50 standout as ‘good news’ for Black men

SOURCE: Chicago Defender

The news is full of bad information about Black men. Every time you turn around, there is a new statistic that points out just how bad things are for Black men. You would think that it is all bad news.

But it isn’t. There is good news about Black men, and next week the Chicago Defender will devote an entire section of the newspaper to that good news. It is our annual Men of Excellence issue, where we salute 50 Black men in Chicago who are defying all of the bad news, who are overcoming all of the desultory statistics. We salute these 50 men, who come from all walks of life, who define excellence in their work and their commitment to their communities.

To be sure, these are not the only 50 excellent men in Chicago. We limited this list to 50, and we’re looking forward to presenting them to you in the Chicago Defender and introducing them to each other during our celebration Jan. 15 at the Hotel Allegro.

Shield Bearer Award: Honorable Bobby Rush
Congressman
State of Illinois

Rest of awardees:

Ron Allen
Chairman, NAAIA Board of Directors
National African American Insurance Association

Morris Smith
Coca-Cola Company

LaRue Martin Jr.
Community Service Manager
UPS, Metro Chicago District

Troy A. Mooyoung
VP, District Sales Manager
Morgan Stanley

Carl W. Latimer
President
The Coalition for United Community Action

Ken Bedford
Photographer
WLS-TV

Dr. Paul Freeman
Founder and Music Director
Chicago Sinfonietta

Dr. Warrick L. Carter
President
Columbia College

David Day
Regional Credit Manager
Macy’s East

Dr. Willie Wilson
Founder and CEO
Willie Wilson Productions

Walter Grady
President
Seaway Bank

Arthur Reliford
Principal
Hales Franciscan

Robert Beck
CEO/President
Israel’s Clean Meat House

William Bonaparte’
Electrical Engineer

Michael Sutton
Civil Engineer

John M. Clark, Jr.
President/CEO
Reggio’s Pizza, Inc.

Gary E. McCullough
President/CEO
Career Education Corporation

Roger Peden
Director of Employer Services
Jobs for Youth

Anthony Spivey
Principal
Corliss High School

Willie Hisey Pierson
Agency Multicultural Director
MetLife West

Michael Platt
President/CEO
Risk Management Resources

Eugene Morris
President
E. Morris Communications, Inc.

Sam Smith
Founder
Perry Mansion Cultural Center

Joseph Caldwell
President
Tail-O-Rite Complete Clothing Care,
Inc.

Gene Linton
Mr. G’s Banquets

Julian Brown
Director of Community Relations
Nicor Gas

Ken Smikle
Publisher
Target Market News

Faheem Majeed
Executive Director/Curator
South Side Community Art Center

Herb Kent
Radio Personality
WVAZ-FM/102.7

Dr. Paul Jones
Mercy Hospital

Lyle Logan
Executive Vice President
Northern Trust Bank

Michael Fountain
Sr. Director Government Relations
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition
Authority

Warner Saunders
Anchor
NBC 5

Bill Williams
Chicago Convention & Tourism
Bureau

Judge William Hooks

Jerry Butler
Commissioner
3rd District
Cook County

Gary E. McCullough
President/CEO
Career Education Corporation

Alvin Boutte, Jr.
Managing Director
Grigsby & Associates, Inc.

Gyata M.J. Kimmons
Director Community Relations
2016 Olympic Committee

Leon I. Walker, Esq.
Managing Partner
DL3 Realty, L.P.

Byron Garrett
CEO
National PTA

Wallace “Gator” Bradley
Urban Translator/Political Consultant
United In Peace, Inc.

Quintin E. Primo III
Chairman and CEO
Capri Capital Partners

Hansel Whitehurst
General Manager
Jenkins Construction

Wilbur C. Milhouse, III
Milhouse Engineering & Construction

Rodney Wells
Technical Operations Manager
Comcast Cable

John Kendall, Esq.
Calvin Butler
Com Ed

Darryl Roberts
Filmmaker

Chef Cliff Rome
Romes Joy Catering
Parkway Ballroom