LITTLE ROCK — Though their beginnings were humble, each of the 2007 inductees to the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame left an impressive mark.
Fourteen people including musicians, athletes and the entire Little Rock Nine were inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony Saturday night at Little Rock's Statehouse Convention Center.
"This is one of the most inspirational nights of the year," said U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., who has attended the event for the past several years. "Most of the inductees started with nothing but determination, smarts and God's gifts."
About 900 people came dressed in evening attire with checkbooks at the ready to contribute to the Hall of Fame. The nonprofit organization raises money for groups that help improve education, health and economic opportunities for black and under served communities, said founder Charles O. Stewart.
"We hope that these grants will be the seeds for future hall of famers," Stewart said.
This year's inductees were comedian Sheryl Underwood; District Judge L. Clifford Davis; professional football Hall of Famer Willie Davis; Tuskegee Airmen flight instructor Milton Crenshaw and saxophonist John Stubblefield, who was inducted posthumously. The Little Rock Nine was inducted as a group. They are Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed Wair, Elizabeth Eckford, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Jefferson Alison Thomas, Melba Pattillo Beals and Minnijean Brown Trickey.
Little Rock Central High School became internationally known in 1957, when nine black students integrated the school. Until then, segregation laws barred black students from attending Central.
During the introduction, Gov. Mike Beebe said of the Little Rock Nine: "What really dawned on me stronger than anything else was that they were kids, they were children, they were babies and they chose to exhibit the courage that grown people rarely have in their souls."
Ernest Green, on behalf of the Little Rock Nine Foundation, donated $5,000, as did Underwood.
CJ Duvall, Alltel's executive vice president of human resources, personally donated $5,000 during the ceremony's opening and challenged the audience to reach into their pocketbooks.
Davis, who played for the Green Bay Packers under coach Vince Lombardi, won five NFL Championships and was selected to the Pro Bowl five consecutive years, answered Duvall's challenge with a $10,000 donation.
"I can tell you right now there is absolutely nothing more important than achieving success and winning," Davis said. "That's what we learned from the Green Bay Packers - [lessons] we have been able to carry forwardfor the rest of our lives."
Donation totals weren't immediately available, though Stewart said that they were expected to top last year's total of more than $100,000.
"Where passion meets commitment is where you will find these individuals," Stewart said of the inductees. "These inductees are why the event has increased in its size and stature."Information for this report was contributed by staff writer Samantha Friedman.
Arkansas, Pages 19, 22 on 10/28/2007