MLK State Celebration Announces its Keynote Speaker for the 2013 Program

MC
McCall, Courtney
Mon, Dec 10, 2012 3:20 PM

News        Harris-Stowe State University

For Immediate Release

Contact:          Courtney McCall

(314) 340-3391

mccallc@hssu.edu

Trumpet Awards Founder and President Xernona Clayton to Keynote 27th
Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Kick-off Program

at Harris-Stowe

ST. LOUIS, MO (December 9, 2012) - The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State
Celebration Commission of Missouri will host its 27th annual kick-off
program on Saturday, January 12, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. Harris-Stowe State
University's Main Auditorium. Founder, president, CEO and executive
producer of the Trumpet Awards Foundation Xernona Clayton will serve as
the keynote speaker for the event, which is themed, "Women Who Dare to
Dream."

Established in 1993 by Turner Broadcasting, The Trumpet Awards is a
prestigious event highlighting African American accomplishments and
contributions. It has been televised annually and distributed
internationally to more than 185 countries around the world. Xernona
Clayton was employed at Turner Broadcasting for nearly 30 years where
she served as a corporate executive and was one of the highest-ranking
female employees at the company. In 1988, Clayton was appointed
corporate vice president for urban affairs with Turner Broadcasting
System Inc., a capacity in which she directed internal and external
projects for the corporation and served as liaison between Turner
Broadcasting (TBS SuperStation, CNN, Headline News, TNT, Atlanta Braves
and Atlanta Hawks) and civic groups in Atlanta and throughout the
country.

She moved to Atlanta in 1965 where she accepted a position with the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference and worked closely with the
late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Clayton also traveled extensively with
Mrs. Coretta Scott King on her nationwide concert tours. Dedicated to
promoting racial understanding, Clayton has been a leader in civic
projects and civil rights activities for several years. In 1966, she
coordinated the activities of Atlanta's Black doctors in a project
called Doctors' Committee for Implementation, which resulted in the
desegregation of all hospital facilities in Atlanta. This project served
as a model and a pilot for other states throughout the country and
received national honor from the National Medical Association for its
impact.

Clayton began her television career in 1967 and became the South's first
Black person to have her own television show. "The Xernona Clayton Show"
was a regular feature on WAGA-TV, the CBS affiliate in Atlanta. Her
persistent fight against individuals and organizations perpetuating
prejudice and bigotry was never more apparent than in 1968, when the
Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan denounced the Klan and credited
Clayton's influence with his change.

Her dedication to the community is reflected in the many hours she
spends promoting human relations through bi-racial groups devoted to
improving racial understanding, and because of her contributions to
humanity, she is the recipient of numerous media awards and included in
various publications.

"The Peaceful Warrior" a biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
authored by her late husband Ed Clayton and co-authored by Xernona in
the revised editions, has been published in several languages. Xernona
Clayton's autobiography, "I've Been Marching All the Time," was
published in 1991.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Commission of Missouri,
Mrs. Constance Gully, chairwoman, is comprised of 20 individuals
representing various areas within the state, including Cape Girardeau
(vacant), Columbia, Fulton, Jefferson City (vacant), Kansas City,
Kirksville, Lee's Summit, Springfield and St. Louis. The state
celebration kick-off program serves as the first MLK-related event to be
held in Missouri. Throughout the year, the commission meets regularly to
plan their own respective events geared toward preserving Dr. King's
legacy, as well as the program held each year at HSSU.

Harris-Stowe State University, located in midtown St. Louis, is a
four-year institution that offers 14 degree programs in the areas of
Accounting, Business Administration, Biology, Criminal Justice, Early
Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Health Care Management,
Hospitality and Tourism Management, Information Sciences and Computer
Technology, Mathematics, Middle School Education, Professional
Interdisciplinary Studies, Secondary Education and Urban Affairs. Ranked
by U.S. News as one of America's Best Colleges in the Midwest, the
university, which has been in existence for more than 150 years, offers
the most affordable bachelor's degree in the state of Missouri.

Courtney Z. McCall

Assistant Vice President

Communications, Marketing, Alumni Affairs & Development

HGA 110

3026 Laclede Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63103

Ofc: (314) 340-3391 I  Cell: (314) 280-9964

Harris-Stowe State University
This e-mail is confidential and sent only to specified recipient(s).
However, all e-mail is subject to possible interception by third parties.
Contact postmaster@hssu.edu to report problems*

News Harris-Stowe State University For Immediate Release Contact: Courtney McCall (314) 340-3391 mccallc@hssu.edu Trumpet Awards Founder and President Xernona Clayton to Keynote 27th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Kick-off Program at Harris-Stowe ST. LOUIS, MO (December 9, 2012) - The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Commission of Missouri will host its 27th annual kick-off program on Saturday, January 12, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. Harris-Stowe State University's Main Auditorium. Founder, president, CEO and executive producer of the Trumpet Awards Foundation Xernona Clayton will serve as the keynote speaker for the event, which is themed, "Women Who Dare to Dream." Established in 1993 by Turner Broadcasting, The Trumpet Awards is a prestigious event highlighting African American accomplishments and contributions. It has been televised annually and distributed internationally to more than 185 countries around the world. Xernona Clayton was employed at Turner Broadcasting for nearly 30 years where she served as a corporate executive and was one of the highest-ranking female employees at the company. In 1988, Clayton was appointed corporate vice president for urban affairs with Turner Broadcasting System Inc., a capacity in which she directed internal and external projects for the corporation and served as liaison between Turner Broadcasting (TBS SuperStation, CNN, Headline News, TNT, Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks) and civic groups in Atlanta and throughout the country. She moved to Atlanta in 1965 where she accepted a position with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and worked closely with the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Clayton also traveled extensively with Mrs. Coretta Scott King on her nationwide concert tours. Dedicated to promoting racial understanding, Clayton has been a leader in civic projects and civil rights activities for several years. In 1966, she coordinated the activities of Atlanta's Black doctors in a project called Doctors' Committee for Implementation, which resulted in the desegregation of all hospital facilities in Atlanta. This project served as a model and a pilot for other states throughout the country and received national honor from the National Medical Association for its impact. Clayton began her television career in 1967 and became the South's first Black person to have her own television show. "The Xernona Clayton Show" was a regular feature on WAGA-TV, the CBS affiliate in Atlanta. Her persistent fight against individuals and organizations perpetuating prejudice and bigotry was never more apparent than in 1968, when the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan denounced the Klan and credited Clayton's influence with his change. Her dedication to the community is reflected in the many hours she spends promoting human relations through bi-racial groups devoted to improving racial understanding, and because of her contributions to humanity, she is the recipient of numerous media awards and included in various publications. "The Peaceful Warrior" a biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. authored by her late husband Ed Clayton and co-authored by Xernona in the revised editions, has been published in several languages. Xernona Clayton's autobiography, "I've Been Marching All the Time," was published in 1991. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Commission of Missouri, Mrs. Constance Gully, chairwoman, is comprised of 20 individuals representing various areas within the state, including Cape Girardeau (vacant), Columbia, Fulton, Jefferson City (vacant), Kansas City, Kirksville, Lee's Summit, Springfield and St. Louis. The state celebration kick-off program serves as the first MLK-related event to be held in Missouri. Throughout the year, the commission meets regularly to plan their own respective events geared toward preserving Dr. King's legacy, as well as the program held each year at HSSU. Harris-Stowe State University, located in midtown St. Louis, is a four-year institution that offers 14 degree programs in the areas of Accounting, Business Administration, Biology, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Health Care Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Information Sciences and Computer Technology, Mathematics, Middle School Education, Professional Interdisciplinary Studies, Secondary Education and Urban Affairs. Ranked by U.S. News as one of America's Best Colleges in the Midwest, the university, which has been in existence for more than 150 years, offers the most affordable bachelor's degree in the state of Missouri. ### Courtney Z. McCall Assistant Vice President Communications, Marketing, Alumni Affairs & Development HGA 110 3026 Laclede Avenue St. Louis, MO 63103 Ofc: (314) 340-3391 I Cell: (314) 280-9964 **********************Harris-Stowe State University********************** This e-mail is confidential and sent only to specified recipient(s). However, all e-mail is subject to possible interception by third parties. *************Contact postmaster@hssu.edu to report problems**************