passages Godfather of African American Doctors Recruited Black Doctors to Columbus M. DELMAR EDWARDS ’48 M. DELMAR EDWARDS ‘48, physician and community leader, was ‘Godfather of African American doctors.’ He died Sept. 11, 2009, after a distinguished career as a surgeon, educator and leader. He was 82. “He was a trailblazer in the medical, civic and business community,” said Dr. Louis Sullivan, a founder of Morehouse School of Medicine and a former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “While we mourn his loss, we all benefit from the contributions he made to our community.” Edwards became the first African American to practice surgery in Columbus, Ga., after moving there from his native Arkansas in 1964. “He came at a time when African American physicians were not welcome,” said Dr. Sylvester McRae. He scaled the walls of racial rejection and skepticism to lead the General Surgery Section at the Medical Center in Columbus and serve as chairman of the Department of Surgery. Along the way, he helped close the racial gap in medical disparities by recruiting scores of African American physicians to practice in middle Georgia. “He was known as the Godfather of African American physicians because he recruited so many African American doctors to Columbus,” said McRae. “When Dr. Edwards recruited me in 1985, there were probably less
than 10 African American physicians. Today there are 60 to 75. Dr. Delmar Edwards was instrumental in recruiting all of those physicians. He was a father figure who extended himself and his resources to help others.” Edwards also was a founding trustee of the Morehouse School of Medicine. A scholarship named in his honor has helped dozens of MSM students become doctors. “Dr. Delmar Edwards’ contributions in the early years of our institution were invaluable,” said MSM President John E. Maupin. “He believed in our mission and his extraordinary philanthropy helped ease the financial burden of many of our students – and we will miss him.” Added Sullivan, who is a founder and the first black president of the Morehouse School of Medicine: “Delmar lent his credibility and support to the Morehouse School of Medicine, and that is one of the reasons the school exists today.” Edwards was the first African American male to graduate from the University of Arkansas Medical School. He also received training at Central State University in Ohio, Atlanta University and Morehouse College. He was the first African American member of the Columbus Rotary Club, a long-serving member of Columbus State University Foundation Board, a member of the Board of Directors of AFLAC, Inc., and a pioneer in Columbus civic, religious and community activities. He also was active in local and state politics, and lent early encouragement and support to state Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus) and Congressman Sanford Bishop. Edwards and his late wife, Betty, had three children: Maurice, Christopher (1979) and K. Jessica. He also is survived by six grandchildren. ■
Finance Executive Helped Many Black Atlantans Buy First Homes ROSWELL O. SUTTON ‘41 ROSWELL O. SUTTON ’41, died Aug. 19, 2009, of heart failure at Hospice Atlanta. The long-time businessman and entrepreneur was eulogized in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse. Sutton began his illustrious career at Citizens Trust Bank, where he rose from bookkeeper to executive vice president. In Atlanta, the Army veteran was a bank official when blacks were anomalies in such positions. Because of his position, he helped many blacks buy their first homes. After retiring from CTB in 1974, he founded R.O. Sutton and Associates, a financial consulting business. For decades, he also served as vice president for finance for Paschal’s Concession, Inc., which oper-
ates restaurants at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Sutton earned his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse in 1941 and earned a master’s degree from the graduate school of banking at the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1953. Very active in the Atlanta community, Sutton was a member of several boards, including Atlanta Life Insurance Co.; the Butler Street YMCA; the George Washington Carver Boys and Girls Club; the Big Bethel A.M.E. Federal Credit Union; and the Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union. He also served on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Mental Health, Retardation and Substance Abuse; and the advisory council of the Fulton County Alcoholism Treatment Center. Sutton served as international president for the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity for 17 years and is the only member in fraternity history to be granted the status of international president emeritus. ■
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