Charles Bolden's Story:'From the Segregated South to Low Earth
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University of South Florida Scholar Commons Newspaper collection The Weekly Challenger 2011-02-17 The Weekly Challenger : 2011 : 02 : 17 The Weekly Challenger, et al Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/challenger Recommended Citation The Weekly Challenger, et al, "The Weekly Challenger : 2011 : 02 : 17" (2011). Newspaper collection. 164. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/challenger/164 This is brought to you for free and open access by the The Weekly Challenger at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Newspaper collection by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID Permit #2271 St. Petersburg, FL OPINION BLACK HISTORY SPORTS STATE Dr. Benjamin Chavis Jr. on Black History Month 2 Ron Sims tells his Story 7 Raiders Hire Rod Woodson As Assistant 8 Bill Nelson on African-American Floridians 9 50¢ We Value Diversity. We Value Education. We Value History. St. Petersburg • Clearwater • Largo • Tarpon Springs • Dunedin • Safety Harbor VOLUME 43 NUMBER 25 FEBRUARY 17 - FEBRUARY 23, 2011 ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL EDITION Mordecai Walker, Teacher For Life Charles Bolden's Story: ‘From The Segregated South To Low Earth Orbit’ Publisher’s Note: This post are scientists, engineers, and is a part of the Celebrating astronauts. They're developing Black History Month series, instruments for spacecraft to which highlight the work of peer beyond the edge of our Mordecai Walker and his African-American Wheel of History African Americans who are con- solar system and opening solar tributing to the President’s arrays on the International BY HARRY L. HARVEY offers an excellent education for goals for winning the future. Space Station with just a tether SPECIAL TO THE those that are serious about holding them to a vehicle CHALLENGER learning. They use the A Beka BY CHARLES BOLDEN moving nearly 17,000 miles per Curriculum which provides hour. NASA is reinvigorating its ST. PETERSBURG - quality education that incorpo- WASHINGTON - It's a long focus on research and develop- Mordecai Walker retired from rates ethical behavior from a way from the segregated south ment to develop technologies teaching in 1987. However, he Christian perspective. to low Earth orbit. But I am that don't exist today. We will has never stopped demonstrating Mordecai Walker, a native of fortunate to have made the send humans farther and faster his zeal and love of teaching. Citrus Park, FL received his early journey and to have had many into space. We'll visit places Without putting forth a great deal education in Citrus Park and opportunities to serve my nation we've never been, with people of effort, you can find him Tampa. He enrolled at Tennessee in a 34-year career with the U.S. and robots, launch science teaching during the "Great A&I State College and received a Marine Corps and in many roles missions to uncover unfath- American Teach In" at Melrose Bachelor of Science degree in at NASA, currently as head of omable secrets of the universe, Elementary or demonstrating how Agriculture Education in 1951. the nation's space program. and make air travel safer and to propagate plants to members Walker also received a Master’s When I was a young man, cleaner here on the home front. of the Pathfinders, a group of Degree in Agriculture Education my service as NASA's first African-Americans have been, students mentored by his from Florida A&M University in African-American Administrator and will continue to be, key to Fraternity. Recently, Walker was 1970 and a guidance endorse- under the Nation's first black all of these efforts. observed teaching students of the ment from the University of president would have been I might never have had a Yvonne C. Reed Christian School South Florida in 1982. nearly unthinkable. But through chance in space were it not for located at Bethel Metropolitan Walker served in the the efforts of many people of all the late great Ron McNair, Baptist Church. There he United States Army prior to races, our nation has changed. another African-American displayed his famous and inform- entering Tennessee A&I State And, thanks to the Space pioneer in exploration who ative African-American wheel of College. His numerous affilia- Shuttle Program, and NASA's encouraged me to apply to the History. A chosen student would tions include Omega Psi Phi cross-disciplinary exploration astronaut corps. I was being a spin the wheel and if they success- Fraternity; NAACP; Phi Delta missions, African-Americans naysayer, thinking there was no fully provide some valuable Kappa; National Council for and many others have had way I would be accepted. But information about the person that Therapy and Rehabilitation access to space and also to Ron persisted, and I am grateful was selected by the wheel an through Horticulture; American science and technological to him to this day and for all of Charles Bolden award of fifty cents was given. Horticulture Society; and the careers. The shuttle was really the life and professional The students really paid attention American Hibiscus Society. He instrumental in breaking the learning he shared with me in moment," when the nation stood African-Americans have given during the entire session as the was also one of the organizers of color barrier for African- his too-short time before he was up and took notice, and made a their heart and soul to the space legendary teacher, Yvonne Reed, the TSU Alumni Chapter in Americans in space, and it all lost in the Space Shuttle decision to commit to explo- program. The list is long at looked on with an approving Tampa and is a member of the happened without a single law Challenger tragedy. Ron was ration and the technology devel- smile. Saint Augustine Episcopal being passed. my "Sputnik moment." opment and innovation that BOLDEN would be required, many Yvonne C. Reed School Church. Today, African-Americans Since America's "Sputnik continued on pg. 9 Quantum Opportunities Local Teens Win Medals ST. PETERSBURG - A College and sponsored by civic responsibility and Opinion ...........................2 recent bonanza of prizes were Computer Mentors Group, Inc. cultural enrichment won by sophomores from St. The Bronze Medals for third program is being provided by Petersburg and Gibbs High place were won at the Brain the Washington, DC - based Schools who are "Associates" in Bowl Challenge Race to Milton S. Eisenhower Community News .......3-7 the Quantum Opportunities Excellence, held on the Gibbs Foundation, a national after-school intervention campus of St. Petersburg operating foundation, with a program, run by a visionary College and sponsored by the grant from the United States local non-profit corporation, the Florida Education Fund’s Department of Justice's " Office Dr. Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich Sports...............................8 Center for Community and History and Culture initiative. of Justice Programs.” Economic Justice, Inc. (CCEJ). The Quantum Opportunities Additional community support Petersburg's Little Theater and CCEJ –Quantum coached two Program has been operating at includes funding and in-kind the Boys and Girls Club. One- separate teams of 7 Quantum the CCEJ Headquarters at contributions from Wal-Mart, on-one mentoring, both virtual State/Natl. News.............9 Program participants, who 2730 Central Avenue in St. Thompson Goodis law firm, and in person, is assigned to show-cased their computer Petersburg, for about one year. CCEJ, Inc and other each Associate. Guest presen- technology skills and American According to Quantum's anonymous private sources. ters at the CCEJ-Quantum history knowledge to win Executive Director, Dr. Yvonne A rich program of critical Center have included a success- bronze medals, sophisticated Scruggs-Leftwich, 30 students thinking, individual tutoring, ful Columbia Records Church Directory....10, 11 electronic devices and even a from Gibbs and St. Petersburg specialized field trips to musician; a senior research new lap-top computer. High Schools, were randomly regional museums, active par- engineer from McDonald The competition in which selected for membership in ticipation as Quantum and Douglas and Boeing Aircraft, Quantum's students won their Quantum, which boasts, "Once scholarship members of the inc.; a mentor from the local law Church News ................11 electronic prizes and lap-top in Quantum, always in YMCA and attendance at local was the Techology Bowl, held Quantum" as its motto. theater productions, is on the Brandon campus of Financial support for the four- augmented by internships at QUANTUM Hillsborough Community year long academic excellence, such institutions as St. continued on pg. 6 How To Reach Us: News: [email protected] • Advertising: [email protected] • Phone: (727) 896-2922 • Fax: (727) 823-2568 2 THE WEEKLY CHALLENGER, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011 The Weekly Challenger Newspaper The Weekly Challenger Ethel L. Johnson . CEO/Publisher Emeritus L. Dianne Speights . Publisher/General Manager We Value Diversity. We Value Education. We Value History. Lorrie Bellinger . Art Director • A knowledge of history brings a feeling of fellowship that runs through the ages — be it a territory, a village, a district, or a nation. Alan McBride . .Sales Director • To live without history is likened to living without a form of memory. • To be without history is to live without roots or a past, with the present having no real foundation, and very little meaning for the future. • To know the events of our past (can help us) to know what future events can be. The Weekly Challenger Office: • The Weekly Challenger is committed to featuring articles of all ethnic cultures for the reading enjoyment of both the young and old generations. 2500 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street South St. Petersburg, FL 33705 (727) 896-2922 Fax (727) 823-2568 OPINION Email: [email protected] www.theweeklychallenger.com Celebrating Black History Month 2011 Readership: 100,000 monthly BY DR.