To Professor Eaton

By: Bella May

9 months is approximately two hundred and seventy three days and thirty-nine weeks. It wasn't until 9 months ago that I encountered a legend. Through his three stages of life, we will discuss this legend today. For those who don't know me, I'm Bella May, a rising junior and journalism major at Hampton University. I was fortunate enough to be taught by the great Professor Eaton. However, in his first stage of life, he was simply Maynard Eaton from Orange, New Jersey. A man with a plan. An eight-time Emmy winner and the first black newsman at Channel 13 in Hampton. I don’t think you heard me. He was an eight-time Emmy winner and the first black newsman at Channel 13 in Hampton.

From entertainers to civil rights activists, he conducted numerous high-profile reports and interviews. During this time, he received numerous awards and accolades. He served as the president of the Eaton Media Group, the senior writer for the Spelman Messenger, the national communication director for SCLC, the editorin-chief for SCLC, and faculty editor for Hampton University's JAC magazine, and the faculty advisor for Hampton Script. He has also taught at Clark Atlanta. Following his undergraduate degree from Hampton University, he earned a Master of Arts from Columbia University. Although most of you know this information, I had to mention it because when I refer to him as a legend, you understand why. In Professor Eaton's second stage of life, he returned to Hampton University, his home by the sea, after 52 years to teach journalism students.

This is where we met. When he walked in, his strong presence was felt, and his reputation preceded him. Every day, he asked us what was happening in the news. Sometimes I would wake up an hour before class to check. I know.. what a great journalist I am. He also said you gotta know how to write in this field. I liked ELA growing up, so I was like I got this until he gave me a paper with a C + on it. Oh, there’s a difference between essay writing and journalism writing. Professor Eaton wasn't afraid to tell you the truth because it made you better, and when he couldn't, he would bring journalists from the field like Eugene Daniel from 13NewsNow to speak to us. This prepared us for the future.

Now that he is in his final stage of life, I don't know exactly what it looks like for him, but I know how much he contributed to society and me. See Professor Eaton was there when I interviewed Hampton University's 13th president, he was there when I became the 2023 recipient of the Jovita Moore Memorial Scholarship to which he wrote me a recommendation, and he was definitely there when I lost all of my footage for a story I was doing on him. Therefore, I am thankful for him in every stage of life. I am grateful to his parents for making him, to New Jersey and Atlanta for shaping him, and to

Mrs. Eaton and everyone else in between for sharing this legend with me and Hampton University. Professor Eaton, both a legend and my mentor, only took 9 months, two hundred and seventy three days and thirty-nine weeks to touch our heart.

I am Bella May, a third-year journalism student at Hampton University with an area of emphasis in Spanish. My goal is to become a news anchor at one of the world's leading news stations. My biggest accomplishments include being on the Dean's List for my first two years of college, interviewing Hampton University's 12th and 13th President, and receiving the Jovita Moore Memorial Scholarship in 2023. This is only the beginning.