Brother John N. Doggett Board of Directors at Central Medical Center medical facility. Grace United Methodist works closely with Washington University and St. Louis Symphony, which means that it is highly cultural, progressive and has some of the city's leading citizens in the congregation. Doggett was also the "first" Black to serve on the World Methodist Council; to head two conference boards in the Missouri Conference and to head the delegation for the general and jurisdictional conferences. A native of Pennsylvania, Doggett received his Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. from St. Louis University. He served pastorates in Delaware, New York and California before joining the Missouri East Conference in 1964. He served as pastor for Union Memorial United Methodist Church until his appointment to the district in 1976. He is married to Juanita Doggett, principal of Sherman School, and they have four children.
Brother JOSEPH N. GAYLES, JR., President of Talladega College, recently returned from an eight-day visit to the Democratic Republic of China where he was the guest of the Ministry of Education. "The purpose of the trip was to promote and foster cultural and informational exchanges between Taiwan and The Sphinx / Summer 1983
the United States, particularly, as it relates to higher education," said Dr. Gayles. He added that the possibility of developing "sister school" relationships between the two countries is being explored as well as having exchange programs for students and faculty. The U.S. delegation of three college presidents was escorted throughout their visit by high ranking officials of the Chinese government. Their itinerary included (in part) louring the following institutions of higher learning: National Taiwan Institute of Technology, National Taiwan Normal University, National Cheng Kieng University and Tamkang University. Dr. Gayles also toured several of the island's many cultural and religious institutions, such as the Longshan Temple, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, the National Palace Museum and other places of importance to Chinese culture and history. When asked what he considered to be the most interesting aspect of the trip, Dr. Gayles stated, "observing the intensity with which the Chinese people perform their duties and pursue their education, as well as their ideological development is overwhelming." The Chinese generally work seven days a week, having only three holidays and students attend school six full days a week. "Even though it (Taiwan) is a democratic society, the government is very much involved in the daily lives of the citizens. The national government regulates schools, the students have enormous loads of homework and extremely difficult examinations as mandatory procedure," added Gayles. He also stated that he found the Chinese to be very cordial and industrious persons who consider themselves to be protectors of all vestiges of ancient and modern Chinese history. The itinerary included Taipei, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Tamsui in China. Two days were spent in Tokyo at the conclusion of the trip.
m Brother FRED A. GORDEN is the Commander of the 7th Infantry Division Artillery at Ft. Ord, California. He is an active member of the Kappa Alpha Lambda Chapter. His major responsibility in the Division Artillery is to ensure that all of his subordinates are "in war invincible / in peace prepared." Brother Gorden was born in Anniston, Alabama. He attended school in Atlanta, Georgia and Battle Creek,
Michigan where he graduated from high school. Brother Gorden was destined to be an Alphaman from an early age. From his high school years he has strived in many areas for which he was justly awarded. He was inducted into the National Honor Society of the Wolverine State, the first recipient of C. W. Post and Clark Equipment scholarships, a member of Phi Rho Pi Forensic Society and a member of the All-City Basketball team. In 1958, Brother Gorden won an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. There he matriculated and was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree. He furthered his field of studies at Middlebury College, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Spanish Literature and Civilization, with advanced studies in Madrid, Spain. Colonel Gorden's military career shifted into high gear upon completing West Point. He received a regular Army commissioin in the branch of Field Artillery. Brother Gorden has completed many military schools as a part of his many accomplishments. He is a graduate of the Army's Field Artillery basic and advance courses, the Army's Airborne and Ranger schools, the Armed Forces Staff College and the National War College. Colonel Gorden's military experience has led him to unique assignments around the world. He was a Field Artillery Battery Commander in the Republic of Vietnam; an instructor/ assistant professor at the United States Military Academy where he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal; a Field Artillery Battalion executive officer in the Republic of South Korea; and a Field Artillery Battalion Commander and Inspector General in the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, where he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Colonel Gordon was assigned to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., where he was in the Office of Personnel Actions and Executive to Chief of Legislative Liaison in the Office of the Secretary of the Army, and awarded the Legion of Merit. Brother Gorden was shown the light of Alphadom in the Mu Beta Lamba Chapter, Honolulu, Hawaii. He is married to the former Marcia Ann Stewart of St. Paul, Minnesota. They have two daughters, Shawn and Michelle.
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