By Clare Bratten
WASHINGTON, DC — For a small historically black college, Fisk University has outsized representation in the Washington D.C. area so the Washington Fisk Alumni Association Inc., launched an inaugural celebration “Jubilee Day Honors Legacy, Legends, and Leaders” event to honor 167 in the D.C. area who attended Fisk University between 1933 to 1967. The group, which is the oldest Fisk alumni association, also singled out fifty “living legends” among their ranks who gave exemplary service to the alumni group with gold boutonnieres and gold corsages.
Fiskite Chairwoman Monica Rhea and Stellar Honoree Shirley Randolph Eglen, Backdrop;
2nd row l-r; Welcome sign; A Fiskites Daughter, Fiskite Chairwoman Monica Rhea, and Honoree Ann Cecile Tolliver; 3rd row l-r; Fiskite Mavis Ellis, WFAA President
Samuel L. Williams, and Fiskite Chairwoman Monica Rhea Photos submitted
“We’re talking about people who broke through color barriers in many areas. They have just been a wonderful group of professionals who have embraced each and every Fiskite who have come to the DC area,” said Monica Rhea, Chair, and creator of this Jubilee Celebration and a alumni class of 1978.
“These are people who have been a member of the alumni association for more than 50 years, and reached out to new Fisk alumni in town to help them, whether it’s with finding employment, or places to live and offering fellowship in our community.”
“A lot of these people have had major success in their careers. We’ve had some big names in our alumni group — among them Therrell C. Smith, a trailblazing ballerina who turned 100 this year and still drives, teaches ballet and was recognized in the Washingtonian Magazine,” said Rhea. Smith was also featured in Dance Magazine this year for her distinguished career.
Other notable and well-known fellow Fisk graduates are former DC Mayor Marion Barry who earned his Masters degree from Fisk, and current members of the U.S. House of Representatives who graduated from Fisk such as Congressman Alcee Hastings, Congressman John Lewis and Congresswoman Frederica Smith Wilson.
“We also acknowledged those who have passed away – like Emma Sue Byrd (class of 1948) who was a math major and worked at NASA. Even though we have ‘Hidden Figures,’ [the film about NASA workers] they are standing on the shoulders of Sue Byrd,” said Rhea. Other memorial honorees are: Edgar Dawson (1928), Dr. Mildred Ellis (1929), William Morrow (1949), William Neal (1948), Walter Pearson (1950), LaPearl Philyaw (1939), Jacqueline Walton Sadler (1957) and Mayor For Life Marion Barry.
“We particularly wanted to acknowledge the people who still give so much service to our alumni association such as Shirley Randolph Eglen who was President of the Fisk club, Dorothea Hunter and husband Bob Hunter, and Will Carter who have led effectively and are very active and committed to the Fisk alumni association.”
The Fisk alumni association “Stellar Jubilee Honoree Recipients” include Mary Etta McPeters Byrd, Florence Brown, Will J. Carter, Ella Beck Dobson, Ramona Edelin, Shirley Randolph Eglen,
Robert Felder, James R. Haynes, Louis Garner, Dorothea Gregg Hunter, Robert Hunter, Philippa
Jackson, Sandra Owens Lawson, Helen Mills, Annette Morgan, Gwen Washington Pla, Alma Johnson Powell, Frances Rankin, Carolyn Reid-Wallace, Hildred Roach-Stafford, Maryann Rozzell, Ida Smith, Therrell Smith, Joan Jackson Stanley, and Richard P. Thornell.
“These 25 ‘Stellar Jubilee Day Honorees,’ are the glue that holds the local alumni association together and have actively and continuously committed their time, energy, and efforts . . .Each Stellar Daughter Honoree received a Gold
Pashmina Shawl and Gold Brooch and Stellar Son Honorees’ received a Gold Tie and three-piece Gold Cuff Links/Tie Clip Set. They are winners who have always stepped forward,” said Rhea.
“Often times we don’t honor people until they are gone. One of the honorees was 92 and another 104. I got a call from the daughter (Loretta) of Regina Duncan (class of 1947) who thanked us for honoring her mother in October since she later died in December – she said, ‘ Thank you for giving her accolades that she was a graduate of Fisk while she was alive.’