IN THE N E WS
Morgan’s James Phillips Joins MEAC Hall of Fame James Phillips, ’68, former wrestling coach for Morgan State University, was inducted in the MidEastern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame on March 11, 2011. Phillips’ wrestling program was considered number one among the nation’s black colleges, winning the MEAC Championship 13 consecutive years from 1983 to 1995. The program was ranked among the country’s top 10 for six straight years, making Morgan the only Historically Black Institution ever to climb to national recognition. Phillips was also Morgan’s Head Football Coach in 1983 and 1984. A Morgan alumnus, Phillips was an outstanding performer in football. An offensive guard, he ranked
among the top 10 players in the nation at the position on Morgan’s 1963 and 1964 teams and the national champion 1965 team. After graduation, he played in the NFL and CFL for two years before retiring with a knee injury. Phillips received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Morgan in physical education and administration. He served for more than 30 years as an Assistant Professor in Morgan’s Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation before retiring in 2004.
Sen. Catherine Pugh Named MEAC Distinguished Alumnus
Maryland State Senator Catherine E. Pugh, ’73, ’77, received the MidEastern Athletic Conference 2011 Distinguished Alumnus Award, during the 2011 MEAC Basketball Tournament, on March 10, 2011. Senator Pugh is President and CEO of the public relations consulting firm C. E. Pugh & Company. A Democrat, she represents Maryland’s 40th Legislative District and
has been a member of the Maryland Senate since 2007. She is also the 2010–2012 Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland and Second Vice Chair of the Women Legislators of Maryland. Before joining the Senate, she represented the 40th District in the House of Delegates (2005–2007) and was a member of the Baltimore City Council (1999–2004). Senator Pugh received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Morgan in business administration.
MSU Choir Performs for the President
MSUNAA Launches New Online Community Our new iModules Online Community was launched on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010. The features of this new online tool enable alumni to: search for and contact their friends from MSU; create and customize their own profile page; share and view photos and class notes; participate in conversations on the message board; post resumes; register for MSU events; look for a job; engage in career networking; use Facebook and Twitter; and much, much more. Some comments about our new site follow: “I love this. When I got my postcard in my inbox, I exclaimed, ‘It's about time.’ I had another way to connect to my fellow BEARS, but it is unlike this. It was just the newsletters, which was nice to receive but was not as fast as this. This feels more real and live. I definitely trust the Morgan site more than other ways to connect to Morgan. This is going to open new doors for me. This will cure my lonely, long distance blues in California. Perhaps it will help me connect to my fellow alumni students in California. Go Bears!!” — Philomina Dike-Walker, ’88
“I love it. This is a great way to keep in touch. Excellent!!!!” — Karen Gilmore Johnson, ’81
“This is great. I hope more alumni will access this site and participate.” — Roland White, ’68
“Morgan has come to the forefront of technology and advancement. When more Morganites become aware of this great tool, we will all be back at Morgan. Seven cheers for Morgan.” — Fred Esannason, ’78
“I think this is great! I just joined today. The registration was very quick and easy, which is a HUGE PLUS!” — Edwin “Eddie” Green, ’98
“This is wonderful!!!! I am really glad this area of technology will become a forefront of more great things to come.... I've been looking to take a few online classes at Morgan. Hopefully online classes are next. GO BEARS!!!” — Stephanie “Foxworth” Harrell, ’79
“I love it! It's sleek and shows that Morgan is keeping up in the digital age. Kudos!”
— Ashika “Severin” Brinkley (Former Student Regent), ’03
“I don't belong to any of the social networks because I really and truly like my anonymity.... But this is different. It feels like "home" — as Morgan is a place that is and will forever be engrained in the psyches of all who attended. I love this!!!” — Stephanie Legare, ’86
The Morgan State University Choir poses in front of the White House in February 2011 with (center, left) MSU President Dr. David Wilson and (center, right) MSU Choir Director Dr. Eric Conway. The choir was invited to perform for President Barack Obama in the White House mansion’s East Room for Black History Month. A performance before another head of state is on the choir’s agenda for June. A concert for Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled as part of a 12-day tour of Italy.
Earl Banks, Roosevelt Brown Named to Black College Football Hall of Fame
The Black College Football Hall of Fame has inducted two Morgan greats, legendary football coach Earl Banks and former offensive lineman Roosevelt Brown, into its Class of 2011. Banks and Brown were among 11 new Hall of Famers chosen from a list of 35 finalists. The finalists were selected by journalists and former football executives from around the country. Banks was Head Football Coach at Morgan State from 1960 to 1973 and completed his career with a .839 win-loss ratio. His 1965–68 teams won 31 straight games, the seventh longest winning streak in college football history. He also had three unbeaten regular seasons, five CIAA conference championships and led the Bears to four bowl games. He was the CIAA Coach of the Year in 1962, 1965 and 1966 and sent 41 of his players to the pros. In addition to coaching, Banks was Morgan State’s athletic director through 1987.
Banks was also a philanthropist. He chaired a fund drive that raised $1 million for Lafayette Square Community Center and was a board member for numerous community organizations. He died in 1993 at age 69. Brown, a native of Charlottesville, Va., played football at Morgan, where he was a two-time Black College All-American (1951–1952) and was drafted by the New York Giants in 1953. During the height of his career, the Giants won six divisional crowns and one NFL title. Brown was a virtually unanimous All-NFL choice for eight straight years. He was named to nine Pro Bowls and was awarded Lineman of the Game honors for the 1956 NFL Championship game. In 1975, Brown became only the second player to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the merits of his offensive line play alone. He died in 2004 at the age of 71.
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