Georgia Dunston, Genome Pioneer
Georgia M. Dunston, Ph.D., was the FIRST African American in the USA and because of the time, the first African American in the world, to receive a Ph.D. degree in Human Genetics, (1972)-University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Geneticist Georgia Mae Dunston was born in 1944 in Norfolk, Virginia. She earned her B.S. degree in biology from Norfolk State University in 1965, and her M.S. degree in biology from Tuskegee University in 1967. Dunston received her Ph.D. degree in human genetics from the University of Michigan in 1972.
She then joined the faculty of Howard University Medical Center as an assistant professor. Dunston served as a postdoctoral fellow for the National Cancer Institute from 1975 to 1976. She was appointed director of the human immunogenetics laboratory at Howard University in 1985.
Dunston's research was focused on diseases that are common in the black community as well as genes that are unique to African American populations. She was promoted to full professor in the department of microbiology at Howard in 1993. Due to her work in genetics, Dunston founded the National Human Genome Center at Howard University in 2001.
Growing up in Virginia in the 1950s, Georgia Dunston looked at her segregated world and asked, "What makes people different?" As the founding director of the National Human Genome Center at Howard University, the pioneering geneticist ponders the biological answer: precious little. "99.9 percent of the 3.1 billion nucleotides [in the human genome] are identical between any two people anywhere in the world," she says. "That's how closely related the human family is." But variations do exist. In May 2003, Dunston announced the university's partnership with Chicago-based First Genetic Trust to establish GRAD (Genomic Research in the African Diaspora)—a biobank to trace genetic factors behind diseases such as diabetes and prostate cancer that disproportionately affect African Americans. "I think we'll learn some lessons on how life works by looking inside the cell, rather than outside the individual," she says. "Maybe this time we'll get it right."
From 1993 to 2004, Elaine R. Jones served as the President and Director-Counsel of LDF. When Ms. Jones took the helm of the Legal Defense Fund in 1993, she became the first woman to head the organization. She brought with her a vast experience as a litigator and civil rights activist, as well as a passion for fairness and equality that dates back to her childhood.
Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Ms. Jones learned about the realities of racism and the importance of idealism from her mother, a college-educated schoolteacher, and her father, a Pullman porter, and a member of the nation’s first black trade union. From the age of eight, she knew she wanted to be a lawyer and to commit her life to the pursuit of equal justice.
In her early years at LDF, Ms. Jones continued to blaze trails, becoming one of the first African American women to defend death row inmates. Only two years out of law school, she was counsel of record in Furman v. Georgia, a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case lead by Anthony Amsterdam that abolished the death penalty in 37 states for a period of five years. During this period, she also argued numerous employment discrimination cases, including class actions against some of the nation’s largest employers, such as Patterson v. American Tobacco Co., Stallworth v. Monsanto, and Swint v. Pullman Standard, which she argued before the Supreme Court.
In 1975, Jones left the NAACP’s LDF to join President Ford’s administration as Special Assistant to Secretary of Transportation William T. Coleman. She returned to the LDF in 1977 as a litigator. During her continued tenure with the LDF organization, she was instrumental in the passage of 1982’s Voting Rights Act Amendment, 1988’s Fair Housing Act and Civil Rights Restoration Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1991.
Jones was elected to the American Bar Association Board of Governors in 1989, the first African American to do so. In 1993, Jones became the first female president and defense counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.
She was named one of Ebony Magazine’s “10 Most Powerful Black Women” in 2001. The Law School hosted a dedication ceremony for a portrait of Elaine R. Jones ’70, UVA Law’s first Black alumna.
Ms. Jones holds thirteen honorary degrees and the Jefferson Medal of Freedom, the highest honor awarded by the University of Virginia which does not award honorary degrees. She also has received the recognition of many organizations, including the Secretary’s Award of the Department of Transportation, first recipient of the Brennan Award of the DC Bar Association, the Hannah G. Solomon Award of The National Council of Jewish Women, Mickey Leland Public Service Award of the Congressional Black Caucus, Ida B. Wells-Barnett Justice Award of the Metropolitan Bar Association in New York City, Brennan Legacy Award of the Brennan Center, American Lawyer Lifetime Achievement Award, National Newspaper Publishers Association’s First Public Service Award, People for the American Way’s 2001 Democracy Award and The American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession (Margaret Brent Award). In December 2000, President Clinton presented her with the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award.
Classmates at Black History Honors for Arnold Avant and Becky Livas
Arnold Avant, CEO
Founding Adsystech in 1987, Mr. Arnold Avant has been integral in ensuring ongoing project visibility and vigilance at the highest level of the company. His primary responsibility is to guarantee all necessary resources are available to accomplish the company’s obligations.
Born in Norfolk, VA. Mr. Avant, was the Valedictorian in the BTW High School, Class of 1961. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Harvard University and a Master of Philosophy in Mathematical Statistics from George Washington University.
Jessie B. Linyear, a wife, mother of three adult children, grandmother to eight and great-grandmother to two, is a retired educator, an entrepreneur, an inventor, and author of two books: "A School for Martha and Thomas: A One-Room School House Adventure" and "Ashanti and Zuri: A Quest for Freedom".
Gloria Poarch Hagans
She was a proud graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, Class of 1961. She received her Bachelor's degree from the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College (NSU), Master's degree from Old Dominion University, and Doctoral degree from Vanderbilt University (Peabody).
Gloria had a passion for education and lifelong learning. She especially enjoyed working with the youth and inspiring them to achieve academic excellence.
Gloria P. Hagans was Norfolk Public Schools’ senior director for compensatory education. Hagans succeeded Mrs. Celestyne Porter, who was the first African American coordinator of social studies in Norfolk.
“When I retired I told them, ‘She gets the job because she’s qualified,’” said Porter, who left full-time employment in 1977. “And they gave her the job. “
And like many other Norfolk educators, Hagans had been one of Porter’s students. “She was my mentor in high school,” Hagans said. “She was a sponsor for the National Honor Society at Booker T. Washington.”
“She doesn’t rest until everyone has learned,” Hagans said of Mrs. Porter. “She is the last of her generation. There are no more like her.”
Gloria passed September 11, 2023.
Gloria, Dorothy Avant, Ava Thomas
Becky Livas, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was raised in Norfolk, Virginia. She attended local Hampton Roads area schools, including Jacox Elementary, Bowling Park Elementary School, Jacox Junior High, and Booker T. Washington High School.
She was the daughter of educator, politician John Perry, the first African American elected to the Virginia Beach City Council. Her mother was a librarian for Norfolk Public Schools.
Bitten by the journalism bug on a 7th grade field trip to the Virginian Pilot, she later spent a college summer working as an intern-editor at the U.S. Labor Department publication.
Following high school, she attended Cedar Crest College and then transferred to Hampton Institute to finish her undergraduate degree. The “Outstanding Young Woman in America” earned a degree in History and English from Hampton University) where she was a DJ on the school’s radio station, WHOV-FM.
She then married and gave birth to three children before returning to work. Once she returned to work, she was hired at WTAR, Livas was the first Black female TV reporter on WTAR-TV (now WTKR Ch. 3) in 1972.
She has continued down many career paths including singer, TV reporter, radio personality, teacher, insurance agent, and “band wife” with the Kirk Stuart Trio. After her retirement, she continues to sing cabaret in Hampton Roads and has taken up community work, sitting on the board of multiple community organizations and projects.
Classmates at R.A.Tucker Statue Unveiling
Becky admiring gift at BTW '61's 80th Birthday Celebration
William Dean
The first black man to be elected Sheriff in the state of Iowa. We moved to my wife’s home, only two black people in the county. Myself and my son. William was in the Marine Corps for 23 years.
William was is sporting his BTW sweater where he was football team captain, and school newspaper Sports Editor.
Judge and Mrs. Lester Moore at unveiling of R.A. Tucker statue. Judge Moore is a relative of R.A. Tucker.
Judge Moore & classmate Becky Livas
Judge Lester V. Moore became the first African American judge in Norfolk when he was appointed to the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
The BTW Class of 1961, Judge Lester V. Moore was presented with the following Resolution upon his retirement.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION:
Commending Judge Lester V. Moore, Jr.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January23,1998 Agreed to by the Senate, January29,1998 WHEREAS:
· Following 22 years of meritorious service, Lester V. Moore, Jr., has retired as a judge in Norfolk's Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court; and
· WHEREAS appointed in1976, Judge Moore was the first African-American judge in Norfolk and only the third African-American judge appointed in Virginia; and
· WHEREAS, for more than two decades, Judge Moore has served with honor, integrity, and fairness, winning the respect of his colleagues on the bench, the attorneys who practiced in his court and the many citizens who appeared before him; and
WHEREAS, as a pioneer in the recent judicial history of Norfolk and the Commonwealth, Judge Moore leaves an enviable record of achievement, dedication, and commitment to justice;
Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend Judge Lester V. Moore, Jr., on the completion of an exemplary career of service to Norfolk and the Commonwealth; and, be it RESOLVED : by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring,
That the General Assembly commend Judge Lester V. Moore, Jr., on the completion of an exemplary career of service to Norfolk and the Commonwealth; and, be it RESOLVED
Reflections and comments for Judge Lester V. Moore
Lisa McKeel, a former Norfolk prosecutor who tried mainly juvenile criminal cases, said Moore cared for children and could quickly size them up.
``He has a keen eye for knowing which kids could be rehabilitated and kids you know would not come into the system again,' said McKeel, who now heads the Department of Criminal Justice Services in Richmond. ``He would lecture them and . . . make them understand the importance of the judicial system.
``He's one of the best judges I've seen.''
When he was appointed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1976, Moore was under a magnifying glass.
A Norfolk native, he filled a vacancy created by the early retirement of Judge H. Warrington Sharp.
Current City Treasurer Joseph T. Fitzpatrick was serving his first term as a state senator when he helped lead the push for Moore to be elected as the city's first black jurist.
Fitzpatrick's ties to Moore date back to the mid-1960s when he worked with Moore's father, Lester Moore Sr., now deceased. The elder Moore was a longtime political leader in the black community and member of the city's Democratic Committee. Fitzpatrick said he knew Lester Jr. since the future judge was in high school.
A 1961 BTW Graduate
The unveiling of the portrait R.A. Tucker by a relative, the young Lester Moore Jr.
Dr. Frieda K. Lacey was appointed to the Board of Trustees on November 1, 2018, by Governor Larry Hogan and is serving a six-year term through June 30, 2024.
Dr. Lacey has served as second vice chair for two one-year terms (2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022) and was elected first vice chair of the Board of Trustees for a second one-year term (2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024).
Dr. Lacey has had a distinguished career as a professional educator that spans more than 40 years. She holds a doctorate in educational policy and leadership from George Washington University, a Master of Education degree in Special Education from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Norfolk State University. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, Class of 1961.
Prior to her retirement in 2012 from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Dr. Lacey served as the Deputy Superintendent of Schools. Over the years she has held a variety of positions in MCPS including Chief of Staff, Equity Assurance Officer, Supervisor of Special Education, and principal. After retirement from MCPS, she served as the Director of Development for the George B. Thomas Learning Academy, a non-profit community-based tutoring and mentoring program for 4 years.
Dr. Lacey previously served on the Board of the Foundation Schools as well as a three-year term on the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board. She has received numerous awards and honors during her career that include the Frieda K. Lacey Distinguished Scholar scholarship presented annually by the Montgomery County Alliance of Black Educators; the Bernie Scholarship Community Service Award; the Identity Theresa Wright Award of Excellence in Service to Latina Youth; the Middle States Regional Assembly of the College Board William U. Harris Award of Excellence; and the Maryland State Department of Education Excellence for Minority Achievement Award.