DR. MARION J. BROOKS

Class, professional excellence, selflessness…these are just a few of the words that describe Dr. Marion J. Brooks. The first honoree for the Living Legends Awards, Dr. Marion J. Brooks is the standard bearer for our Fort Worth legends.

Born on February 15, 1920 to Mr. and Mrs. Roy and Eula Brooks, Marion “Jack” Brooks was raised on the South Side of Fort Worth. Dr. Brooks was a graduate of the 1936 Class of I.M. Terrell High School and would go on to earn degrees from Prairie View A&M College in 1940 and Howard University in 1951. It was on Christmas Day in 1945 that Dr. Brooks took one of the most important steps of his life, marrying then Marie Louise Norris. After obtaining his medical degree from Howard, Marion and Marie Brooks returned to Fort Worth where Dr. Brooks began his medical practice in the Black Business district.

Many in Tarrant County would come to love and respect the man affectionately called “Dr. Jack.” Years later, those who never met Dr. Brooks still feel his impact as his efforts would lead to the integration of Fort Worth’s hospitals. He founded the Sickle Cell Anemia Association of Texas and Tarrant County Precinct Workers Council. Still others would know Dr. Brooks as their Sunday School teacher, as he also helped in the formation of Morningside United Methodist Church. Dr. Brooks found time to be active outside of his practice, including contributions to the McDonald Branch YMCA, Free and Accepted Masons-Prince Hall, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and NAACP to name a few.

Lift Every Voice And Sing

Words by James Weldon Johnson

Music by John Rosamond Johnson

Lift every voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise High as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered. We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand, True to our God, True to our native land.

WILLIS L. LONZER, III, Ph.D. GENERAL PRESIDENT

JERAMAINE O. NETHERLY REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT

May 31, 2023

SEAN MCCASKILL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DARRIN O. NIXON, JR. REGIONAL ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT

Dear Members of the Beta Tau Lambda Charitable Foundation, Brothers of the Beta Tau Lambda Chapter, Living Legend Awardees and Guest:

As the Southwestern Regional Vice President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, I extend my heartfelt greetings to each of you in attendance and those that support the 29th Annual Dr. Marion J. Brooks Living Legends Awards!

In its 29th celebration, the Living Legends Awards have recognized those that have made significant contributions to the greater Tarrant County community. This celebration also honors the fifth class of Legends in the Making!

To the Living Legends and Legends in the Making, our enduring efforts in Tarrant County are unprecedented and we thank you and honor you tonight! To the brothers of the Beta Tau Lambda Chapter, and Beta Tau Lambda Charitable Foundation, the leadership of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and the Southwestern Region commend and thank you for your dedicated service. Your commitment to the community and Alpha is evident in the tireless manner in which you bring to fruition our fraternity's motto of “First of All, Servants of all, We shall transcend all.”

Again, I salute you and wish you an enjoyable evening!

Fraternally,

Jeramaine O. Netherly

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated Southwestern Regional Vice President

Willis L. Lonzer III, Ph.D. General President Sean L. McCaskill Executive Director

To My Brothers of Beta Tau Lambda,

Derrell R. Robinson Texas District Director Joshua Sowell Texas Assistant District Director

It is with pride that I bring greetings to you as the 18th District Director for the Texas Council of Alpha Chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Congratulations to the Brothers of Beta Tau Lambda on your 29th ANNUAL DR. MARION J. BROOKS LIVING LEGENDS AWARDS. For the past 83 years the brothers of Beta Tau Lambda have been a shining light in the Fort Worth community and exemplify the Aims of our fraternity, “Manly Deeds, Scholarship and Love for All Mankind”.

Congratulations to this year’s honorees: Hon. Dr. Barbara Odom-Wesley, Health Education, Dr. John Barnett, Jr., Medicine and Philanthropy, and Dr. Arlene Barnett, Medicine and Philanthropy. Legends in the Making Honorees: Ms. Kandice Boutte, Government, Mr. Ty Stimpson, Esq., Law, and Mrs. Crystal Brown, Health.

The leadership of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the District of Texas commend the brothers of Beta Tau Lambda for setting the standard. Congratulations again to the honorees and their efforts to uplift the Tarrant County community. Best of luck on a successful event.

Fraternally,

Derrell R. Robinson

18th Texas District Director

2022-2023 Officers

Adrian J. Gray President

James Hampton* Vice President

Frank J. Johnson* Recording Secretary

Jamal Williams

Corresponding Secretary

Donovan Thompson Financial Secretary

Jesse L. Alston* Treasurer

Derek Hammonds Chaplain

Julian Hobdy Intake Coordinator

Reginald Robinson Historian

Glen L. Harmon Assoc. Editor of “The Sphinx”

George Ramsey Dir. of Educational Activities

Joshua Rivers Sergeant-At-Arms

Titus Ross

Parliamentarian

Jay Corzine*

Immediate Past President

June 16th, 2023

On behalf of the Beta Tau Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., affectionately known as FortWorth’sFavorite Frat, we proudly welcome you to the 29th Annual Dr. Marion J. Brooks Living Legends Awards. Honoring the name of the late great Dr. Jack, a Beta Tau Lambda, Fort Worth, Tarrant County and Texas legend, we continue the mission to which this great program was established recognizing the icons of our community.

This year’s 29th class of Living Legends and 5th class of Legends in the Making prove once again that there is no shortage of legendary contributors in the Tarrant County Community. We are happy to recognize the outstanding contributions made in the areas of Medicine, Health, Law, Education and Government.

To our Living Legends, Dr. John Barnett, Dr. Arlene Barnett and Dr. Barbara OdomWesley, special thanks to you for your service with excellence over the span of decades with work still yet to be done.

To our Legends in the Making, Ms. Kandice Bhoutte, Mrs. Crystal Brown and Attorney Ty Stimpson with already so much accomplished we believe your best is still yet to come and encourage you as you continue to blaze trails in Tarrant County and beyond.

We thank you the community for your continued support of this program. Let it continue in years to come to be a reflection of the expression, we lift as we climb.

May God bless you.

*Life Member

Regards,

Adrian J. Gray

Adrian J. Gray, Esq.

Chapter President

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Beta Tau Lambda Chapter

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the 29th Annual Dr. Marion J. Brooks' Living Legends Awards as we recognize and honor Dr. Barbara Odom-Wesley, Dr. John Barnett, Jr., and Dr. Arlene Barnett. In addition, we are honored to present Ms. Kandice Boutte, Ty Stimpson, Esq., and Crystal Brown as Legends in the Making. We celebrate their achievements and the values they embody the importance of integrity, dedication, and tireless pursuit of excellence. Their lifetime of work is a testament to the power of hard work, passion, and a relentless pursuit of one's dreams. These individuals have left their thumbprints on Tarrant County, and their legacy will continue to inspire future generations. Their achievements remind us that we all have the potential to make a difference and a lasting impact.

Beta Tau Lambda Charitable Foundation (BTLCF) is a not-for-profit organization that aims to develop and enhance the lives of young males living in Greater Fort Worth, through programs that develops tomorrow's leaders by promoting academic excellence while providing mentorship, service, and advocacy. Our programs directly respond to the need for positive role models in unrepresented communities. Our Mission is to offer life-enriching programs and seminars focused on effecting social change:

• Alpha Academy: our mentoring program provides a safe, nurturing environment for young men (5th

12th grade) to learn life skills and improve self-worth through guided activities and workshops.

• Alpha Beautillion: recognizes high school seniors who have demonstrated achievement in academics, arts, and leadership in their communities and provides these young men with the tools and resources to succeed in their endeavors toward higher education.

As a 501(c)(3), we depend on our communities and corporate sponsors' engagement and generosity. We welcome your support of our organization by recommending young men to participate in Alpha Academy and Alpha Beautillion; or donating to the following site: https://btlcf.square.site. Only with your help can we continue to provide the required level of support these young men need and deserve.

Thank you for joining us today and for considering donating to our organization. For more information on our programs, please email info@btlcffw.org.

Thank you,

Dr.Ty Guy President

Beta Tau Lambda Charitable Foundation

Beta Tau Lambda Charitable Foundation, Inc.

501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit Organization www.btlcffw.org

Dear Esteemed Guests,

On behalf of the Beta Tau Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, it is with great pleasure and honor that I welcome you to the 2023 Dr Marion J Brooks Living Legends Awards This prestigious event, now in its 29th year, serves as a beacon of recognition for community excellence across various fields. We are humbled to continue the strong legacy of excellence established by the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and to champion this remarkable occasion

The Living Legends Awards has been an invaluable platform for celebrating outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to our community. It is through their tireless efforts, unwavering dedication, and exceptional achievements that they have become true legends among us. This year, we gather to pay tribute to these exceptional individuals and honor their remarkable journeys.

We are thrilled to host this event at the Palmwood Event Center, located in the heart of downtown Fort Worth, which provides a luxurious setting that perfectly complements the grandeur of this special occasion. The elegant surroundings and unparalleled service will ensure an unforgettable evening for all attendees

In addition to recognizing our living legends, the Beta Tau Lambda Chapter is committed to supporting the education and future success of our local youth As a part of our ongoing efforts, we are excited to award a scholarship to a deserving high school or college student By investing in the education of our future leaders, we strive to make a lasting impact on the community we hold dear.

We extend our warmest welcome as you join us in celebrating these extraordinary individuals and to witness the inspiring stories that have shaped their lives Together, we can honor their achievements, recognize their invaluable contributions, and create an atmosphere of appreciation and admiration.

Congratulations to all the honorees, and thank you for your continued support and presence at this remarkable event.

Warmest regards,

Bro. SaJade J. Miller Event Chair Dr. Marion J. Brooks Living Legends Awards