dehydrated that he had begun to hallucinate. “When the chopper came,this guy wearing camouflage came down a rope like G.I. Joe and told us to come quickly.” The rescuer would not allow them to take any personal items,so they were forced to leave behind everything—their identification, wallets, cell phones and even medicine. From there they were dropped off on an interstate and left to fight F A L L

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their way through a throng of about 1,000 frustrated evacuees, all trying to edge their way onto buses headed to a temporary shelter.Caliste’s father had to be treated at a makeshift medical tent after he fainted from severe dehydration and the blistering heat. They eventually made it to the Houston Astrodome where Caliste was able to reach his mother,Cynthia,by telephone. Caliste and his parents have settled into a suburban Houston apartment where they plan to remain indefinitely. Caliste, who had worked as an elementary school music teacher, is now in a management training program for a local retail chain. Along with assistance from FEMA and the American Red Cross, Caliste says he was grateful to receive monetary donations from some of his old Morehouse friends like Khari Simmons. As for what he’s learned in his Katrina experience, Caliste is very blunt:“I learned that when they tell you to get out of town because a hurricane is headed for the city, you probably should listen!”

‘Pictures, memories, everything – erased just like that’ Vance Vaucresson ’92 IT WAS DIFFICULT ENOUGH LOSING his childhood home and the new home that he and his family were just weeks away from moving into. But Katrina also claimed another casualty that was close to Vance Vaucresson’s heart: his family’s business that had been in operation since 1899. The New Orleans native had headed Vaucresson’s Sausage Company ever since his father, Robert “Sonny”Vaucresson, died in 1998. Shortly after news of Katrina’s impending arrival spread, Vaucresson, a 1992 graduate, and his wife, Julie—then six months pregnant—packed up their 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 a house 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 of our stuff,” he recalls.“She was pregnant and uncomfortable,it was horrible.” Two weeks after the storm, Vaucresson and his brother-in-law went back to the city to survey the damage.The home that he and his wife were rebuilding after a fire had destroyed it the year before was ruined, and his mother’s Lake Vista home had been under eight feet of water for two weeks. “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 waterlogged, destroying equipment, fixtures, refrigeration units, delivery trucks – everything. Computer problems left him unable to access any money, and the cramped living conditions were tough. A friend in Washington, D.C., raised $15,000 for the family, and Vaucresson’s former Morehouse Glee Club Director David Marrow also stepped in to help. “He got me another copy of my diploma and copies of my transcripts. 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 scrambling to get the family business running again. He has closed a deal to process the family’s famous spicy sausages at another New Orleans area meat company. “It was an extremely humbling experience,” he says. “We, as a people, learned humanity in its truest form.”

‘Big difference between poor and rich’ Cedric Richmond ’95 AS A LOUISIANA STATE REPRESENTATIVE and chair of the Louisiana Black Caucus, Cedric Richmond ’95 pledged to work hard as a MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE

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public servant. His dedication was put to the test when Katrina struck. After an alarming conference call with the governor and other state leaders 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 tell by the sound in their voices that this was the one,” says Richmond, a personal injury attorney. He immediately got to work,packing important papers and raising valuables to higher ground at his Eastern New Orleans home and at the home of his relatives. Then he made the rounds at nightclubs and social gatherings, warning residents to leave the city immediately. The next morning, he and his Western Terrier, Tito, headed by car to the Atlanta home of his former Morehouse roommate, Devetus Jones.As television images of Katrina and subsequent flooding splashed across the television screen, Richmond knew he had to get to work. The long ride to the Office of Emergency Preparedness Center in Baton Rouge, La., was full of challenges. Power outages forced him to drive in total darkness and gas shortages nearly left him stranded. However, that paled in comparison to the compelling sights along the way, including some homes literally blown into the street. “The worst part was seeing people and children stranded on bridges in 100-degree weather with no help in sight.” Richmond worked side by side with fellow Caucus members for nearly two weeks, coordinating supplies, housing and rescue efforts. “It was a lot of long hours, but you didn’t think about it because there was so much to do,” he says. Two weeks later, Richmond returned to New Orleans and visited his home that had been buried under water. He says his network of Morehouse brothers leaned on each other during the ordeal for emotional support and the exchange of critical information.Although he now splits his time between homes in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, he hopes to rebuild in New Orleans.Katrina,he says,reinforced in him the importance of family, but he also feels the nation learned a lot. “I think Katrina showed how the government fails to care for the poor and 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.”

‘I knew this sucker was going tobe the big one!’ Calvin Mackie ’90 KATRINA TOOK A TOLL on the lives of her many victims, but none greater than those who lost loved ones in the mayhem that ensued. It’s a reality that is all too true for Calvin Mackie ’90. Months after the storm, the Tulane University professor and motivational speaker lost his father and stepmother just days apart. Their deaths, which he feels was largely the result of declining health and stress from Katrina, are just one chapter in the melodrama that ensued after he,his wife,Tracy,and sons Myles and Mason evacuated to Natchez, Miss. “I’m a mechanical engineer,” he notes, matter-of-factly. “I say that to say that is why I packed everything — my tailored suits, pictures, important files, the CPU to the computer, the kids’ stuff. I knew this sucker was going to be the big one!” Mackie also had the forethought to withdraw $5,000 in cash (some of which he distributed to family members) before leaving town. As the news of Katrina’s devastation spread,Mackie began to panic.For a week he was unable to reach his father, who just before Katrina hit had been diagnosed with lung cancer. The Mackies stayed put in Mississippi until November, when they returned to New Orleans full time. Mackie immediately busied himself trying to set up his father’s critical medical treatment 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 such as 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 leaders involved to focus on the most important issues.“This is not a question of whether or not to rebuild, this is about what we as a country are going to do for all these homeowners 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 the food line at the church,” he says.“You could tell they never thought this could be them.”

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

‘They had nothing’ Maurice Baudy ’95 THE SAYING GOES THAT HOME IS where the heart is. Thanks to Katrina, the saying 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 grandparents had evacuated to relatives’ homes in Baton Rouge. “That Monday morning I watched from my desk at work satellite images on the Internet of the hurricane pummeling my city,” remembers Baudy, a strategic sourcing analyst for The Home Depot.“I was in disbelief,” he says.“I was literally watching it and crying at my desk.” Baudy and his wife immediately jumped into action, sending out frantic e-mails appealing to friends for assistance.“I felt that was my role — to get my family back to some level of normalcy 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 fellow Morehouse buddies – who sent boxes of clothes, gift cards and money. “We were receiving boxes of stuff from everywhere — St. Louis, Texas, Ohio — for months.” His parents’home in eastern New Orleans was destroyed along with his grandmother’s home in the Pontchartrain Park area. He also was moved by the firsthand accounts of those who were caught in the storm — like his parents’ neighbor who watched his wife drown. Baudy’s parents and grandparents have decided to remain in Baton Rouge for now. As for Baudy, he says he learned a lot from the ordeal. “It taught me a lot about the character of a lot of people. It also made me really see how many lives I’ve come in contact with in my life.”

‘It has taught us all the value of patience’ Ike Spears ’83 IKE SPEARS NEVER DREAMED that he would live in Boston, but that is where he and his family ended up after Hurricane Katrina. Spears, who was born and raised in New Orleans, his wife, Sonja, and sons, Diallo and Omari, initially rode out the storm in a Houston hotel. After nearly a week of taking in the devastating news about their city, the Spearses decided that it was time to head to his wife’s hometown. 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 of his experience in Beantown. He and his wife also were faced with the challenges of juggling their careers and family between both cities. Spears, an attorney, and his wife, a judge, took turns returning to New Orleans for business, always sure that one of them remained in town with the children. Spears says he continues to connect with his Morehouse College family since the storm.“We have created a collective network, passing on information about FEMA, Red Cross, housing and insurance companies to each other.” Despite the many challenges of living in post-Katrina New Orleans, the Spears have decided to return and rebuild 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 made it hard for a lot of people to return. But, in the end, I think it has taught us all the value of patience.” ■

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

Filmmaker Shelton “Spike” Lee ’79 tells of the heartbreaking, personal stories of those who endured the harrowing ordeal of Hurrican Katrina in the HBO documentary “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 the Morehouse student newspaper, The Maroon Tiger. Following are excerpts from that interview. DE: When did you realize you had to do some type of work regarding the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina? Lee: [Last year], I was in Venice at the Venice film festival and Tanya my wife called me and said, “Turn on the TV.” I saw all these horrific images and like everyone else I wondered, “Where was the government?” Right then 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 the city and its condition, and were you mentally prepared? Lee: I was mentally prepared, but even with that mental preparation …I saw the newspapers, magazines, and television, but to see it with my naked eye — the devastation, it was… I mean just the scale, to see it 3D 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 property and 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, especially musicians such as Wynton Marsellis, Terrance Blanchard, etc.? Lee: New Orleans is a cultural mecca, the birthplace of jazz, so it’s very important to 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 the luxury of the premium cable channels. Lee: I have working relations with HBO, which produced my other documentaries. There is no way in the world [network] stations would have given me four hours of time. I did not want to have Kim Polk talking about how her five-year-old daughter drowned and then here’s a commercial for deodorant — it doesn’t work like that. DE: What do you feel Morehouse has contributed to you that allows you to keep being innovative and coming up with different ways to portray life? Lee: Morehouse provided the foundation for me. I am a third-generation Morehouse man. My father, my grandfather and my mother’s grandmother went to Spelman, so it’s natural. F A L L

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Truth and Transformation By Raphael G. Warnock ‘91

The Rev. Dr. Raphael G. Warnock ’91 serves as senior pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church. He received his Ph.D. in systematic theology this past spring from New York’s Union Theological Seminary.

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MY INSTALLATION THIS YEAR as the senior pastor of Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church provides a personal lens and an existential window through which to view again the broad moral landscape upon which Morehouse College has left its indelible mark. Ebenezer Baptist Church – which provided the womb in which Martin Luther King Jr.’s nascent dream could be nurtured and later a home pulpit from which it could be proclaimed – has had only five pastors. Three of us (A.D. Williams, class of 1898 from then-Atlanta Baptist College, Martin Luther King Sr. ’30 and myself) have been Morehouse Men. Moreover, all three of its co-pastors, including Martin Luther King Jr. ’48, his brother A.D. Williams King ’60 and the College’s beloved former chairman of the board Otis Moss Jr. ’56, have been beneficiaries of Morehouse’s mission to both train the head and tune the heart. In that spirit, A.D. Williams, one of the founders of the Atlanta Branch of the NAACP, fought for the right of colored children to have the very high school from which his grandson would later graduate; Martin Luther King Sr. (Daddy King) courageously led a voting rights campaign in the heart of the Old South of 1935; and each of Ebenezer’s Morehouse-trained co-pastors sought to carry out this liberationist legacy in his own way. Yet,none demonstrated Morehouse’s mission more effectively or embodied it more clearly than Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.King,whose papers have now rightfully return to his “Dear Old Morehouse,” early on embraced a prophetic pedagogy that saw education’s aim as that of apprehending truth and achieving transformation. He insisted that the two must always be held in tandem;it is a concern that he raised as a student in the College’s newspaper, 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 concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate…If we are 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 about man because we have no guarantee that when we train a man’s mind,we will train his heart;no guarantee that when we increase a man’s knowledge,we will increase his goodness.” F A L L

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

Mays’ uneasiness and King’s caution to those engaged in the enterprise of higher education to “be careful”are as relevant today as ever. Therefore,Morehouse’s procurement of many of the papers and personal musings of its most distinguished alumnus could not have come at a better time. The acquisition of the King Papers represents a very high moment in Morehouse’s continuing effort to inform and inspire future leaders at a very low moment in the moral quality of our national and international life together. Our nation is engaged in an unnecessary and unjust war in Iraq. Conflict abounds in the Middle East. Mass media have marginalized and national governments have largely ignored the evil of genocide in the Sudan. Moreover, four decades after King launched his Poor People’s Campaign to challenge Lyndon Johnson’s abandonment of the War on Poverty, the poor of Hurricane Katrina provide a glaring reminder of America’s unfinished business with poverty and the need for a re-ordering of its priorities. How desperately do we need a steady infusion of King’s ethical principles and moral courage woven throughout the curriculum and culture of Morehouse and other places where young minds are shaped. Against the backdrop of our xenophobic proclivities and warring madness, I hear him say,“We are all tied in a single garment of destiny. Caught up in an inescapable network of mutuality. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly…Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” As an 18-year-old from the housing projects of Savannah, Ga., I was blessed to attend Morehouse and to come of age under the looming shadow of Dr. King’s imposing statue. It is exciting to think that future generations of young Morehouse Men will come of age in such close proximity to those charged with the stewardship of his words. Perhaps they, too, will rise up as mighty truth tellers in their own right,transforming some corner of our broken world. The Palestinian Jewish rabbi who inspired King most put it best: “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” ■

alumninews Life Membership Challenge for the Year 2000 and The New Millennium Classes 2001-05 Did 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 on your resumé? Do you routinely use the name Morehouse College to advance your personal or professional status?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then Morehouse College has in some way added value to your life. Invest in your future; invest in your Alumni Association. Will you be the next Life Member in your class? Kevin R. McGee ’93 President, Atlanta Metro Chapter CLASS OF 2000

Elite Thousandaire Club - $1,000 Marcus K. Shaw - First Member of the Elite Club in his class Lindsay Edwards - Second Member of the Elite Club in his class Demetrius J. Ingram – Third Member of the Elite Club in his class Life Membership Club - $700 James D. Whitney – First Life Member in his class CLASS OF 2001

Elite Thousandaire Club - $1,000 Warner L. Pinchback - First Member of the Elite Club in his class Life Membership - $700 Anthony S. Neal — First Life Member in his class CLASS OF 2002

Elite Thousandaire Club - $1,000 Charles J. Willoughby Jr. – First Member of the Elite Club in his class Life Memb ership - $700 Brian (Shawn) Easler - First Life Member in his class CLASS OF 2003

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

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

Brothers, As a new administration begins with the 20062007 fiscal year, I would like to thank all of those alumni who accepted the challenge of leadership nationally, regionally and locally. Additionally, the financial support of all our members is greatly appreciated, and I ask you to continue your active involvement. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank General James R. Hall ’57 for his solid and consistent leadership as president from 2002 to 2006. Jim certainly demonstrated the ‘true Morehouse spirit’ through his dedication and hard work in supporting the mission of the Association in assisting the College in the achievement of its goals and objectives. I personally appreciate his guidance, counsel and friendship, and I look forward to his continued support. My vision for the Association is that of relevance to all stakeholders. By implementing programs and activities that are meaningful to alumni and significant to students, the Association continuously builds value that will ensure sustained viability. As we all know, our membership continues to be far too low. With more than 12,000 graduates, the current 10 percent rate of financial members must be increased. Working together with innovative initiatives, we should expect to increase the active membership level to at least 45 percent over the next two to three years. As we move forward, you should expect to hear about and be asked to participate in programs designed to increase our membership levels. We can and must succeed in this effort. Your Association is working diligently to improve its financial position and provide support to the College and students. Our initial Career Fair in February 2006 was a great success. We expect an even larger number of participants next year. Our insurance program sponsored by Liberty Mutual and credit card program sponsored by MBNA continue to grow and are examples of additional income opportunities that we will continue to explore with new corporate partners. We encourage all alumni to update your contact information with the Association. To assist you in paying dues and life memberships, the Association’s new website address is morehousecollegealumni.com. The board, staff and I look forward to working with all of you to support the Association and Morehouse College! Special thanks to all alumni who gave to The Campaign for a New Century. Your contribution helped ensure that the strong legacy of our alma mater will not only continue, but be stronger. ■

CLASS OF 2004

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

Who will be the first Elite or Life Member in this class? F A L L

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Reunion Weekend 2006 GOLDEN TIGERS BREAKFAST CLASS OF 1956

Ted Sparks

Paul Thompson

Lyndon Wade

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.

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alumninews Bakari Sellers ’05 is Youngest African American Elected to S.C. House of Representatives

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

Spike Lee ’79 Holds Benefit for Alma Maters on Maiden Voyage of “Freedom of the Seas” SPIKE LEE’S 40 Acres & A Mule Productions celebrated its 20-year anniversary by hosting a benefit dinner party aboard the Royal Caribbean’s “Freedom of the Seas” cruise ship. Proceeds from the party benefited programs at Lee’s two alma maters: the Sports Journalism Program 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 Naomi Campbell, George Lucas and Chris Rock were among the honorary committee members. The May 12 event was aboard the maiden voyage of “Freedom of the Seas,” the largest cruise ship in the world. Activities included a salute to 40 Acres & A Mule Production’s two decades of filmmaking, a five-course dinner, a concert featuring some of the biggest names in music, and a short cruise from the New York harbor to international waters so that guests could play in the Casino Royale. ■

BAKARI T. SELLERS ’05 has made South Carolina history by being the youngest African American elected to the state’s House of Representatives. Using the manta,“No Politics…Just Public Service,” Sellers, 21, garnered close to 2,000 votes defeating 84-yearold incumbent Thomas Rhoads, who currently is the oldest member of the state’s House of Representatives Bakari Sellers ’05 and 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 legislative body in January 2007 and will serve until 2008. ■

Johnie M. Floyd ’50 Tells Life Story JOHNIE M. FLOYD ’50 was featured on the front page of The Rome News Tribune in Rome, Ga., during Black History Month. Floyd, the director emeritus of Admissions at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Conn., moved to Johnie M. Floyd ’50 Rome in 2001. The article profiled Floyd’s journey through Morehouse, his active duty as an officer in the Army, his role in the civil rights movement and his expansive career as an educator. In the article, Floyd emphasized the importance and vitality of black history, especially the role blacks played in the development of America. In his native hometown of Bristol, Conn., Floyd was recently inducted into the Bristol Sports Hall of Fame for his contribution to sports in the city as a player and coach. During his coaching years, he rallied his baseball, basketball, track and cross-country teams to many undefeated seasons and championships, and was named “Coach of the Year” in cross-country. ■

Robert R. Jennings ’72 Named President of Alabama A&M University ROBERT R. JENNINGS ’72 HAS BEEN NAMED the 10th president of Alabama A&M University.Prior to assuming his role as president,he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Future Focus 2020, an agency dedicated to engaging minority communities in a national discussion about the future. The agency is housed in the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem,N.C. Jennings,who earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Morehouse in 1972,received both a master’s degree in educational psychology and a doctorate in interrelated learning from Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta) in 1974 and 1979, respectively.In 1982,he also earned a doctorate in educational administration and policy studies from Atlanta University. In 1978, Jennings served as a Fulbright-Hays Fellow assigned to the Robert R. Jennings ’72 Institute of Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil.

Jennings’ long career in education included serving as a professor at Atlanta University, Morris Brown College and the Union Graduate School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He also has served in top administrative positions at Atlanta University, Norfolk State University, Albany State University and North Carolina A&T State University. He has worked for several government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and he represented the U.S. Embassy and U.S. State Department as a consultant/trainer at the University of Naimey in Niger, Africa. Jennings, who has written several articles in magazines and journals, is a sought-after consultant and speaker on grants administration, education administration and supervision, and other related areas. Throughout his career, he has provided expertise to dozens of advisory and editorial boards and panels, and to numerous civic, community and other nonprofit organizations. ■ F A L L

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classnotes Oxford University in March. Barksdale’s paper was titled “The Black Image in the Black Mind as Revealed in Attitudes toward Mayors of Atlanta, 1973-2006.” Barksdale also has assumed the role of president of the Southern Conference on AfricanAmerican Studies, Inc.

grade teacher has taught in the Atlanta school system for 28 years.

1970s Ernest A. Swain ’38 was recently honored by the University of North Carolina Wilmington 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 New Hanover County community.

1930s

commencement ceremonies.

Asa Yancey ’37, a noted Atlanta physician, was recently awarded the Red Hill HalfCentury Prize by the BellBrazeal and Moore Brother Fund. This prize is presented to the Morehouse alumnus who distinguishes himself in many areas.

1940s Lerone Bennett Jr. ’49 was recently honored by the National Association of Black Journalists during its national convention in Indianapolis.

1950s Walter E. Massey ’58 was recently awarded the honorary doctorate of humane letters from Northwestern University in Boston and Colgate University in New York during their recent MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE

Carey Wynn II ’70, a historian and theologian, recently displayed “The Amistad” series, the first African American art exhibition in the Arkansas Supreme Court.

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1960s David Satcher ’63 will be the first person to hold the position of endowed chair for the Poussaint-SatcherCosby Chair in Mental Health at the Morehouse School of Medicine. The endowment was made possible by a $3-million donation from Bill and Camille Cosby, the largest individual gift the school has ever received. The chair is also named in honor of Alvin Poussaint, a prominent child psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, and comedian Bill Cosby. Marcellus C. Barksdale ’65, professor of history and director of the African American Studies Program at Morehouse, participated in the Oxford Round Table on “Diversity in Society” at

Keith H. Jackson ‘75

Keith H. Jackson ’75 recently was named vice president for research at Florida A&M University (FAMU). In this role, he is responsible for developing FAMU’s research community, as well as overseeing the University’s grant-management process. Rodney L. Howard Sr. ’76 was recently selected “Teacher of the Year” for the 2005-06 academic year at the Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School in Atlanta. The first-

Keith A. Troy ‘76

Keith A. Troy ’76 was recently named president of Lott Carey Foreign Mission, one of the oldest and most prestigious missions organizations in the world, during its 109th annual convention held in Richmond, Va. Troy also serves as pastor of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio. Oscar Sistrunk ’78 recently appeared on NBC’s “Deal or No Deal.” Sistrunk, who teaches entrepreneurship and heads the Entrepreneurial Center at Morehouse, was a contestant on the game show episode that was taped on May 1.He also was interviewed by Entertainment Tonight.

1980s Emmett Carson ’81 has been named the first president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which was created from the merger of the Peninsula Community Foundation and the Community Foundation Silicon Valley, two of the Bay Area’s largest foundations. Carson previously served as the president and CEO of the Minneapolis Foundation.

classnotes Gordon D. Greenwood ’85 was recently elevated to the status of partner of the law firm Kazan, McClain,Abrams, Fernandez, Lyons, Farrise & Greenwood in Oakland, Calif. The firm represents plaintiffs in product liability and toxic tort litigation involving exposure to asbestos, benzene, lead, beryllium and other environmental contaminants. Prior to joining

the firm, Greenwood served as senior trial attorney at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office. John Lewis Jr. ’87 has been named senior managing counsel - litigation for The CocaCola Company in its global legal center in Atlanta. In his new role, Lewis manages the attorneys and staff responsible for litigation and disputes throughout

the 200-plus countries around the world where the company does business. Prior to joining CocaCola as litigation counsel in 2002, Lewis was a commercial litigator in private practice who specialized in bankruptcy, creditors rights and other related matters. Christopher Cowan ’87recently received the Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Award from the

University of the West Indies at its ninth annual gala in New York.The award honors individuals of Caribbean heritage who are rising stars within U.S.organizations.Cowan works for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation,where he executes infrastructure and other project financings in the emerging markets of Africa,Asia,Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Profilesin Leadership

Brewing Up Business in Historic King District Willis Walker III ‘95 and Morgan Tucker ‘95 AS UNDERCLASSMEN, Willis Walker III ‘95 and Morgan Tucker ‘95 shared a love for Morehouse and very little else. “We’d see each other at Piedmont Park and rollerblade together, but we weren’t really 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 thriving business in the heart of the district named for a fellow Morehouse brother, Martin Luther King Jr. ’48. The couples co-own and operate Javaology, a cozy coffeehouse located at the corner of Edgewood and Boulevard near downtown Atlanta’s King Historic District. Javaology offers light fare, spirits, wireless Internet access and a spacious upstairs loft that keeps customers loyal. The business is a welcome hangout for coffee connoisseurs in search of a java fix, as well as for nearby intown loft dwellers who live in this ever-developing neighborhood. Businesses like Javaology are giving the community a much needed jolt after decades of crime and neglect in the Sweet Auburn district. A spate of new developments is planned for the historic neighborhood that was once the commercial and cultural heart of Atlanta’s black community. Willis, who spent several years working in the restaurant industry at Atlanta’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 brained idea of opening their own branch of the Florida-based franchise. “He was the only person I knew who seemed crazy enough to do it,” says Willis, laughing. Adds Tucker, who has a master’s degree in information technology: “It took me about five and a half minutes to decide. I knew in my heart I wanted to do this.” He and his wife immediately relocated to Atlanta, and the new business partners jump-started their endeavor by each selling some rental

(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

property to get the more than $200,000 needed to transform a century-old brick building into their dream. Since Javaology officially opened its doors in the fall of 2004, a steady stream of customers, many current and former Morehouse students, along with others from the extended Atlanta University Center family, have kept the business going. “At just about any given time it seems like someone from Morehouse or the AUC is in here,” says Tucker. “Early on, Dr. [Walter] Massey sent over a commendation for our efforts helping to revitalize the King District. His wife has 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 at Morehouse have been instrumental in their success. “If anything, Morehouse taught me that you always have to be on top of your game,” says Willis. Tucker agrees. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without the leadership and experience we learned at Morehouse” he says. —Chandra R. Thomas F A L L

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classnotes Profilesin Leadership

Multitalented in Multimedia Patrick Riley ‘91 SURE HE HAS RECEIVED tons of accolades for his involvement in the Morehouse Glee Club, forensics and debate teams, musical theater productions and community television shows. But one special memory of his days at Morehouse is forever etched in Patrick Riley’s mind. “Just before I graduated, I was selected to represent Morehouse during the CBS network special ‘Kennedy Center Honors.’ I had the opportunity to work with CNN’s Bernard Shaw. That was such an honor. I remember it like it was literally yesterday.” That experience, it seems, was merely foreshadowing Riley’s successful career in the news/entertainment business. After graduating cum laude with a degree in broadcast journalism (he was one of the last few students who took part in the now-defunct program that allowed students, including filmmaker Spike Lee ‘79, to cross-register into Clark Atlanta University’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 journalism and show business,” says Riley, who is now based outside of New York City in Ridgefield Park, N.J. “It instilled in me the importance of excellence and hard work.” As an independent producer and writer for eight years, Riley’s clients have included NBC, BET, I-StyleTV.com, Crosswalks TV, Levi’s and HBO. The multimedia journalist, whose specialty is entertainment and pop culture, has interviewed and produced stories on a number of high-profile celebrities, including Diana Ross, President Bill Clinton, Beyoncé Knowles, Mary Tyler Moore and Quincy Jones. Riley also has received a number of industry nods for his work, including awards from the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Atlanta Association of Media Women. Current credits include a host slot on the 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. He also moonlights as a singer and serves as chairman of the National Association 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 to his nephew, Henry Lee Riley III, who enrolled in the school this past fall. “I am so excited to watch another Morehouse man in the making.” — Chandra R. Thomas MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE

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Bernee Dunson ’87 has assumed the presidency of the Southern District of the American Academy of Implant Dentists (AAID). The AAID is the oldest professional organization in the world dedicated to implant dentistry and education regarding dental implants. Monte Harris ’88, cofounder of Cultura Medical Spa in Washington, D.C., was recently featured in a TV One documentary, “Black Don’t Crack: The Cosmetic Surgery Debate.” The documentary offered a historical perspective on negative attitudes toward African American beauty and how these attitudes affected blacks’ self image.

1990s Gregory T. Burrell ’90, president and CEO of Terry Funeral Home, Inc., in Philadelphia, was recently elected corporate secretary of the six-person executive committee for the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. Calvin Mackie ’90, a New Orleans native and survivor of Hurricane Katrina, was appointed a member of the Louisiana’s Recovery Authority, the guiding agency designated to lead the state’s rebuilding efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He also represented New Orleans at the U.S. National Day celebration. Jimmie L. Davis Jr. ’92, senior software systems engineer with the MITRE Corporation, was recently

appointed by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to a three-year term on the board of directors for Space Florida. The Space Florida Board provides statewide leadership and advocacy for space-related issues, and actively works to strengthen the state’s existing leadership in civil and military aerospace activity. Otis Bakari Moss III ’92 will join the staff at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago as pastor under the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. He also has applied for the doctoral ministry program at the Chicago Theological Seminary. Seith Mann ’95 recently directed an episode of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. Mann is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch Film School. For the last year, he has been working as a directorial fellow at ABC. He was listed as one of Filmmaker magazine’s “25 Filmmakers to Watch.” Nicholas Bassey ’97 joined the staff of the Council for Opportunity in Education as assistant vice president for program development. The Council, a nonprofit organization established in 1981, works in conjunction with colleges, universities and agencies that host federal TRIO programs to specifically help low-income Americans enter college and graduate. Dewon M. Chaney ’98, Gyasi C. Chisley ’98, Michael J. Hervey II M.D. ’98 and William Sellers IV ’98 were collectively named finalists in

classnotes the 2005 Miller Urban Entrepreneurs Series and Business Plan Competition in Chicago. The team’s business plan was chosen over 150 plans submitted from participants in several states. The winners will receive a cash award to help finance their proposed business.

2000s Bryce Hairston Kennard ’01 was recently honored as one of Houston Style magazine’s 2005 “Thirty Under 30” honorees. The “Thirty Under 30” award recognizes professionals, ages 18-29, for their community contributions, personal accomplishments and educational pursuits. Kennard was honored for his work in the City of Houston, the Houston Area Urban League, the American Red Cross and the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. Cedric Dark ’01 recently graduated from the New York University School of Medicine.Last year,he received a master’s of public health from Columbia University. He plans to intern at Washington Hospital Center through 2007 and George Washington University Emergency Medicine through 2008.

Marriages Charlie R. Dean Jr. ’82 married Nadajalah Bursey Dean in Frisco, Texas, on April 28, 2005. Dean is senior vice president and regional credit executive for First Horizon National Corporation in Frisco, and his wife is director for executive recruiting for Tenet Healthcare in Dallas.

Passages Melvin Hampton Watson Sr. ’30 Chaired Department of Philosophy and Religion for 30 Years Melvin H. Watson Sr. ’30, who for 30 years was the chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Morehouse, died on June 19. He was 98. Watson graduated from Morehouse in 1930 with a degree in religion and philosophy. His ties to the College remained close throughout his life, having been named professor emeritus of the philosophy and religion department in 1979. He remained an active member of the Morehouse School of Religion’s board of directors well into his retirement. In 1998, in recognition of his lifetime of service to the College, Watson was awarded an honorary doctorate of divinity, as well as a distinguished alumnus award. Watson attended Oberlin College and its School of Theology, where he received a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees. He also attended the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, Calif., where he received the doctorate in theology. His long career in education also included positions as a dean and religion professor at Shaw, Dillard and Howard universities. In 1946, he returned to Morehouse, and two years later helped found the Interdenominational Theological Center, where he served as a professor for 10 years. Watson’s wider service to the Atlanta community was through his ministry as pastor of Liberty Baptist Church from 1958 to 1990. CLARENCE LITTLEJOHN ’49, died on April 26, in Corona, Calif. He served the Los Angeles community for more than 50 years as a pediatrician, civil rights activist, university instructor and entrepreneur. ODELL HORTON ’51, the first black federal judge in Tennessee since Reconstruction, died of respiratory failure at a Memphis retirement home on Dec. 13, 2005. A Bolivar native, Horton became a U.S. district judge in the Western District of Tennessee after being nominated by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 and then confirmed by the U.S. Senate. From 1970 to 1974, he also served as president of LeMoyne-Owen College. CALVIN CALHOUN ’48 died on Dec. 23, 2005, at his home in Nashville. He was a retired chair of neurology at Meharry Medical College. At the time of his death, Calhoun was volunteering his service to the 100 Black Men of Tennessee, the Board of Trustees of Meharry Medical College, Nashville Metro Hospital and the HIV/AIDS Minority Community Core Council of the state health department. He was a consistent supporter of Morehouse College, having established the Evelyn and Calvin Calhoun Endowed Emergency Student Loan Fund. A. ROMEO HORTON ’50 died on Dec. 13, 2005, after a lengthy illness. Horton received a degree in economics and was a second generation graduate of Morehouse. His father was one of the early international students at the College. Horton was the founder and first president of the Bank of Liberia and was the first minister of Commerce Industry and Transportation during the administration of Liberian President W.V.S. Tubman.

E. BRUCE PHILLIPS ’52 died on Dec. 9, 2005, after a brief illness. A noted dentist in Southwest Atlanta, Phillips served the community for nearly 50 years. He was a dedicated member of Eta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and the National Dental Association. MACHION GARRISON ’54 died on Dec. 21, 2005, after a brief illness. Garrison was an avid fan and supporter of the Morehouse athletic department, a member of the Torchbearers and a lifetime member of the Morehouse National Alumni Association. He was retired from Sears as community affairs director for Metro Atlanta and was the second African-American criminal investigator for the Fulton County (Ga.) Superior Court. TOUSSAINT HALE ’55 died on Dec. 20, 2005, in Chicago. Hale was a retired officer of Bank One, a life trustee of Constitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago, vice chair of the Illinois Community College Board and past chair of its System Funding Task Force. OSCAR E. “SKEETS” STROTHERS ’55, former chief law librarian at the U.S. Department of Energy, died of heart disease on Nov. 19, 2005, in Washington, D.C. He spent his entire career as a law librarian for the federal government working for the Department of Commerce, the Civil Aeronautics Board, the Department of Transportation, and, finally, the Energy Department. FREDERICK BOYD WILLIAMS ’59 was memorialized on April 10, 2006, in New York City. His ashes will be interred in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tenn. He was the ninth vicar and 14th rector of the Episcopal Church of the Intercession in Harlem, N.Y., where he served from 1972 until June 2005. PARNELL CEPHUS ’64, a former member of the Morehouse College 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 College in Birmingham. MICHAEL HART ’68 died of an apparent heart attack while on business in Los Angeles. He was formally the secretary of the National Alumni Association and was the current president of the Torchbearers (Morehouse’s athletic support organization). ROBERT M. TAYLOR ’70, assistant U.S. attorney, died on May 30 after a brief illness. Taylor was a member of the Washington State Bar Association and served on the staff of several United States 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 on Jan. 5. FRANK E. DRUMWRIGHT JR. ’79 died on March 22 in Baltimore after a lengthy illness. VIRGIL JOHN MAUPIN ’97 died from injuries received in an automobile accident on April 13, in Nashville, Tenn. At the time of his death, Maupin was employed by Asurion Insurance Services Inc. of Nashville. While a student at Morehouse, he was actively involved as a member of the Morehouse College Pre-Alumni Association. He was the son of Meharry Medical College President John E. Maupin. LOUIS MARION SMITH SR. ’40 died on Sunday, May 28. F A L L

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THE Physicist WHO WOULD BE President by Walter E. Massey ‘58

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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.

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hen I graduated from Morehouse in 1958, my goal was to become a scientist, a physicist. And I spent the greater part of my career doing just that – teaching and conducting research in physics – first for about 10 years at Brown University, then at the University of Chicago. After I left the classroom, I was always involved in positions directly related to science and technology or research — as director of the Argonne National Laboratory, and then as director of the National Science Foundation. Even as provost at the University of California, I was responsible for their three national research laboratories. That had been my life, and I was very happy and very satisfied with the career path I had chosen. So, in 1995, when I received a call from members of the Morehouse Board of Trustees asking me whether I would be interested in being considered for the position of president of the College, I really had to give it some thought. My first thought was about Morehouse. Of course, I knew of the College’s outstanding reputation. I had no doubts about that. After all, as an alumnus, I am a product of this institution’s commitment to high academic standards and the cultivation of character in its students. I recognized that I

would not have been able to enjoy the successful career I had had up to that point without the preparation I received at Morehouse. As an educator, I also recognized Morehouse’s importance in the pantheon of higher education. Simply stated: Morehouse is unique. These days, the word unique is often overused and misused. To describe a thing as unique is to literally say that there is nothing else like it, and Morehouse is exactly that – unique. It is the only college in the nation whose primary mission is the education and development of the African American male, and other males who want this experience. Therefore, it is almost impossible to compare Morehouse with other institutions. My second thought was about the presidency itself – about the awesome responsibility the president of Morehouse would assume in securing and ensuring the future of this special place. Frankly, it was not immediately clear to me that I was the best or most suitable candidate to fill those shoes. Fortunately, something my younger son said helped me put my concerns into perspective. He said, “Dad, in your position as provost of the University of California, and even if you became president of the University of California (a position for which I was being considered), there are many people who could do that job. But there are not many people

TheRoadTaken who have your connections and your relationship with Morehouse who could be president there.” The more I thought about it, and the more I discussed it with friends and family, the more it became clear to me that I had an opportunity to fill one of the most important positions at one of the most important institutions of higher education in America. So, I interviewed for the job. And when chairman Otis Moss and then vice-chairman Willie Davis offered me the position of president, I said I would be honored to accept. In the end, my decision to accept the offer came down to my conviction that Morehouse was the right place, that the presidency was the right job, and that I was the right person – the right leader at the right time – for Morehouse College…. I assumed the presidency of my alma mater 11 years ago, I set out, first, to define reality, and I defined that reality in terms of my vision for the College. I said that Morehouse would be among the very finest, private, undergraduate liberal arts colleges in the nation – period. I also said that the universe of institutions against which we measure our progress and standards must encompass all of the finest colleges and universities – not just those with origins similar to our own. And, I said that all the while, we will continue to be an institution that focuses on the development of leaders, and the college of choice for African American men. I know that, initially, a few people (well maybe more than a few), thought my vision was too lofty, that that goal would be impossible to reach. But it was a very real vision to me. As I said earlier, I knew about Morehouse – its unique role in higher education, its outstanding reputation, and the impact it had had on me, personally. Once I arrived at Morehouse, one of the things that inspired and encouraged me most in creating and standing behind my vision for the College is something Rev. Moss said, which I shared in my first

President Massey ’58 receives standing ovation at the 2006 Opening Convocation after announcing his retirement planned for June 2007.

Opening Convocation speech. He had described Morehouse as an “Unfinished Cathedral of Excellence.” So, in my speech, I drew a parallel between Morehouse and history’s great cathedrals, which required hundreds of years to build. I pointed out that some cathedrals are still not finished, and that they require constant work, undergirding and enhancement. Yet, they are always in use – integral to the development of those who carry on the construction, those who strive toward some distant point in the future – because perfection is never truly achieved. So, armed with my definition of reality – my vision of excellence for Morehouse – I reached out and enlisted members of this community to help me shape and refine that vision. I talked with trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, supporters and parents – anyone who would listen. And I listened to them – to their visions and their dreams. What I learned was that what I saw for Morehouse, others saw, too. Pretty soon, my vision for Morehouse became our shared vision for Morehouse. Then, we set about doing the hard work to make that vision a reality…. As president of Morehouse, I certainly am proud of our many accomplishments. But I know – and I believe you know, too – that all of these accomplishments – all of the scholarship funds

we raised, all the faculty research we funded, all the flowers and trees we planted – are not ends of themselves, but rather means to the end of serving Morehouse’s mission. 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… In addition to Max De Pree, another person I admire is Robert Galvin, the long time chairman and CEO of Motorola Inc. He often said, “The job of a leader is to spread hope.” I have interpreted that phrase that hope is like a fertilizer. Hope allows new ideas to grow and flourish. It nurtures and reinvigorates old ideas that still have value, and it encourages the plantings of new seeds that will generate the next crop of innovations. As president of Morehouse, I hope that I have been able to spread hope. ■

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Taking the Road Less Traveled? If so, we want to hear about it. Send to: morehousemageditor@morehouse.edu

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

2006-2008 OFFICERS Phillip H. McCall Jr. ’69 President Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 14 West High Ridge Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 Office: 215-636-0590 goldiemccall@aol.com Joseph Arrington ’58 Vice President-at-Large Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 1255 Veltre Circle, SW Atlanta, GA 30311 Home: 404-699-1063 brubean@yahoo.com Joseph Draper ’57 Executive Director Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 655 Bolton Rd NW Atlanta, GA 30331 Home: 404-691-3219 jdraper@morehouse.edu Guy B. Richardson ’79 Secretary Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 142 Beckley Farm Way Springboro, OH 45066 Home: 937-748-1906 Work: 937-262-2114 gbrichardson@woh.rr.com Marvin C Mangham ’69 Financial Secretary 2815 The Duke of Windsor Atlanta, GA 30344 Office: 404-816-1153 Home: 404-768-7034 mmangham@cypressmail.com

Calvin H. Harris ’92 Treasurer Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 9401 Hickory Limb Columbia, MD 21045 Home: 443-545-5266 calvin_harris@comcast.net Jeffrey L. Riddle ’90 Parliamentarian 901 Cascade Crossing Atlanta, GA 30331 Office: 404-541-2325 jlriddle@riddleschwartz.com Harold O. Braithwaite ’77 Faculty Representative Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 830 Westview Drive, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30314 hbraithw@morehouse.edu Henry M. Goodgame Jr. ’84 Director, Alumni Affairs Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 830 Westview Drive, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30314 Office: 404-215-2658 Home: 404-691-3541 hgoodgame@morehouse.edu

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Howard C. Willis ’76 Vice President, Region I Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. PO Box 428 Talbotton, GA 31827 Office: 706-321-3901 howardc@williscma.com Perry A. Little ’66 Vice President, Region II Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 9428 Pebble Glen Avenue Tampa, FL 33647 Home: 813-272-5775 littlepa@fljud13.org James M Boykin II ’81 Vice President, Region III Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 8220 Fallen Maple Drive Chattanooga, TN 37421 Home: 423-605-0681 jMBoykinII@aol.com Stuart T. Turner ’86 Vice President, Region IV Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 311 Arbor Lane Ambler, PA 19002 Office: 215-542-1590 turnspit@gmail.com Charles H. Neal ’64 Vice President, Region V Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 13957 Stahelin Detroit, MI 48223 Home: 313-837-0124 charlesneal101@AOL.com

James D. Henry ’61 General Counsel Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 114 St. Andrews Drive, E. Ft. Washington, MD 20744 Home: 301-292-2171 jamesdhenry@msn.com

MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE

REGION I-IX VICE PRESIDENTS

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Jonathan Palmer ’94 Vice President, Region VI Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 4100 Sheridan Avenue N Minneapolis, MN. 55403 Home: 612-529-2502 Office: 612-508-5481 jhpalmerjp@aol.com Charlie R. Dean Jr. ’82 Vice President, Region VII Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 1699 Wildfire Lane Frisco, TX 75034 Office: 214-441-7052 Home: 972-731-5813 cdean@fhhlc.com Donald E. Long ’64 Vice President, Region VIII Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 7950 Alida Street LaMesa, CA 91942 Home: 619-466-0406 Office: 619-388-3265 dlong@sdccd.edu Nashon Hornsby ’93 Vice President, Region IX Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 3 Huron Way Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Home: 609-882-4334 Office: 609-777-7704 nashon.hornsby@doh.state.nj.us

ALBANY CHAPTER Chester A. Taylor ’82 President, Albany Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Association 1008 N. Vanburen Street Albany, Georgia 31701 Cell: 229-296-8001 Chester.Taylor@asurams.edu

SAVANNAH/HILTON HEAD CHAPTER Leonard Law Jr. ’58 President, Savannah/Hilton Head Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Association 9 Bradley Beach Road Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 Home: 843-842-5622 Llawjr58@aol.com

ATHENS CHAPTER Andre E. Bell ’91 President, Athens Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Association PO Box 6762 Athens, Georgia 30604 Cell: 706-549-7428 aebell@charter.net

REGION II CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

ATLANTA CHAPTER Kevin R. McGee ’93 President, Atlanta Chapter PO Box 110095 Atlanta, GA 30311 Cell: 404-790-2963 Home: 770-323-3761 kevinmcgee@hop-hospitality.com

CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER Kenneth J. Thompson ’82 President, Central Florida Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 2517 Madron Court Orlando, FL 32806 Office: 407-867-5133 Home: 407-894-8054 Kennyt76@aol.com

AUGUSTA CHAPTER Solomon W. Walker ’58 Interim President, Augusta Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Association 29 Park Place Circle Augusta, GA 30909 Home: 706-738-4230 Office: 706-721-1896 SOWALKER@mail.mcg.edu BIRMINGHAM CHAPTER Jerome Luke ’79 President, Birmingham Chapter Morehouse College Alumni Association Birmingham Chapter P. O. Box 360072 Hoover, AL 35236 Home: 205-620-1522 Business: 205-5605364 Email: jeromeluke@bellsouth.net COLUMBUS CHAPTER Donald McCarthy ’89 President, Columbus Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Association 6115 Bayberry Drive Columbus, GA 31907 Home: 912-334-3273 dmccarthy@mcsdga.net HUNTSVILLE/NORTH ALABAMA CHAPTER Herman Mixon ’65 President, Huntsville/N. Alabama Chapter 3910 Gardenside Dr., N.W. Huntsville, AL 35810 Phone: 256-859-2359 hermanhuntsvill@aol.com MACON MIDDLE GEORGIA CHAPTER Emory E. Lamar ’66 President, Macon Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 116 White Lane Gray, Georgia 31032 Home: 478-986-1744 Office: 478-986-2090 Emory_Lamar@yahoo.com MOBILE CHAPTER Reginald A. Crenshaw ’78 President, Mobile Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. PO Box 10796 Prichard, Alabama 36610 Home: 334-342-4695 rcrenshaw@bscc.cc.al.us MONTGOMERY/TUSKEGEE CHAPTER Tyrone C. Means ’74 President, Montgomery-Tuskegee Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Association P.O. Box 5058 Home: 334-277-6832 Office: 334-270-1033 tcmeans@trngslaw.com

BROWARD CO. CHAPTER Robert Holmes ’58 1577 NW 7th Avenue Pompano Beach, FL 33060 Home: 954-943-7485 Rholmes1577@msn.com

JACKSONVILLE CHAPTER Anthony Ammons ’84 President, Jacksonville Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 2001 Art Museum Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32207 Home: 904-262-6177 Office: 904-396-0899 Fax: 904-396-0994 AAmmons@ambancfinancial.com MIAMI – DADE CHAPTER Vacant TAMPA ST. PETERSBURG CHAPTER Perry A. Little ’66 President, Tampa St. Petersburg Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Association 9428 Pebble Glen Avenue Tampa, FL 33647 Home: 813-272-5775 littlepa@fljud13.org TALLAHASSEE CHAPTER Linzie F. Bogan ’88 President, Tallahassee Chapter 1807 Vineland Lane Tallahassee, Florida 32317 Home: 850-656-2278 Email: lfbogan@earthlink.net WEST PALM BEACH CHAPTER Vacant NASSAU BAHAMAS CHAPTER Traver Whylly ’91 President, Nassau Bahamas Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Association Post Office Box N8412 Nassau, Bahamas Office: 242-322-7548/9 Home: 242-322-7373 Pager: 242-380-1518

REGION III CHAPTER PRESIDENTS CHARLOTTE CHAPTER Melvin D. Caldwell ’75 President, Charlotte Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 11312 Treebark Drive Pineville, NC 28134 Home: 704-541-0771 sheerms@aol.com CHATTANOOGA CHAPTER Reginald S. Capers ’79 President, Chattanooga Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 2475 North Briar Circle Chattanooga, Tennessee 37406 Home: 615-899-7807

M O R E H O U S E C O L L E G E N AT I O N A L A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N GREATER COLUMBIA CHAPTER Elliot E. Franks ’56 President, Greater Columbia Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 464 Annondale Road Columbia, South Carolina 29212 Home: 803-781-8542 Office: 803-461-3800 efranks@scjeda.net CHARLESTON CHAPTER Daryl Milligan ’79 President, Charleston Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 200 Meeting Street Bank of America Charleston, S.C. 29401 Office: 843-723-6867 MEMPHIS CHAPTER Douglas G. Scarboro ’97 President, Memphis Chapter 1770 Carr Avenue Memphis, TN 38104 910-726-1355 Dscarboro@leadershipacademy.org NASHVILLE CHAPTER Vacant WINSTON-SALEM CHAPTER Reggie Hunt ’02 President, Winston-Salem Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 3145 Shaftesbury Lane Winston Salem, NC 27105 Office: 336-462-4874 godbody3000@msn.com TRIANGLE CHAPTER Mark J. Simeon ’79 President, Triangle Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 4009 Cottonwood Drive Durham, North Carolina 27705 Home: 919-489-5492 Office: 919-688-6945 mjsimeon@intrex.net GREENSBORO CHAPTER Gerald L. Truesdale ’71 President Greensboro Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 2716 Henry St. Greensboro, North Carolina 27405 Office: 919-274-2757 gtruesdale@gpsa.biz

REGION IV CHAPTER PRESIDENTS BALTIMORE CHAPTER Mark W. Hill ’67 President, Baltimore Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 103 Persimmon Circle Reisterstown, MD 21136 hillm@peercpc.com

RICHMOND METRO CHAPTER Randy Dillard ’75 8235 Tarragon Drive Mechanicsville, VA 23111 Home: 804-569-1616 Office: 804-772-4972 randyd@crosslink.net WASHINGTON, D.C. CHAPTER James D. Henry ’61 President, Washington, D.C. Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 114 St. Andrews Drive, E. Ft. Washington, MD 20744 Home: 301-292-2171 jamesdhenry@msn.com EUROPEAN CHAPTER Richard Allen ’70 President, European Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Association 32, Rue de la Quintinie 75011 Paris France Home: 0145302954 Re_allen@hotmail.com

REGION V CHAPTER PRESIDENTS CHICAGO CHAPTER Darryl Holloway ’83 President, Chicago Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 2345 West 71st Street Chicago, IL. 60636 Home: 773-306-0207 Email: djway1@yahoo.com CINCINNATI CHAPTER Bryan K. Nelson ’93 President, Cincinnati Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 3817 Spring House Lane Cincinnati, OH 45217 Home: 513-961-2006 bryan_k_nelson@yahoo.com CLEVELAND CHAPTER Justin R. Horton ’97 President, Cleveland Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 9835 Country Club Circle Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 Home-216-321-8829 JHorton@Inc.com COLUMBUS CHAPTER Adam K. Troy ’82 President, Columbus Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 340 E. Town St. 8-300 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Home: 614-461-8212 Office: 694-509-6664 omgkkat@aol.com

DELAWARE CHAPTER Ernest R. Council Jr. ’76 4 Beverly Place Wilmington, DE 19809 Home: 302-764-0385 isaih5417@comcast.net

TOLEDO CHAPTER George E. Rice ’95 President, Toldeo Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. P.O. Box 2995 Toledo, Ohio 43606 Home: 419-537-9207 Email: grice@bgnet.bgsu.edu

THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER Freddie R. Rayford ’63 President, Greater Phil Chapter PO Box 52 Eagleville, PA Home: 610-631-5776 frayford@earthlink.net

DETROIT CHAPTER Curtis H.B. Kilpatrick II ’69 President, Detroit Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 16860 Snowden Detroit, MI 48235 Home: 313-345-1935 ckilpat577@aol.com

HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER Thomas J. Conage ’64 President, Hampton Roads Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 110 Coliseum Crossing #142 Hampton, VA 23666 Office: 757-851-4304 Home: 757-851-4650 tconage@cox.net

MIAMI VALLEY CHAPTER Charles Hall Jr. ’55 President, Miami Valley Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Ass 2800 Olt Road Dayton, Ohio 45418 Home: 513-835-5812 LOUISVILLE CHAPTER Vacant

INDIANAPOLIS CHAPTER James A. Duke ’90 President, Indianapolis Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 4042 N. Graham Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46226 Office: 317-487-5249 Fax: 317-487-5034 jamesd@indy.net

REGION VI CHAPTER PRESIDENTS ST. LOUIS CHAPTER A.K. Turner ’95 President, St. Louis Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Association 2007 Wilbert Drive St. Louis, MO 63136 Office: 314-276-4078 Home: 314-868-4930 MINNESOTA CHAPTER Jonathan Palmer ’94 President, Minnesota Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Association 4100 Sheridan Avenue N Minneapolis, MN. 55403 Home: 612-529-2502 Office: 612-673-5016 jhpalmerjp@aol.com KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA CHAPTER Keith A. Cutler ’86 President, Kansas City Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Association Post Office Box 414587 Kansas City, Missouri 64141-4587 Office: 816-471-8575 Home: 816-523-0729 CutlerEsq@aol.com MILWAUKEE CHAPTER Edward Ward ’80 President, Milwaukee Chapter 6551 North 56th Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53223 Home: 414-353-5837

REGION VII CHAPTER PRESIDENTS HOUSTON CHAPTER Antoy J. Bell ’00 Interim President, Houston Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 9219 Sorrento Ct. Humble, TX 77396 Home: 281-788-5217 Aug02@hotmail.com JACKSON CHAPTER Alfred Junior ’60 President, Jackson Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 1775 Oakland Avenue Jackson, MS 39213 Home: 601-366-2062 Office: 601-923-3930 ajunior@hehia.org NEW ORLEANS CHAPTER James Wallace ’58 President, New Orleans Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 7016 Lake Wilow Drive New Orleans, LA 70126 Office: 504-734-4570 Home: 504-246-6656 jawallace@home.com AUSTIN CHAPTER Edward Hill, III ’90 President, Austin Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 17005 Bishopsgate Drive Pflugerville, TX 78660 Office: 512-343-7297 Home: 512-310-2116 edhill@alumni.utexas.net

DALLAS CHAPTER Ronald L. Jeans ’91 President, Dallas Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 3013 Penstemon Court Garland, Texas 75049 972-530-6826 rljeans@comcast.net

SEATTLE CHAPTER Shaun A. Spearmon ’01 President, Seattle Chapter Morehouse College National Alumni Assoc. 4020 NE 4th Place Renton, WA 98056 Home: 425-430-1209 sspearmon@gmail.com

SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER Vacant

REGION IX CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

BATON ROUGE CHAPTER Vacant

REGION VIII CHAPTER PRESIDENTS GREATER LOS ANGELES CHAPTER Eric D. Rice ’95 President, Los Angeles Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 8208 New Hampshire #2 Los Angeles, CA 90044 Home: 323-752-9149 erice008@gmail.com DENVER CHAPTER Kristopher M. Colley ’78 President, Denver Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 24671 E. Park Crescent Drive Aurora, CO 80016 Office: 303-330-0260 Home: 303-355-6281 KARLADCOLLEGE@HOTMAIL.COM SAN DIEGO AREA CHAPTER Anthony R. Haile ’01 President, San Diego Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 4414 Alabama Street #1 San Diego, CA 92116 Home: 510-710-7783 anthony_haile@yahoo.com SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA CHAPTER Tadd O. Scott ’91 President, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 322 Hanover Ave #304 Oakland,, CA 94606 Home: 510-593-7461 Office: 7075563510 taddscott@hotmail.com

BROOKLYN QUEENS LONG ISLAND CHAPTER President, Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. P.O. Box 681 New York, NY 10009 Office: 212-240-3225 391044@dfa.state.ny.us GREATER CONNECTICUT-RI CHAPTER Charles Turner, Jr. ’59 President, Connecticut Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc 45 Glen Road New Haven, CT 06511 Home: 203-776-0117 eturner@uncf.org GREATER BOSTON CHAPTER Sean Keenan Daughtry ’93 President, Boston Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 9 Beech Glen Street Roxbury, MA 02119 617-989-9735 skd@gbmcaa.org MANHATTAN CHAPTER Lamarr R. Jones ’98 President, Manhattan Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 221 DeKalb Avenue #4 Brooklyn, New York, NY 11205 Home: 917-519-5790 Lamaarr.jones@ufafilm.com NORTHERN NEW JERSEY CHAPTER Jameel A. Scott ’05 President, Northern New Jersey Chapter Morehouse National Alumni Assoc. 622 E. Curtis Street Linden, NJ 07036 Home: 908-486-2566 jameel_scott@yahoo.com

Save the Dates 140TH FOUNDER’S DAY CONVOCATION February 15, 2007 - Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel REFLECTIONS OF EXCELLENCE February 17, 2007 - Sale Hall Chapel "A CANDLE IN THE DARK" GALA February 17, 2007 - Hyatt Regency Atlanta BACCALAUREATE SERVICE May 19, 2007 - Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel 123RD COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES May 20, 2007 - Century Campus Green SUMMER COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES July 21, 2007 - Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel F A L L

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