Join us in celebrating Black History Month this February!
Sunday, February 4th
Please wear your African Attire
Sunday, February 11th
HBCU & Greek focus
Wear your favorite University, College, School, or team shirt!
Sunday, February 18th
Women’s Day
Celebration with guest speaker Katie Pryor.
Sunday, February 25th
We Are Black History
We will salute those who have made history within our church Hamilton Park Church family
* No moving or talking during “Lift Every Voice”
“We are Black History”
We salute those who have made history within our Hamilton Park Church family.
Lindorf Blakely – a Hamilton Park graduate, was the first student to return to Hamilton Park High School as a teacher. Blakley led the nation in punt returns in the late 1960s as a member of the Tuskegee University Football Team. Blakely was the first Black Head Track & Field Coach at Richardson High School in the RISD post-school integration. Blakely was selected as an International High School Track & Field Coach for two track seasons. Hamilton Park Wall of Fame, Tuskegee University graduate, and Tuskegee Sports Hall of Fame.
Rev. Dr. Herbert Griffin Jr. – the first African-American to matriculate from Deacon to Elder in the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was ordained Deacon in 1990 and Elder in 1993.
Rev. Dr. Herbert Griffin Jr. – the first African-American to serve as the Director of the United Methodist Endorsing Agency and the Endorsing Agent for the United Methodist Church in its history.
Karen Hill – First Black Female Communications Consultant Southwestern Bell May 1974
Tonya Johnson – appointed as the First Afro-American Woman Project Manager in DHS/FEMA National Processing Center history, to oversee and manage 10,500 agents. These agents were in Texas, Virginia, Maryland, and Puerto Rico. Her assignment was to create a Standard Operating Procedure for Disaster Relief Surge Training. This training allowed disaster survivors to receive assistance when the governors declared catastrophic disasters. She collaborated with other agencies such as IRS, SBA, PA TSA, and other agencies under the DHS Hub.
Fred Marsh – the first African American to play on the basketball team at the all-white school in Jonesboro, Louisiana. Fred was also the first African American Insurance Claims Rep in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the first A/A Insurance Supervisor in Dallas, TX, first A/A Division Manager in Jacksonville, Florida and the first African American Vice President of Operations in North Texas and the first African American VP of Operations for the State of Texas for the State Farm Insurance Companies.
Dr. Mary Nickson – the first Black woman nominated as Lay Leader-Elect in the NTX Conference (soon to be formerly NTC).
Lynn Richardson – the first African American Female Lawyer to head a Public Defender’s Office in the state of Texas. Lynn was appointed by the Dallas County Commissioners to serve as the Chief Public Defender for Dallas County in 2008 which at the time was the largest public defender office in the state.
David Tyson Jr. – the first person of color and the only Black man to be elected to the Richardson ISD School Board. Master Trustee Tyson was elected at large in 2004. He served two 3-year terms, from 2004 to 2010.