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NAACP Toledo Unit Honors Former Presidents
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
The NAACP Toledo Unit held its first ever ceremony to
publicly acknowledge all past presidents on Saturday, August
23, 2014. “Yes, this is our first ever program honoring past
presidents. We owe these leaders our gratitude and didn’t
want to lose this opportunity,” explained current President
Ray Wood.
The program opened with Wood serving as master of
ceremonies, and a prayer offered by Vice President Micheal
Alexander. Guests then dined on a banquet-style meal and
refreshments, Johnny Love sang a selection, and tokens of
appreciation were given to all past presidents before the
program closed with the Negro National Anthem.
“We wanted to acknowledge our past presidents and present
them with flowers, while they are still with us. We are
honoring them because of their commitment then and now to
civil rights, especially during their tenure as president of
NAACP Toledo Unit,” shared Wood.
Toledo Unit past presidents are: Rev. Robert Culp, who
served in 1966; Rev. George W. Maze, III, who served from
1974-1976; George Davis, Jr, who served in 1981 and from
1990-1991; Floyd Rose who served in 1982; Rev. LeRoy A.
Williams who served from 1984-1989; Judge C. Allen McConnell
who served from 1992-1993; Toledo City Councilwoman Theresa
M. Gabriel who served from 1994-1996; David R. Taylor, III
who served from 1997-1998; WilliAnn Moore who served from
1999-2010 and Rev. Kevin Bedford who served from 2010-2012.
The presidents in attendance each received a standing
ovation from attendees, generous gifts and proclamations.
“As the current president, I’ve learned from the past
presidents that I have to be steadfast, unmovable and
focused on our community’s issues. Some of our struggles
have changed but more has to be done. We rallied and
boycotted in the 1950-1970s but we still need to have those
conversations, focus on issues and fight,” said Wood.
The NAACP Toledo Unit invites the community to join the
local unit and mark your calendars for the annual Freedom
Fund Dinner on October 24, 2014.
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