Celebrates 25 Years. 25Th Anniversary Collector’S Edition Dear Students, Educators,And Friends
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South Carolina African American History Calendar Celebrates 25 Years. 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Dear Students, Educators,and Friends, One of the highlights of my year is the unveiling of the new African American History Calendar, for it is always a wonderful time of renewing friendships, connecting with new acquaintances, and honoring a remarkable group of South Carolinians. This year is even more exciting, for the 2014 calendar is our 25th Anniversary Edition! For a quarter of a century, the Calendar project has celebrated the lives, leadership, and experiences of gifted people who have shaped who we are as a State and as South Carolinians. Initially developed as a resource for teachers as they include African American history in their classroom curriculum, the Calendar has become a virtual Hall of Fame, combining recognition with education and drawing online visitors from around the globe. Thus far, 297 African Americans with South Carolina roots have been featured on the Calendar’s pages. They represent a wide array of endeavors, including government and military service, education, performing and fine arts, business, community activism, and athletics. They hail from every corner of the state, from rural communities to our largest cities. And each has made a difference for people and for their communities. The Calendar, with its supporting educational materials, has always been designed to help students understand that history is about people and their actions, not simply dates or places. While previous editions have focused on individuals, the 25th Anniversary Edition spotlights 12 milestone events in South Carolina’s African American History. Driven by men and women of courage and conviction, these events helped lay the foundation for who we are today as a State and who we can become. At AT&T, we believe in the importance of education and the power of individuals to rethink what may be possible and to seize opportunities that create a better, brighter, and successful future. That’s the lesson at the heart of the narratives you will read in the following pages. We hope you will enjoy the 2014 African American History Calendar, and will be inspired and encouraged by the stories it contains. Pamela P. Lackey President, AT&T South Carolina 25 Years of Honorees Nathaniel Abraham, Sr. US Rep. James E. Clyburn Lydia Sharon Garrett Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Patty Jaye Garrett Patterson Alex Snipe, Jr. Fannie Phelps Adams SC Rep. William and Beverly Clyburn Althea Gibson Willie L. Johnson SC Sen. Kay Patterson James Solomon, Jr., PhD Kimberly Clarice Aiken Judge Merl F. Code Dizzy Gillespie Dr. Ernest Everett Just Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne Walker Emanuel Solomon, Sr. Charles and Valerie Aiken Allen Louis Code, Sr. John Gilliam Jonas Thomas Kennedy Thales Thomas “Skipp” Pearson Bobby B. Stafford, Esq. Marjorie Amos-Frazier Monique Coleman C. (Curtis) Tyrone Gilmore, Sr. Dr. Thomas Elliot Kerns Justice Matthew Perry Judge Harold A. Stevens SC Sen. Ralph Anderson Martin Douglass Cooper Bobby D. Gist Richard Kerns William and Michael Dean Perry John Stevenson, PhD Mac Arnold Edward Sawyer Cooper, MD Vivian Glover Dr. Milton Kimpson Bill Pinkney Diane E. Sumpter John Artemus Noble P. Cooper, DDS Adrenee Glover Freeman, Esq. Lorenzo Levon Kirkland Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston Mayor James E. Talley Augusta Baker Willis H. Crosby George Glymph Eartha Kitt Brenda Pressley Dr. Ethel M. Henderson Taylor Rev. Charles P. Austin, Sr. Margaree Seawright Crosby, EdD Charles G. Gomillion, PhD Larry Francis Lebby Lessie B. Price William “Bill” Terrell Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates Bennie Lee Cunningham, Jr. Georgia Good Raphael C. Lee, MD Hemphill P. Pride, DDS Darrin Thomas Luther J. Battiste, III, Esq. Judge Jasper Cureton Janie Glymph Goree Jeffrey Livingston Ann Pringle Washington William “T” Thompson, Esq. Thaddeus J. Bell, MD Ron and Natalie Daise Anthony & Helen Nelson Grant, Esq. Reginald Lloyd Bernice Putman Beatrice Rice Thompson Paul Benjamin Beryl Dakers Jonathan Green Lawrence W. Long, MD Willie Larry Randolph, Jr. Henry N. Tisdale, PhD James A. Bennett Rev. Joseph A. Darby, Jr. Reuben M. Greenberg Isom Bartrone Lowman, Jr. Sarah Reese Henrie Monteith Tredwell, PhD Bishop Joseph Benjamin Bethea Everett L. Dargan, MD Louis George Gregory, Esq. Louis B. Lynn, PhD Bishop Sanco King Rembert Maj. Gen. Irene Trowell-Harris Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Anna DeCosta Banks, RN Gilroye A. Griffin, Jr., Esq. Anna May Manigault-Hurley Jacqueline Rhinehart Maj. Gen. Abraham J. Turner Kitty Black-Perkins Herbert A. DeCosta, Jr. Alberta Tucker Grimes Maxine Smith Martin Brig. Gen. Velma L. Richardson Leo F. Twiggs, EdD Sandra Blake Rev. Joseph A. DeLaine Lugenia Key Hammond Judge Joshua W. Martin III Luns C. Richardson, PhD Brig. Gen. Stephen M. Twitty Dr. James A. Blake, Sr. Willie Dereef Lee Haney SC Sen. John Wesley Matthews, Jr. Rev. Nelson B. Rivers, III Shirley Tyus John W. Bluford, III Ophelia DeVore-Mitchell Edwin A. Harleston Cassandra Maxwell, Esq. Richard Samuel Roberts Rick C. Wade Ethel Martin Bolden Peggy Dillard-Toone John Roy Harper II, Esq. Benjamin E. Mays, PhD Bernice Robinson Wilfred Junius Walker Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden Margaret Abner Dixon, EdD Patricia Sowell Harris James T. McCain Bernice Stokes Robinson Louis L. Waring, Jr. Warren Bolton Larry Doby Jaime Harrison Timothy R. McConnell Prezell Russell Robinson Frank Washington James E. Bostic, Jr., PhD Hattie Logan Duckett Dorothy Golden Harrison Catherine McKee McCottry, MD Eugene Robinson Jesse Washington, Jr. Harold R. Boulware, Sr., Esq. Lt. Col. Charity Edna Adams Earley Ernest Henderson, Sr. Johnnie McFadden, PhD Arthur Rose, Sr. Yelberton R. Watkins Bertie Herbert Bowman Marion Wright Edelman, Esq. Maranda Phillips Holmes Eddie McGirt Lt. Col. Paul Ross Col. Walter L. Watson, Jr. 1st Lt. Leroy Bowman Col. Claude J. Eichelberger Jean Sanders Hopkins Nina Mae McKinney Darius Rucker Taft M. Watson Rev. William M. Bowman, Sr. Sallie Elliott Janice Huff Beatrice Taylor McKnight Edwin Roberts Russell Lt. Col. Spann Watson Anna Boyd George A. Elmore Jane Edna Hunter James T. McLawhorn, Jr. Dr. Jasper Salmond Clemmie E. Webber, PhD Gwendolyn Bradley Alex English Charlayne Hunter-Gault Ron McNair, PhD Dori Sanders SC Rep. Lucille Simmons Whipper Marie and Willie Van Brailey John and Marie Epps Alice Wyche Hurley Craig Melvin Johnny Michael Sanders Isaac W. Williams Paul and Wendy C. Brawley Matilda Arabelle Evans, MD Curtis Inabinett Listervelt Middleton Rev. Julius L. Scipio Armstrong Williams Lila Mae Brock Etu Evans J. Arthur Jones Earl Matthew Middleton Luther Seabrook, PhD Cecil J. Williams Israel Brooks, Jr. Thomas (Tom) Feelings Jesse Jackson Kelly Miller, PhD Cleveland L. Sellers Jr., PhD Maurice Williams W. Melvin Brown Nikki Finney Dr. Sara Dunlap Jackson Janie L. Mines Art Shell David A. Williams James F. Brown, DDS Chief Justice Ernest A. Finney, Jr. Mary Jackson Frieda Mitchell Donnie Shell CSM Gail M. Williams SC Rep. Joe E. Brown A. Tony Fisher Chuck Jackson Mark Myers and Sandra Myers Fouche’na Everlyne “Che” Sheppard SC Rep. Juanita Willmon-Goggins J. Anthony Brown Lillian Brock Flemming Ozie Jackson, Sr. Dr. Maceo Nance Modjeska Simkins Donella Brown Wilson James Brown Sarah Mae Flemming Bishop Frederick Calhoun James Otto Neals Philip Simmons Josephine Helen Wood Ruth Ann Butler Vince Ford Gloria Schumpert James Annie Greene Nelson Drink Small Sylvia Woods Alma Byrd, PhD Ruby Middleton Forsythe Jarvis Brothers SC Sen. I. DeQuincey Newman Robert Smalls Dwight E. Woods Emory Shaw Campbell Angela L. Walker Franklin, PhD Willie Jeffries Gen. Lloyd “Fig” Newton Marva Smalls Stephen J. Wright, PhD Harry Carson Smokin’ Joe Frazier Johnnie Ruth Jenkins Horace Ott Marlena Smalls Justice Jonathan Jasper Wright William H. Carson, MD Pearl Fryar Esau Jenkins Marlene O’Bryant-Seabrook, PhD O’Neal Smalls, Esq. Tommy Scott Young Septima Poinsette Clark Linda Dingle Gadson Judge Robert N. Jenkins, Sr. J.T. Pace Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor Lee Thompson Young James Roland Clark, MD Harvey B. Gantt William H. Johnson E. (Edmund) Perry Palmer Myrtle Hall Smith Maj. Gen. Matthew A. Zimmerman, Jr. Arthur J. H. Clement, Jr. Naomi Garrett, PhD I.S. Leevy Johnson, Esq. Michael L. Parks, MD Judge Willie T. Smith, Jr. Geraldyne I. Pierce Zimmerman Rock Hill Nine (Friendship Nine) n the morning of January 31, 1961, a group of 18 African American civil rights demonstrators (13 men and five women), most of whom were students at Friendship College, converged on the McCrory’s Variety Store in downtown Rock Hill. Authorities had been notified ahead of time that there would be protests and they were on Oduty by 8:30 AM in case of trouble. Initially the protesters marched up and down the street carrying protest signs. Then, male demonstrators went inside the store and 10 of the young men sat down at the counter and refused to leave. The 10 protesters who sat down at the McCrory’s counter that morning were Willie Edward McCleod, James Frank Wells, Clarence Henner Graham, Thomas Walter Gaither, David “Scoop” Williamson, Robert Lewis McCullough, Mack Cartier Workman, Willie Thomas “Dub” Massey, John Alexander Gaines, and Charles Edward Taylor. All of the young men were students at Friendship College, except for Thomas Gaither, who was a graduate of Claflin College and a field secretary for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). All 10 of the young men sitting at the McCrory’s lunch counter were arrested, taken to the city jail, and the following day tried for trespassing. Nine of the 10 refused