100 Most Influential

100

INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN

STARK COUNTY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

BREAKING BARRIERS, UPHOLDING BLACK EXCELLENCE, AND INSPIRING OTHERS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL The Coalition for Community, Connection, and Engagement

The Coalition for Community, Connection, and Engagement is dedicated to fostering meaningful partnerships that positively impact the community and unlock endless possibilities. This group focuses on “building upon the past to ignite endless opportunities.”

This year, the group focused on commemorating the 100th anniversary of Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s launch of Black History Month. We asked community members to submit up to three names of the most influential people in the past century who broke down barriers, upheld Black Excellence, and inspired others to reach their full potential.

The nominees were from Stark County and had an impact in one of the following areas: STEM, humanities, education, business, and athletics.

The committee would like to acknowledge that there were many deserving candidates nominated for this honor.

However, as this is the inaugural year of recognition, we were unable to celebrate all of the potential nominees.

Therefore, we ask for assistance from the Stark County community in nominating these worthy individuals in the years to come. This will ensure our ability not only to recognize these individuals but to acknowledge their accomplishments and the benefits they brought to Stark County and to their respective fields.

INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN

STEM

JORDAN BOON Mentor to youth on how to integrate STEM

DAVID HALL First Black man to settle in Stark County

DR. MICHAEL GRIMES Prominent doctor in Stark County

JL BREWER First Black pharmacist in Stark County

VALERIE THOMKINS Author who inspired girls to join STEM programs

LATRICE SNODGRASS First Black leader of Beacon Pharmacy, serving the vulnerable population with affordable medication

DR. JB WALKER Canton’s first Black physician BILL POWELL Civil engineer and environmental manager who designed Clearview Golf Course PRIOR FOSTER First Black man to settle in East Sparta

CAROL ANNE KENNEDY LIPKINS First Black registered nurse at Aultman Hospital STEPHEN JONES, MD, F.A.C.S. First African American Physician in Stark County

INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN

HUMANITIES MELISSA (MISSY) MILLER Outstanding leader who provides service to Alliance

IRA TURPIN First Black judge to preside in the Stark County Common Pleas Court

BEVERLY JORDAN Founder of the Stark Social Workers Network, the first Black-owned and operated social service agency in Stark County

CURVIS RHYNE City councilman in Alliance, Ohio, for 48 consecutive years

REV. JAMES MORRIS LAWSON, JR. Civil rights icon who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi WILL DENT, JR. Founder of ABCD ESTHER ARCHER First Black woman elected as a city council member in Stark County

CLAY HUNTER First Black judge in Stark County, appointed in 1962 CHARLIE (CJ) EVERETTE III Captain of the Alliance Police Department KYLE STONE First Black Stark County prosecutor

ROBERT PINN First Black individual in the Barr Association (1879) EVERETTE LINEAR Owner of one of the first Blackowned barbershops IRVIN BARNES Sang with The New York Philharmonic Choir on Broadway

REV. CA LIGHTBOURN Pastored Mt. Calvary Second Missionary Baptist Church for many years NANCY CARD Influential in aspiring youth in the field of cosmotelogy and business ownership

REV. WC HENDERSON Pastored Antioch Church for 31 years

REV. WARREN P. CHAVERS Founder of Deliverance Christian Church and delivered the invocation for Senator Barack Obama

MACY GRAY American singer and actress

THE O’JAYS Iconic R&B singing group

JACOB GASKINS The first African American to cast a vote in Plain Township

CHARLES MCDEW Civil rights activist

INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN

EDUCATION DOROTHY WHITE First Black teacher in Canton PARALEE WATKINS COMPTON First Black assistant superintendent in Canton City Schools DR. SANDY D. WOMACK, JR. Influential educator in Canton City Schools ODES J. KYLE JR. First Black individual to serve on the Canton City Board of Education VELMA LINEAR Founded and operated Linear Elementary School NATE COOK Ward 6 councilman who was dedicated to education

BARENDA M. ROBINSON Teacher for 33 years who advised the student Unrest Committee MARK BLACK First Black high school principal in Plain Local Schools GREGORY L. KING First Black president of the University of Mount Union DR. KENYA LEE HARRINGTON, SR. Lifelong commitment to education TAMIKO HATCHER Lifelong commitment to education LESTER SANDERS Inspirational in starting the 99th Squadron

TERRANCE JONES Lifelong mentor and advocate for student success

MARY SMITH-BLACKMON Known for integrating a segregated high school in Canton

ELAYNE DUNLAP Lifelong educator who is dedicated to impacting student success

DR. IVORY LYONS Influential professor at the University of Mount Union

VERNER RUSSELL First Black principal at McKinley High School

DR. NORMA SNIPES MARCERE Respected educator in Massillon known for inspiring students

KIMBERL'E CRENSHAW Civil rights advocate for education and professor in the School of Law at Columbia and UCLA

NADINE MCILWAIN Impactful educator and outstanding advocate in education

MARIAN CRENSHAW First Black student to play in the McKinley Band and an inspiring educator serving for over 50 years

STEPHANIE PATRICK Outstanding advocate in education

INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN

BUSINESS

SHAREELE BELL Outstanding leader and impactful community leader FRANK BEAN One of the earliest Black attorneys in Canton JOHN (BIG JENNY) LOWERY First Black millionaire in Stark County KENNETH HILL I Owner of Integrity Accounting Service KENNETH HILL II Owner of Integrity Accounting Service

DON JOHNSON Owner of Hotel Johnson STEVE PERRY First Black president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame HENERY POWELL Owner of the Black-owned grocery stores on Cherry Street GEORGE LEMON First Black chair of the Greater Canton Chamber of Commerce

INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN

ATHLETICS RENEE POWELL Second African Amercian woman to play in the LPGA ALAN PAGE Supreme Court Judge and Pro Football Hall of Famer MARION MOTLEY Pro Football Hall of Famer instrumental in breaking the color barrier PERCY SNOW Outstanding College and NFL player ERIC SNOW Outstanding NBA player KENNY PETERSON Outstanding College and NFL player and business owner

GARY GRANT NBA standout MICHAEL DOSS American football player who won championships at every level PHIL HUBBARD Outstanding basketball player in high school, college, and the NBA NICK WEATHERSPOON Canton McKinley graduate with the longest-standing scoring record, a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and an NBA player MARION CONNER All-around athlete, the most outstanding boxer of 1962, and a middleweight champion

MILTON SNODGRASS Standout in football and track

SHAWN CRABLE Outstanding College and NFL player

ANTOINE BLAIR Outstanding athlete at Alliance High School

DENNIS FRANKLIN First Black quarterback at the University of Michigan

JOE MILLS NFL player who played many positions

BOBBIE GRIER First Black athlete to play in a bowl game

CHET BRYANT Outstanding all-around athlete

TOMMY HANNON All-American and NFL football player

CHET HARPER Outstanding athlete and coach

HORACE GILLOM NFL player

JERRY WILLIAMS Outstanding athlete and business owner

LIN HOUSTON NFL player

CHARLIE KING NFL player TONY KING (MALIK FARRAKHAN) NFL Player LIONEL (DOWDY) GRIMES Football player and activist MARZETT HAWKINS State champ in track SHAWN WATSON National long jump record holder

DEVIN SMITH NFL player and standout speedster KELLY BODIFORD BANKS First woman inducted into the Massillon Hall of Fame HOMER FLOYD Pro Football Hall of Fame player in the CFL THAYER MUNFORD NFL player

GAREON CONLEY NFL Player

MYA DODSON WNBA player

ZION CLARK State track and field champion

DANIELLE (JONES) BERGERT Alliance Hall of Famer in track and basketball

KIERSTAN BELL Outstanding basketball player, champion, and WNBA player

The Coalition for Community, Connection, and Engagement