Dr. G.W. Stanley Ish, Sr., born on October 28, 1883, was a renowned physician, humanitarian and family man. He was a great orator who demanded excellence of all whose lives he touched-family, friends, cohorts, patients, employees, and community acquaintances.

Dr. Ish graduated from high school in Little Rock and obtained a Bachelor's degree from Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama. He then obtained an additional Bachelor's degree from Yale University. He continued his education at Harvard Medical School from which he received a M.D. degree in 1908, the only African-American in his ...(more)

Lottie Shackelford, Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, has served as a local, state and national political official for the past twenty years.

Ms. Shackelford's career as a local elected official began in 1978 as a member of the Board of Directors for the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. She was re-elected, city-wide, three times and in 1987, made history by becoming the first woman elected Mayor.

She received a B.A. degree in Business Administration from Philander Smith College and was also a Senior Fellow at the Arkansas Institute of Politics and the Kennedy School of Gover...(more)

Born in Arkansas City, Arkansas, January 19, 1918, John H. Johnson is best known as a publisher, businessman and humanitarian. Mr. Johnson and his wife, Eunice, make their home in Chicago and occasionally reside in Palm Springs, California. They have one child, Linda Johnson Rice. Mr. Johnson graduated with honors from DuSable High School and attended the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.

Mr. Johnson began his publishing career in November, 1942 as editor and publisher of Negro Digest, later Black World. The company, founded by Mr. Johnson, now publishes books and three mag...(more)

Mr. Green is a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers, based in their Washington D.C. office. He has participated in the planning of senior-managed transactions for clients that include the cities of New York, Atlanta, Oakland, St. Louis, Cleveland, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Chicago, The Metro Washington Airport Authority, Denver Airport, Wayne County Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, Arkansas Development Finance Authority, and Dade County, Florida.

Prior to coming to the firm, Mr. Green was President of Earnest Green & Associat...(more)

Mrs. Davisy L. Bates of 1207 West 28th Street, won international acclaim in 1985 for her role as mentor for the nine black students who broke the color barrier at Central High School to attend classes with white students. She is a native of Arkansas, born in Huttig (Union County).

She is the recipient of over 200 citations and awards, including Honorary Doctorate Degrees in Human Letters from Lincoln University, PA; Philander Smith College, Little Rock; Washington University, St Louis, Mo; the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; the Harriet Tubman Award; the NAACP Springarn Medal; the D...(more)

Ms. Maya Angelou is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary literature and as a remarkable Renaissance woman. Being a poet, educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director, she continues to travel the world making appearances on college campuses, spreading her legendary wisdom. A mesmerizing vision of grace, swaying and stirring when she moves, Ms. Angelou captivates her audiences lyrically" with vigor, fire, and perception. She has the unique ability to shatter the opaque prisms of race and class between reader and subject ...(more)