BROTHERS ON THE MOVE
BILL RELEFORD, D.P.M. Brother Bill Releford, a podiatric surgeon and diabetes-prevention crusader, is the founder of the “Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program” and recently participated in a journal study that finds that black people die prematurely from preventable diseases. Releford supports the findings of the recent study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, that concludes that African Americans die prematurely from stroke, hypertension, diabetes and other diseases in disproportionate numbers compared to Caucasians. He says that in his 20-year practice as a diabetic podiatric surgeon, he has put a “face to the findings.” However, through diet and the grassroots “Black
honor in October 2008 for his contributions to education and ministry. He earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from DU in 1966 and a master’s in theology there in 1993. Shannon served with the U.S. Army Chaplain Service from 1966 to 1981, retiring with the rank of colonel. He was the first African-American chaplain to graduate from the Command and General Staff College, and was the first African American to serve as senior pastor of the Pentagon pulpit. He conducted preaching missions all over the world and received the U.S. Army Legion of Merit Award for service in South Vietnam. Shannon has served on several national committees of the fraternity and was a one-time candidate for general president of Alpha. He is a past chaplain of the fraternity.
LAWRENCE SCOTT Can you say 61 years and counting? Brother Lawrence
Scott, a member of Epsilon Mu Lambda Chapter in Pensacola, Fla., celebrated 61 years in Alpha in November. Scott was initiated at Delta Beta Chapter on Nov. 15, 1948, at Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) in Daytona Beach, Fla. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Degree from B-CU, and a master’s in education at Loyola University in New Orleans, La. Scott is retired and has 36 years of distinguished service as an educator in the state of Florida to his merit.
RODNEY TAYLOR While in Alpha he is simply known as “Brother” Rodney Taylor, to his many students in his French classes, he is “Monsieur” Rodney Gérard Taylor. Taylor teaches both French and Spanish at Bala Cynwyd Middle School just outside Philadelphia. He was
Barbershop Health Outreach Program” that screens AfricanAmerican men for diabetes and hypertension, he says, African Americans can reverse this trend. Releford is reversing the trend by treating these devastating and life-altering disorders through treatment, counsel and a diet program that is captured in his new book, 5 Colors A Day to Better Health. He says that African Americans’ diets consist of fast foods and other fat-filled, non-nutritious items that attack the organs and feed the diseases that lead to early death. While he notes that many inner-city communities have few produce stores where fruits and vegetables can be purchased, he says that to save life and limb, African Americans must invest the time in their health by buying and eating foods that represent the five colors articulated in his book.
honored with the national 2009 Dorothy S. Ludwig Excellence in Teaching Award by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), the largest organization of French teachers in the world. The Delaware County resident says he is glad to be able to serve his community and help expand the global and cultural perspectives of students. Taylor is a member of Rho Chapter in Philadelphia. He was honored in July at the AATF Awards banquet in San Jose, Calf., where he received a cash prize, complimentary membership in the association and a subscription to Le Français dans le Monde magazine. Taylor holds master’s degrees from the University of Mississippi and Universidad de Salamanca in Spain, and a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University.
A.C. WHARTON The people of Memphis, Tenn., went to the polls this fall, and spoke loudly by voting for
Brother A.C. Wharton as mayor. In June 2009, Wharton, who had previously served as the mayor of Shelby County, announced his intentions to run for mayor of Memphis in a special election to replace the sitting mayor, who vacated the office in the middle of his fifth term. The special election was held Oct. 15, 2009. Based on unofficial returns, Wharton won the election with 60 percent of the vote in a field of some 25 candidates Wharton, an initiate of Beta Omicron Chapter at Tennessee State University, was sworn into office on Oct. 26, 2009.
R. SETH WILLIAMS In the “City of Brotherly Love,” the people have put an Alpha in charge of the prosecutor’s office. Brother R. Seth Williams, was elected the first African-American district
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