RENOWNED AOA deserving individuals. In connection with the annual awards banquet of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County, which Brother McDonald founded, he took the occasion to honor community contributors and fellow Alpha men. Among them were Brother Hilton Smith of Cleveland, Ohio; Brother Charles Watkins of Wittnauer Watches; and Brother R.L. Stockard, who Brother McDonald says served as role model for him. The program, entitled "A Black College Experience," was attended by more than 500 persons. It is clear that sports and sports-related activities play a major role in Bobby McDonald's life. He mentions that as a result of the research he did in writing his book on the history of AfricanAmerican football that historical research has emerged "as a new twist in my life." Recently, Brother McDonald was made an "Honorary Buffalo Soldier" by the Greater Los Angeles Area Chapter of the 9th and 10th Buffalo Soldiers. Bobby McDonald now is seriously contemplating the building of a Black Culture Center sometime in the future. He has pledged to work with the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project as a merchandising coordinator and developer. In the capacity, he will contact major manufacturers who will sell their merchandise with a portion of the proceeds going to build and maintain the MLK Memorial, which will be built in the nation's capital. Despite the myriad of activities in which the 1999 Alumni Brother is involved, he places a high value on personal contact and the strength and support of his immediate and extended family. Brother McDonald is married to Linda, his wife of 18 years, who is an art historian and a native Califomian. A graduate of Long Beach State University, Mrs. McDonald has been a volunteer curator for the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, specializing in American and African history and art. The McDonalds have three children: Christine Marie, a senior in high school who excels at water polo and had a berth on the Junior
Olympic team; Michelle LeAnne, a high-achieving junior high school student, with aspirations of being a volleyball player; and, Robert, Jr., a second grader, who is a soccer and baseball enthusiast. Their proud father says, "There is constant movement at the McDonald household." Bobby McDonald also gives credit to his extended family. He says that his parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts were shining examples for him. Reflecting on the lessons he learned from them, he said, "Their impact on me is alive and well." Then there were other role models that influenced Brother McDonald. He credits Jackie Robinson; Coach Eddie Robinson; Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb, the first African-American woman president of California State University at Fullerton, whose father, Frank, was an early initiate into the Fraternity; and R.L. Stockard, the first African-American to have a column in a daily newspaper, the Nashville Globe, as significant influences in his life. Brother McDonald rounds out his life (When does he have time?) with varied hobbies. He still plays tennis and reached the Senior Finals last year. He enjoys music from Bach to the blues, and his newfound interest—history. There is no doubt that Brother Robert Vernon McDonald leads a life of dedicated service to his family, his community, his church, and to his Fraternity. As a servant of all, he transcended all. Looking back at his stellar record of service, he mused, "There are three kinds of people in the world: those who make things happen; those who watch things happen; and, those who wonder what happened." There should be no doubt as to which group Brother McDonald belongs. Brother Joseph T. Durham is President Emeritus of the Baltimore City Community College. He is a member of Delta Lambda Chapter in Baltimore, MD and the Fraternity's Historical Commission.
• EDITORS of THE SPHINX9 Raymond W. Cannon 1914 L.L. McGee 1915
W.A. Pollard 1916 V.D. Johnson 1917 (Interim) Carl J. Murphy 1918-1922 Oscar C. Brown 1923-1929 P. Bernard Young, Jr. 1930-1933 Arnett G. Lindsay 1934-1935
^ewis o. owing I , 1936-1943
Meredith G. Ferguson 1943-1944 (Interim) Reid E. Jackson 1945 Lewis O. Swingler 1946-1947 Arnett G. Lindsay 1948 Lewis O. Swing ler 1949-1950 W. Barton Beatty, Jr. 1951-1961 C. Anderson Davis 1962-1965
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George M. Daniels 1966-1968 J. Herbert King 1969-1972 Laurence T. Young, Sr. 1973 (Interim) J. Herbert King 1973-1974 Michael J. Price 1974-1990 Charles F. Robinson, III 1991-1992 John J. Johnson, III 1993-1996 Seaton J. White, III 1997-
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THE SPHINX® FALL 1999