STARK COUNTY INFLUENTIAL
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.
STEM INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN
JORDAN BOON
Mentor to youth on how to integrate STEM
DR. MICHAEL GRIMES
Prominent doctor in Stark County
VALERIE THOMKINS
Author who inspired girls to join STEM programs
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
DAVID HALL
First Black man to settle in Stark County
JL BREWER
First Black pharmacist in Stark County
LATRICE SNODGRASS
First Black leader of Beacon Pharmacy, serving the vulnerable population with affordable medication
CAROLANNE 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
BEVERLYJORDAN
Founder of the Stark Social Workers
Network, the first Black-owned and operated social service agency in Stark County
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
IRATURPIN
First Black judge to preside in the Stark County Common Pleas Court
CURVIS RHYNE
City councilman in Alliance, Ohio, for 48 consecutive years
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. WC HENDERSON
Pastored Antioch Church for 31 years
MACY GRAY
American singer and actress
JACOB GASKINS
The first African American to cast a vote in Plain Township
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. WARREN P. CHAVERS
Founder of Deliverance Christian Church and delivered the invocation for Senator Barack Obama
THE O’JAYS
Iconic R&B singing group
CHARLES MCDEW Civil rights activist
EDUCATION INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN
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
ELAYNE DUNLAP
Lifelong educator who is dedicated to impacting student success
VERNER RUSSELL
First Black principal at McKinley High School
KIMBERL'E CRENSHAW
Civil rights advocate for education and professor in the School of Law at Columbia and UCLA
MARIAN CRENSHAW
First Black student to play in the McKinley Band and an inspiring educator serving for over 50 years
MARY SMITH-BLACKMON
Known for integrating a segregated high school in Canton
DR. IVORY LYONS
Influential professor at the University of Mount Union
DR. NORMA SNIPES MARCERE
Respected educator in Massillon known for inspiring students
NADINE MCILWAIN
Impactful educator and outstanding advocate in education
STEPHANIE PATRICK
Outstanding advocate in education
BUSINESS INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN
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
ATHLETICS INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
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
IN
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
ANTOINE BLAIR
Outstanding athlete at Alliance High School
JOE MILLS
NFL player who played many positions
CHET BRYANT
Outstanding all-around athlete
CHET HARPER
Outstanding athlete and coach
JERRY WILLIAMS
Outstanding athlete and business owner
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
SHAWN CRABLE
Outstanding College and NFL player
DENNIS FRANKLIN
First Black quarterback at the University of Michigan
BOBBIE GRIER
First Black athlete to play in a bowl game
TOMMY HANNON
All-American and NFL football player
HORACE GILLOM
NFL player
LIN HOUSTON
NFL player
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
ZION CLARK
State track and field champion
KIERSTAN BELL
Outstanding basketball player, champion, and WNBA player
MYA DODSON WNBA player
DANIELLE (JONES) BERGERT
Alliance Hall of Famer in track and basketball
The Coalition for Community, Connection, and Engagement