Spirit of King

The Spirit of King Award, established in 1989 by the Kingsley Association, Port Authority and the Pittsburgh Pirates, annually honors the lifetime achievements of local citizens who pursue human rights and equality in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Spirit of King Award evolved from the planting of a pink dogwood tree, symbolizing eternal life, in the parklet adjacent to the East Liberty Station of Port Authority's Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway in 1986. The idea belonged to Elmer McClung, director of health and recreation at the Kingsley Center, located near the parklet at 6118 Penn Circle South.

In 1987, a plaque commemorating Dr. King was placed in the parklet. In 1988, the parklet was dedicated in the name of Wilhelmina Byrd Brown, a civil rights activist who resided in Schenley Heights and dedicated 50 years of her life to public service. She became the first recipient of the Spirit of King Award in 1989.

Another plaque was dedicated in the parklet in 1990, to include the names of those chosen to receive the Spirit of King Award. To date, the award has honored 30 persons.

Previously honored with the Spirit of King Award were:

In 2009, Frank E. Bolden and Charles “Teenie” Harris. Born December 24, 1912, Frank E. Bolden grew up in nearby Washington, Pennsylvania and went on to attend the University of Pittsburgh. Upon graduation, he joined the staff of The Pittsburgh Courier where he would work for the next 27 years. During that time, Mr. Bolden became one of the first two African-American Accredited World War II correspondents assigned to cover the activation of the 93rd and 92nd Infantry Divisions at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Charles “Teenie” Harris was born in Pittsburgh on July 2, 1908 and lived in the Hill District with his family. In the years that followed, Mr. Harris developed a strong interest in photography and purchased his first professional camera. He eventually accepted a freelance position as a photographer for the Washington, DC-based Flash! Magazine in 1929 and then in 1938, he opened his own photography studio on Centre Avenue in the Hill District known as the Harris Studio. Read more...
In 2008, Mamie H. Lee and Richard F. Jones. Following the Attica, NY State Prison riot in 1971 which left 39 inmates dead, Mamie H. Lee (1938-1984) began a prison reform movement in Pittsburgh called Vibrations. Supporters lobbied for fair and ethical treatment of inmates in Western Penitentiary and prisons throughout the state. Radio station WYEP launched a radio program called Vibrations II, which discussed problems of the criminal justice system and African Americans. Ms. Lee was asked to serve as President of the WYEP Board of Directors. Later, Ms. Lee began a new career with Meals on Wheels, helping homebound individuals receive nutritional meals. She was quickly promoted to director and in 1982 became the first African American to be appointed president of the National Meals on Wheels Program. Richard F. Jones, Esq. (1899-1983). Richard Jones, Esq. used his gifts as a trial lawyer to obtain recognition of the civil rights of all citizens. Mr. Jones was a prominent attorney, graduating first in his law school class and becoming the first African-American to be inducted into the Order of the Coif, a national honorary legal fraternity. Mr. Jones also served on several boards including: Pittsburgh Housing Authority, YMCA of Pittsburgh, Irene Kaufmann Settlement House, Pittsburgh Board of Education and the Pittsburgh Branch NAACP. While serving as President of the Pittsburgh Branch NAACP, Mr. Jones was actively engaged in the successful suit to open Highland Park Swimming Pool to all citizens. Mr. Jones also participated in two other events that helped with progress for African Americans in Pittsburgh: hiring African-American teachers in Pittsburgh Public Schools and hiring African-American workers in defense industries and government following WWII. Mr. Jones, along with Homer S. Brown formed the law firm Brown and Jones, which operated over 26 years.
In 2007, Robert E. "Pappy" Williams. At a young age, Mr. Robert Williams (1907-1964) earned the nickname "Pappy" because of his maturity and caring persona. That wisdom and compassion led him into a pioneering and dynamic political career in Pittsburgh for more than three decades. In 1931, Mr. Williams was appointed to his first political position as deputy constable of Pittsburgh’s 5th Ward. He held this position for three years before his appointment to constable in 1934. He would later open his own private detective agency. Years of hard work and dedication earned Mr. Williams many notable distinctions. He became the first African American detective in Pittsburgh (1945), the first African American appointed as a magistrate in Pittsburgh (1946) and the first African American in the state to be elected as a democratic ward chairman (1947). During his tenure on the executive committee for the Allegheny County Democratic Party, Mr. Williams played an important role in several local, state and presidential elections and helped other African Americans in Pittsburgh reach political feats. In addition, he was also credited with helping to appoint the first African American police lieutenant, patrol car officer and fire captain. Robert "Pappy" Williams lived by one philosophy, "You are your brother’s keeper." It was this philosophy that made him a loving husband to his wife, Alberta, a caring father to his two children and a dedicated political leader.
In 2006, Everett Emory Utterback, Esq. and Dr. Eugene Lloyd Youngue, Jr. Everett Emory Utterback, Esq. (1906-1992) overcame humble beginnings to achieve a successful law career and many firsts at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt). Mr. Utterback came to the City of Pittsburgh via an athletic scholarship for track and field to Pitt. After college graduation, in addition to working full-time, Mr. Utterback spent his evenings in classes at Duquesne University’s School of Law. After obtaining his law degree, he practiced within the county and state court system and years later became a senior partner in the law firm of Utterback, Brown and Harper. At Pitt, Mr. Utterback became the first African-American to captain a varsity team and receive the university’s Lettermen of Distinction Honor in 1964. Mr. Utterback was also the first African-American to sit on the university’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Utterback was involved in many professional organizations in the Pittsburgh area. Mr. Utterback will always be remembered within Western Pennsylvania’s African-American community as a distinguished lawyer and an inspirational leader who helped others overcome life’s hurdles. Dr. Eugene Lloyd Youngue, Jr. (1914-2002) became an active and well-respected member of the medical community while breaking down racial barriers in the healthcare industry. Dr. Youngue attended Lincoln University for his undergraduate studies and then Howard University Medical School to do post-graduate work in psychiatry. Following a two-year tour of duty in Italy with the United States Army, he returned to his hometown to further study psychiatry at Washington University’s Homer Phillips Hospital in St. Louis. Several years later, Dr. Youngue studied under world-renowned psychiatrist Dr. Karl Menninger at the Menninger Psychiatric Institute and with well-known neurologist Dr. Francis Forrester at Georgetown University. In 1950, Dr. Youngue came to Pittsburgh to work at the Veterans Hospital in Oakland. Despite his impressive experience, Dr. Youngue faced racial discrimination and worked tirelessly to bring ethnic and racial equality to the healthcare industry. He devoted much of his life to serving and educating others, and emphasized the importance of mentoring future African-American healthcare professionals. Dr. Youngue also authored more than 50 award-winning educational articles based on personal medical experiences and he belonged to many professional organizations in and around the region. Ironically, the nurse who cared for Dr. Eugene Lloyd Youngue when he passed was someone Dr. Youngue had mentored for years.
In 2005, Florence Reizenstein and Reverend Elmer Louis Williams. Mrs. Florence Reizenstein (1901-1970) was a long-time advocate for social justice and educational reform and instrumental in the establishment of several organizations that advanced human rights. Mrs. Reizenstein was a founding member and commissioner of the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations. Mrs. Reizenstein was a founder and vice-president of the Negro Educational Emergency Drive (NEED) and the first president of the United Jewish Foundation’s Women’s Division. She was also a member of the NAACP, the Urban League, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and the United Nations Association of Pittsburgh, among several other affiliations and accomplishments. Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Reizenstein Middle School in East Liberty is named after her. Reverend Elmer Louis Williams (1931-1990) became one of Pittsburgh’s most respected religious leaders. He combined his ministry with social activism to address the needs of the African-American community. Under his leadership, the Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church purchased the Dr. J.C. Hairston Center and 28 homes near the church to provide low-cost rentals to residents – an area now known as Elmer L. Williams Square. He helped shape desegregation plans as a member of the Pittsburgh School Board and was an instructor at several local universities. Reverend Williams also served on the University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees; was executive director of Pittsburgh Opportunities Industrialization Centers, Inc.; and obtained leaderships positions in many local and statewide religious-based organizations.
In 2004, Billy Eckstine and George W. Gaines, Sr. William Clarence Eckstein "Billy Eckstine" (1914-1993) was founder of "The Billy Eckstine Orchestra," a group instrumental in generating the new "bebop" sound. This orchestra paved the way for many new jazz vocalists such as Wardell Gray, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Sarah Vaughn, to make their mark in the music industry. In 1945, he sold over two million records with Cottage for Sale and his rendition of Prisoner of Love. His successful ballads include Everything I Have is Yours, Blue Moon, Caravan, My Foolish Heart, I Apologize, and his last hit, Something More. George W. Gaines, Sr. (Died 1953) always dreamed of being a business owner. He was interested in becoming a mortician, and began working for Jeannie Morris, owner of the Morris Mortuary in Philadelphia, PA. She inspired him to follow his dreams. He graduated from Mortuary Science School with high honors at age 15, and in 1919 opened what was to become the largest funeral home in the Pittsburgh area. He introduced the concept of a lead car and flower car in a funeral procession, individual family parlors and on-site casket selection.
In 2003, Dr. Selma Hortense Burke and Mr. Charles Henry Kindle. Dr. Selma Burke (1900-1995) was one of the best known contemporary artists. In 1943 President Franklin D. Roosevelt sat for her as she sketched his portrait, which is now on display at the Recorder of Deeds Building in Washington, DC. Her work is credited as the inspiration used in designing the Roosevelt Dime. Her other notable pieces include the Falling Angel, and a bronze statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1940, she founded the Selma Burke School of Sculpture in New York, and the Selma Burke Art Center (which became the Kingsley Center) in Pittsburgh. Mr. Charles Henry Kindle (Died 1993) was a passionate international fighter for equality and justice. Mr. Kindle is believed to have chaired the first African Affairs Committee of any NAACP branch in the country. He actively lobbied to free South African Activist Nelson Mandela, and was a champion for the betterment of African-American workers. Mr. Kindle served as president of the Penn Hills NAACP, and was instrumental in the construction of a baseball field there, which was dedicated and named in his honor in 1996.
In 2002, Dr. Alma Johnson Illery and Dr. James A. Stewart. Dr. Alma Illery (1900-1972) was a national civil rights pioneer. She founded Camp Achievement in Fayette County for inner-city children. Dr. Illery also single-handedly pushed Congress to establish January 5 as George Washington Carver Day. A small community hospital in Homewood was renamed the Alma Illery Medical Center in her honor. Dr. James A. Stewart (1921) was a pioneer in the field of medicine. While on staff at Mercy Hospital, he received the Fred C. Kluth Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Health in 1974. He originated the idea of a public health facility, and became medical director of the Homewood-Brushton Neighborhood Health Center. He later formed Primary Health Care Services (PHCS).
In 2001, Dr. Oswald Jerry Nickens and Hazel Garland. Dr. Nickens (1921-1995) was the first African-American physician to join the staff at both Magee Women's Hospital and West Penn Hospital and was a founding member of the New World National Bank, the first local bank owned by African-Americans, and the Central Medical Pavilion. Ms. Garland (1913-1988) became the first American woman to serve as editor of a nationally-circulated newspaper chain when she was named to the post at the Pittsburgh Courier in 1972. She was named Editor of the Year by the National Newspaper Publishers Association in 1974 and received a National Headliner Award from Women in Communications in 1975.
In 2000, Louis Mason, Jr. and Frankie Pace. Mr. Mason (1915-1984) served as Director of the Industrial Relations Department of the Urban League of Pittsburgh, Executive Director of the Mayor's Commission on Human Relations, Deputy Director of the Fair Employment Practices Commission and as President of Pittsburgh City Council. Ms. Pace (1905-1989) was a tireless civic worker who in 1942 helped form a neighborhood group that later became the Citizens Committee for Hill District Renewal. She also served on the board of directors of the Urban League of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP.
In 1999, Oliver Wendell Mason. Mr. Mason was one of the first African-Americans hired by the Pittsburgh Police Department in 1944 and eventually served as a detective. In more than 20 years on the force, he played an important role in reducing juvenile delinquency and gang violence.
In 1998, Oliver Livingstone Johnson. Mr. Johnson (1891-1971) became the first African-American prosecuting attorney in the Office of the District Attorney for Allegheny County in 1942 and later practiced before the United States Supreme Court.
In 1997, Daisy E. Lampkin. Ms. Lampkin (1883-1965) fought for civil rights on the national scene as vice president of the Pittsburgh Courier, field secretary of the NAACP and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Colored Women, Inc. Locally, she also served on the Board of Directors of the Urban League.
In 1996, Robert L. Vann and John Brewer, Sr. Mr. Vann (1887-1940) founded the Pittsburgh Courier in 1910 and was National Director of Negro Publicity in the presidential campaigns of Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover. Mr. Brewer (1917-1987) became the first African-American principal in the City of Pittsburgh School District in 1954 and was twice honored as an Outstanding Educator of Pittsburgh.
In 1995, Mary Cardwell Dawson. Ms. Dawson (1894-1962) founded the National Negro Opera Company in 1941 to help African-American singers and musicians achieve their professional goals. She also developed the Cardwell School of Music in Homewood in 1926, which produced award-winning choirs that performed at World's Fairs in Chicago and New York.
In 1994, Roberto Clemente and Josh Gibson. Clemente (1934-1972), a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame who starred with the Pirates from 1954 to 1972, died in a plane crash en route to Nicaragua after organizing a relief drive in response to an earthquake that damaged that country. Gibson (1911-1947), inducted into the Hall one year earlier than Clemente in 1972, grew up on the North Side and inspired many African-American athletes with his play for the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Pittsburgh Grays
In 1993, Mary Elizabeth Goode Dudley. Ms. Dudley (1912-1964), better known by her radio name, Mary Dee, became the first African-American woman radio announcer in Western Pennsylvania in 1948. In 1958, the Homestead native became the first African-American woman to become a member of American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT).
In 1992, Margaret L. Dobbins Milliones. Ms. Milliones (1939-1978), who worked with Dr. King, served as chairperson for the Black Women's Forum, which organized local women to address community issues, and was the first African-American woman elected to the City of Pittsburgh School Board.
In 1991, James McCoy Jr. Mr. McCoy (1919-1978) was a tireless worker for human rights and founded the United Negro Protest Committee, an important element in the local civil rights movement, and Freedom House Enterprises, a non-profit organization designed to establish minority-owned businesses here.
In 1990, Matthew Moore, Sr. Mr. Moore (1922-1985) dedicated his life to achieving racial equality for minorities as First Vice President of the Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP and board member of the Pennsylvania branch of the NAACP, among other positions.
In 1989, Mrs. Wilhelmina Byrd Brown Mrs. Brown was the first recipient of the Spirit of King award. She dedicated 50 years of her life to public service work, which included the participation on dozens of community boards and organizations, most notably the YWCA, the Community Chest (forerunner of the United Way) and the United Service Organization.