St. Augustine’s University News September 23, 2014 Legacy Tour was a Stellar Success The 2014 Legacy Tour at Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) will go down in the University’s history as a pivotal event that showcased the rich history of an institution that has shaped and molded thousands of SAU sons and daughters from across the globe. On September 20, SAU, founded in 1867 by 11 Episcopal priests, opened its doors to showcase how enriching and dynamic the university has been for the past 147 years. More than 200 friends of the University, alumni, faculty, staff and students had the opportunity to take a walk through Falcon history. Attendees were guided through the tour by SAU students to various buildings on campus and learned about alumni such as Bishop Henry Beard Delany, who was the first black bishop consecrated to the Episcopal Church and Jack Johnson, the first African American heavyweight boxing champion, who on June 10, 1946, was in a car crash near SAU. He was taken to the St. Agnes Hospital on the campus of Saint Augustine’s University because it was the only hospital in the area to service black patients. Johnson later died. Glenn Thomas, a 1986 SAU graduate, stated that he learned some history about SAU that he never knew. “I thought the Legacy Tour was really nice,” Thomas said. “I learned some history about the university that I was not aware of especially regarding the Tuttle Building.” The Tuttle Building was built in 1926 to serve as the national training center for the training of female church workers through a two-year course in religion education and social work. Thomas also said that he enjoyed seeing students involved in the tour, especially the student’s performance in the Seby Jones Fine Arts Center. At the Center, through actor portrayals by the University’s Reader Troupe, audiences met a variety of former Saint Augustine’s University students and professors who have become famous in their respective professions. A few of the characters included alumnae Bessie and Sadie Delany, sisters who co-authored the novel, Having Our Say, alumna Anna Julia Cooper, the fourth black women to earn a Ph. D. degree and alumna Selma Burke, a famous sculptor, whose most famous work is the bust of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt that is on the United States dime. Alumnus John Harvey echoed some of Thomas’ comments. “I’m still learning things about SAU,” said Harvey, a 1968 graduate. “Some of the history that was shared of the historic chapel and St. Agnes Hospital was information that I did not know.” Harvey further shared what SAU means to him. “The university gave me an opportunity,” Harvey said. “It [university] was my key to my future back in 1964 being a first generation college student. The university started me on the preparation to a good life.” The highlight of the tour was the tribute to one of SAU’s most notable alumnus, the Legendary Coach George “Pup” Williams. The University paid tribute to Williams during the culmination of the tour in the Martin Luther King Conference Center. Attendees entered the conference center and were greeted with the smooth sound of jazz by the University’s jazz ensemble under the direction of Professor Al Strong, who has performed/recorded for artists such as Aretha Franklin, Phonte Coleman, Big Daddy Kane and comedian Sinbad. The center was turned into an elegantly decorated museum showcasing the lifetime achievements of Legendary Coach Williams. A highlight of the tribute for Coach Williams was a performance by national recording artist Barbara Weathers, a former vocalist of Atlantic Starr. She sang the song A Hero Lies in You that left Coach Williams beaming with pride. A video tribute was also shown highlighting some of Williams’ remarkable triumphs over the past four decades. Also, included in the video were personal “thank you” remarks from individuals such as world champion and Olympic medalist Bershawn Jackson and the love of Coach Williams’ life, his wife, Olivia. The Falcon day of history ended with Interim President Everett Ward, a proud son of Saint Augustine’s University, surrounding himself with students and attendees to sing the university’s alma mater. “This is why you and I are here today,” said Interim President Ward, as he and all of the students in attendance stood arm in arm with one another. “It is our job to make sure our scholars, our sons and daughters of Saint Augustine’s University, have a bright and successful future.” SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!