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BROTHER LIONEL HODGE NEWSOM NOVEMBER 11, 1919 - JANUARY An Alpha Man Speaks of his Fraternity Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, Brother Lionel Hodge Newsom was reared in St. Louis, Missouri. He and his wife, Maxine Emerson Newsom, are parents of one daughter, Jacqueline Carol (the wife of Brother Curtis O. Peters). Brother Newsom's chosen profession is education and in that field he has compiled a record of service which clearly stands u p to his own rigorous standard of excellence. In his own training, in teaching, administration, in c o m m u n i t y service - Brother Newsom's achievements are a credit to his Fraternity, which in 1979 bestowed upon him its highest honor (The Alpha Award of Merit). Brother N e w s o m is an h o n o r s graduate of Lincoln University (Missouri) and received his masters degree in Sociology from The University of Michigan. After further study in Social Administration at The Ohio State University, he went on to receive a Ph.D. from Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri) in the field of SociologyAnthropology. Dr. Newsom entered the armed forces in 1943 as a Private. He was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of First Lieutenant, after serving in the American, China, Burma and India theaters. Following his discharge, he began an illustrious professional career as an Instructor of History and Sociology at his alma mater, Lincoln University. After one year, he moved on to become Associate Professor, teaching in the same fields, at Southern University in Louisiana. While working toward his doctorate, Brother Newsom was Associate Professor of Sociology at Stowe Teachers College in St. Louis. He returned to Southern in 1951 as Professor of Sociology and, in 1956, was named head of that department. In 1960, Dr. Newsom became Professor of Sociology and Director of Woodrow Wilson General Honors at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Here he served until 1964, when he was installed as President of Barber-Scotia College in Concord, North Carolina. In 1966, Brother Newsom returned to Atlanta to become Associate Director of the Higher Educational Opportu-
This article is reprinted from Spring 1980 issue of The Sphinx magazine nity in the South project of the Southern Regional Education Board. He was named President of Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, NC) in 1969 and served there until his selection to his present post as President of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. In related activities, Brother N e w s o m ' s i n v o l v e m e n t has been equally impressive. He is a leader in professional organizations, and has always earned the respect of his peers. Since coming to Central State in 1972, he has already served as Chairman of the Inter-University Council of Ohio (1975-1976) and as President of the Ohio College Association (1976-77). Even as this article was being prepared, The Sphinx received an independent release noting that Brother Newsom had been named to the Advisory Council to the Secretary of the Army, as Civilian Aide for Southeast Ohio. What no chronology of job titles and professional affiliations can possibly impart is the impact of a person on those who come into contact with him. In the case of Lionel H. Newsom, most who have known him have come to respect him. This is perhaps best evidenced by his citations for distinguished alumni achievement by both Lincoln University and Washington University:
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by his Award for Excellence from the University of Cincinnati; and by the institutions (Davidson College, Bowling Green State University, Lincoln University, Wright State, Western Michigan University and Miami University of Ohio) which have conferred upon him honorary doctorates. I saw the light of Alpha Phi Alpha at Alpha Psi, Lincoln University, later serving as Treasurer of the chapter. I represented Alpha Chi (Fisk University) at the 1940 General Convention in Kansas City; served as President of Epsilon (University of Michigan) and later President of Kappa at The Ohio State University. Later I became a member of Alpha Rho Lambda. During the war I was among four who pulled together about 60 Alpha men at Fort Benning, Georgia, to establish a wartime chapter. The other three were Brothers Clifton R. Jones of Virginia Union, James R. Tanner of Wilberforce and Lewis O. Swingler (former Editor-in-Chief of The Sphinx) of University of Nebraska. We had forums, public meetings, parties, dances and learning sessions. My army duties took me overseas to serve in the China-Burma-India theater as a Lieutenant in the Corps of Military Police. Upon my return in 1946, I attended the convention in Columbus, Ohio where Brother Paul Robeson was the highlight of the program with Max Yergan, B. V. Lawson, General President; Channing Tobias, Dr. Tribbitt and Joseph H. B. Evans, General Secretary and Dr. Charles H. Wesley, former General President. During B. V.'s term I served as a member of the Reorganization Committee and Chairman of the Awards Committee. I also was Vice President of the Midwestern Region. During my teaching career I served as advisor to Alpha Psi, Beta Sigma (Southern University, Baton Rouge) and Alpha Rho (Morehouse College). Then I served as Chairman of the Recommendations Committee under General President A. Maceo Smith and Director of Educational Activities under General President Myles A. Paige. During that period I served as a member of the Continued on Page 48
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