Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 19 February 2004 — Page 24

Page 24 • The Muncie Times • February 19, 2004

deserved the Academy Award for lids work lit that movie and refused to accept the honor that year. Edwards was also a writer director, and producer of movies, and well ahead of his time, Movies he worked m those capacities include "Color Me Purple" patterned after Ms brother Charles' life. He visited Muncie frequently and was very friendly to local folks. Among Ms close friends were Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Sidney Poitier, and others. He died January 4,3970 in San Diego, CA.

The program has now expanded, and with generous assistance of many citiasens—Hack and White—now serves a large number of students at a permanent location in the 200 Block of East Highland Avenue. Recently, a significant fund-raising effort has made possible an expansion of the facility, more than doubling its size and enabling the program to educate many more needy youngsters, Cornelius and Mary Dolfeon are a gift from God to the Muncie Community.

BEA MOTEN FOSTER Bea Moten Foster, born in Selma, Alabama, came to Muncie in the early 1990's after marrying Muncie native Dr. Robert O. Foster. One of the first and most daunting tasks Mrs. Poster applied her talents to was starting a newspaper in Muncie that addressed the concerns, history, life styles of the city's AfricanAmerican community—-The Muncie Times, Her life before coming to Munde had been one of activism in the South.. She recalled being challenged by the police in Talladega, Alabama at an early age for dating to take a seat at the front of a bus. Among many of her other fi rsts were; first black announcer for the United Nations in New York, first T. V. Announcer of Color on Indianapolis T. V. Stations, first black female to have a radio show in Indianapolis., Awardee of a Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest award given by the Governor of Indiana.

DAVID PUERSON

David Duerson was bom to Muncie residents Arthur and Julia Duerson. Young David showed much athletic skill at a very young age His abilities in sports at Noithskie High School in Muncie forecasted a bright future for David, He was recruited for football by the University' erf Notre Dame in South Bend. After a very successful cdtege career, David was drafted by the Chicago Bears NFL Football Team and became an outstanding defensive player on the Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears in 1985, Since retiring from football David has become very successful businessman. He owns a company that produces sausage for one of America's major national fast food chatm Duerson is living proof that a young African American can grow up in Middletown (Muncie) and go on to make a name and a career for himself and his family.

Moten-Poster has been a mover and shaker since coming to Muncie She Is the catalyst for organizing the Muncie Black Expo, started the First Annual Celebration of Kwanza in the city and is die driving force behind the very active "Martin Luther King Dream Team," of Muncie. She is also very active in the effort to rename Broadway; Martin Luther King Boulevard In Monde. God sent her our way.

MARY L. DOLLISON

Mary L, Dolfeon was born in Louisiana to Mr. & Mrs. Preston Allen. Mary attended Muncie Schools and earned her bachelor's. Masters, and Advanced Degrees from Ball State University She became a teacher in the Muncie Community Schools and received numerous awards for excellent teaching during 20-plus years of teaching in the system. This was only the start erf her love for lemming as site dreamed of starting a program to help struggling youngsters in her Whitley neighborhood. It was in this endeavor Mary met Raushanah Shabazz, who had a simi lar dream, and on June 23,1987,16 students showed up at Mary's home on North Turner Street to study Black History, something they were not learning in Muncie Public Schools, Initially her efforts were supported by Union Baptist Church—pastored by Reverend Willie J. Jackson—who allowed the students to use the church annex in the 1100 Block erf Macedonia Avenue.

DR, ROBERT Q. FOSTER

Dr, Robert O. Foster was born in Munde and attended Longfellow Elementary, McKinley Jr High School and graduated from Muncie Central High School in the early 1950's. He was an outstanding track star at Cenfral and an excellent student He entered Ball State University and after receiving his Bachelors degree, was hired to teach at Longfellow Elementary School, He continued his education white teaching and in I960 received his Masters Degree from Bali State, He continued to teach and was eventually appointed principal of Longfellow School. (The First African-American to achieve the position of Principal in the History erf the Monde School system.) In 1966, a new opportunity and challenge came along as Foster decided to leave tire Munde School system to accept the position of Director of Action, Inc., a new Federal poverty program under President Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty. It was a difficult challenge but Foster's determination and commitment made the Munde Program one of the best in the state. Later, academia again called and Foster earned his Doctors Degree and was hired by Ball State University to run its Diversity Program and develop fee Minority House on fee Ball State Campus. It was a real challenge but Foster, and Bob Cootie developed one of fee best programs in the state, ROPER! R GRAHAM

Many successful African-American adults were invited to talk to the students about what it takes to be successful in life. As the program grew it became known as MOMS (Motivate our Minds) It was eventually incorporated by using that name.

Robert P, Graham was a Munde native and attended Munde Public Schools, He graduated from Munde Central High School in 1953. He joined fee workforce at Borg-Warner Transmission Plant in Muncie following a long struggle to integrate tire plant led by Revered A J. Oliver, Pastor of Shaffer Chapel. A M, E. Church,

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