Each day in February, the Court will celebrate a Black Hoosier, living or past, who has made significant contributions to society. These brief biographies will include individuals from an array of backgrounds, from lawyers and judges to musicians, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, religious leaders, and many more. Please check back throughout the month to learn more about the incredible African Americans who have made Indiana their home.
February 28 – Government/Politics: ZACHARY A. MYERS
On November 15, 2021, Zachary A. Myers was sworn in as the first African American United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. Mr. Myers was born in California in 1981 and raised in Indiana. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Stanford University in 2003 and Master of Arts degree in Political Management from Georgetown University in 2005. In 2008, Mr. Myers earned his J. D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Myers returned to Indiana after law school and was an attorney at Baker & Daniels (now Faegre Drinker) and Legislative Correspondent for Congresswoman Julia M. Carson. He then served as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana from 2011 to 2014. In 2014 he became an assistant United States Attorney and the first Cybercrime Counsel for the District of Maryland, a position he held until he was sworn in as U. S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
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February 27 – Television: BENJAMIN SHERMAN CROTHERS
Benjamin Sherman Crothers, known professionally as Scatman Crothers, was born on May 23, 1910, in Terre Haute, Indiana. He was an actor, musician, and comedian. He is known for playing Louie the Garbage Man on the TV show Chico and the Man, and Dick Hallorann in The Shining. He also did voice-over acting in the Harlem Globetrotters animated TV series, The Transformers (TV and movie), Hong Kong Phooey, and the Aristocats. He received the following awards and honors: best supporting actor in The Shining, a Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, NAACP Image Award, and Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. He became the first black person to appear regularly in a Los Angeles television show when he joined Dixie Showboat. To name just a few others TV appearances, he had guest roles on Bonanza, Bewitched, Sanford and Son, Charlie's Angels, The Love Boat, The Incredible Hulk, Laverne & Shirley, Benson, Magnum P.I., and Taxi. On November 22, 1986, Crothers died at the age of 76 at his home in California, after struggling with lung cancer for nearly four years.
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February 26 – Aviation/Space: CHARLES BLAKESLY "BUSTER" HALL
Charles Blakesly "Buster" Hall was an American combat fighter pilot and U.S. Army Air Force officer with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, better known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Hall was born on August 25, 1920, in his parents' home in rural Brazil, Indiana. He graduated from Brazil High School in 1938, having excelled in academics, football, and track and field. Hall went on to attend Eastern Illinois University, majoring in pre-medicine. In 1941, Hall enlisted in what was then known as the U.S. Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Lawrence, Indiana. On July 3, 1942, Hall graduated, earning his wings and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. During World War II, Hall flew 198 missions over North Africa, Italy, the Mediterranean, and Europe. Hall became the first African American combat fighter pilot to shoot down enemy aircraft and the first African American fighter pilot to earn the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1946, Hall left the U.S. Army Air Force with the rank of Major. Like many African American World War II veteran pilots, Hall could not find employment with commercial airlines or transportation companies. He moved to Chicago and worked as an insurance agent, then to Oklahoma City to work at a drug store and manage a restaurant before landing a career in 1949 at Tinker Air Force Base. Hall died at the age of 51 on November 22, 1971, in Oklahoma City.
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February 25 – Abolitionist: CHAPMAN HARRIS
In the decades prior to the Civil War, free Black Hoosiers played an important role in leading enslaved people to freedom, frequently traveling into southern states to bring groups of slaves north. Chapman Harris became one of the most well-known Black Hoosiers to play a role in the Underground Railroad. A resident of Jefferson County, Indiana, Harris was a blacksmith and Baptist minister. He settled near Madison in 1839, and soon became a pilot on the Underground Railroad. When he, or his sons, planned a trip across the Ohio River to bring back any fugitives waiting on the other side, Harris hammered an anvil to alert waiting slaves that help was on the way. Harris and his sons made many successful runs across the Ohio River, despite a few close calls. Following the Civil War, he became active in Republican politics. Harris died in 1890.
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February 24 – Lawyer/Judge: THE HONORABLE ROBERT D. RUCKER
The Honorable Robert D. Rucker was born in Canton, Georgia, in 1947. He was raised in Gary, Indiana. Judge Rucker earned a B.A. from Indiana University in 1974, and a J.D. from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1976. He later earned a Master of Laws degree in the judicial process from the University of Virginia Law School in 1998. After Judge Rucker graduated from Valparaiso Law School, he started his career as a deputy prosecutor for Lake County, Indiana. After his career as a deputy prosecutor, he practiced as a city and a private practice attorney. In 1991, Judge Rucker was appointed to serve as a judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals by former Indiana Governor Evan Bayh. While serving on the Court of Appeals, he served as vice-chair of the Indiana Commission for Continuing Legal Education. Judge Rucker was the first African American appellate judge in the state of Indiana. In 1999, he was appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court by former governor Frank O' Bannon. Judge Rucker was the second African American to serve on the Supreme Court of Indiana. He retired on May 12, 2017.
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February 23 – Comedian: MIKE EPPS
Indianapolis native Michael Elliot "Mike" Epps was born November 18, 1970, to Mary Reed and Tommie Epps at Wishard Hospital. He is a comedian, actor, writer-producer, and rapper. His comedic ability was realized at an early age, and he began stand-up as a teenager.
Regrettably, he dropped out of high school, falling in the traps of local gangs, and served 18 months on related drug charges. Upon his release he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to live with his aunt. Shortly thereafter, Epps moved to Brooklyn, where he starred in Def Comedy Jam and his career took off. He debuted in Vin Diesel's 1997 Strays. His other acting credits include the voice of Sonny in in Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), The Honeymooners (2005), Friday After Next (2002), Meet the Blacks (2016), Uncle Buck (2016), and most recently, The Upshaws (2021)—just to name a few. At age 49, Epps graduated from Arsenal Tech High School in 2016 stating, "No matter what your status may be—successful, unsuccessful, working towards your dream – it's never too late to get your education." Epps has been regarded as one of the Greatest Black Comedians.
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February 22 – Chef/Restaurateur: TANORRIA ASKEW
When Tanorria Askew won fourth place in the 2016 season of MasterChef, she turned her achievement into a new career. Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Askew and her family moved to Indianapolis when she was just three years old. Her cooking blends the flavors of her early Southern childhood with those of hearty Midwestern cooking. After appearing on MasterChef, Askew returned to Indianapolis, where she left her job at the Teachers Credit Union to open her own personal chef company, Tannoria's Table. She also hosts the Black Girls Eating podcast and recently authored her first cookbook, Staples +5: 100 Simple Recipes to Make the Most of Your Pantry. In addition to her work as a personal chef, Askew is the Diversity & Inclusion Chair for Slow Food Indy, a grassroots organization founded on principles of clean eating and fair food. Indianapolis is home to one of the largest food deserts in the nation, but under Askew's leadership, Slow Food Indy is working to open food access to underserved areas of the city.
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February 21 – Science: BRENDA TRUEDELL-BELL
Brenda Truedell-Bell is an organic chemist known for breaking Eli Lilly and Company's glass ceiling as the organization's first Black research chemist. Truedell-Bell earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Savannah State University and was one of the first Black females to break the color barrier in chemistry at Purdue University while earning her Master of Science degree in Organic Chemistry. She is also the founder of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chapter at Purdue. Eli Lilly noticed Truedell-Bell's work on anti-malaria drugs in the late 1960s, when she was an organic chemist graduate student research assistant while still at Purdue, and offered her a research position, making her the first Black female chemist for Eli Lilly Research Laboratories. During her years of chemical research, she obtained four U.S. patents on antibiotics. Truedell-Bell founded her own company, KHEM-SCI Research and Development Company of Indianapolis. The company specializes in formulating safe and effective nutraceuticals for children's health. Truedell-Bell also served as a member of the research team for President Barack Obama's Health Care Act in 2010. Now retired, she enjoys mentoring area youth on the importance of science and STEM-related classes/programs.
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February 20 – Community Leader: MADAM C.J. WALKER
Madam C.J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, was born in Delta, Louisiana, on December 23, 1867, the daughter of two former slaves. She married Moses McWilliams at a young age and gave birth to her daughter, Lelia. Her husband died and she was left to care for her daughter on her own. She moved to St. Louis, where three of her brothers worked as barbers. During this time, she began to experience hair loss due to not having the resources she needed to maintain her hair. After noticing that other African-American women were experiencing the same issues with their hair, she began to experiment and formulated a secret product to stimulate hair growth. She sold her product in Black neighborhoods and became very successful. In 1905 she moved to Denver, married Charles J. Walker, and decided to change her name to Madam C.J. Walker. In 1910, Madam C.J. Walker set up a laboratory and beauty school in Indianapolis. As sales increased and at the height of her career, she became a millionaire. She was very generous and gave back to her community by contributing to African-American organizations in Indy, such as the Senate Avenue YMCA, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Flanner House. As a patron of the arts, the Madam Walker Legacy Center was constructed in 1927 and is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. Madam Walker died on May 25, 1919.
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February 19 – Film: VIVICA A. FOX
Vivica A. Fox, an American actress, producer, television host, author, and director, was born in South Bend, Indiana to Everlyena and William Fox. She is a graduate of Indianapolis Arlington High School Class of 1982. That same year the ambitious Indy native relocated to California to attend Golden West College, where she earned her degree in Social Sciences. After a few entertainment opportunities, including as a dancer on the famed musical variety show Soul Train, she became the lead actress in the groundbreaking soap opera drama Generations. The series was noted for being the first day time soap to feature an African American family from its inception. Vivica’s resume includes star roles in blockbuster films like Independence Day, Set It Off as well as the critically acclaimed comedy-drama Soul Food. In addition to producing, co-producing, and starring in both television and feature films, she has also lent her voice to animated movies and video games. This Hoosier superstar has also competed on Dancing with the Stars and more recently The Masked Singer. Vivica’s film and television career span almost four decades and includes a wide range of film genre. She has been nominated for and won numerous awards including the prestigious NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (2006). This Indiana native has established herself as a world-renowned actress and continues sharing her talents on both the big screen and television
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February 18 – Agriculture: CHARLES GRIER
Charles Grier was born into slavery in King and Queen County, Virginia, in 1782. At some point, he was willed to a pastor by the name of James Grier, who freed him. Under an 1806 Virginia law, anyone who was freed in that state was required to leave Virginia within twelve months or risk being enslaved; as a result, by 1813 Grier had moved to Gibson County, Indiana, making him one of the first pioneers, Black or white, in the area. Within two years, Grier had purchased forty acres of land from the federal land office in Vincennes, and by 1818 he had married a young woman, Keziah Rosborough, with whom he would raise six children. Together, Grier and his wife expanded their land holdings to 260 acres near the area that would become known as Lyles Station, a Black farming community with deep historical roots. Grier was an active abolitionist and conductor on the Underground Railroad, and he also founded and funded an African Methodist Episcopal Church in his community. After Grier's death in 1872, his land was sold to members of the other Black farming families nearby. The Grier family seems to have left Gibson County not long after, but the community that Grier helped create continued. To this day, Black farmers maintain a vital presence in Gibson County. For more information, see "200 Years of Freedom: Charles Grier and the History of African American Settlement in Gibson County, Indiana," Traces of Indiana History (Vol. 25, No. 1), by Anna-Lisa Cox.
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February 17 – Politics: JULIA CARSON
Born on July 8, 1936, in Louisville, KY, Julia May Carson moved to Indianapolis with her mother while she was still a young girl. Julia graduated from Crispus Attucks High School in 1955. After high school, she went on to attend Martin University and Indiana University. That schooling lead to her being the secretary at a local chapter of the United Auto Workers, where she met Representative Andy Jacobs. He was her mentor and encouraged her to run for office in the Indiana Legislature. From 1973 to 1977, Carson served in the House of Representatives, as the assistant minority caucus chair and went on win the election to the Indiana State Senate in 1978 and served until 1990. In 1991, she was elected as the Center Township Trustee for Marion County. Carson took her political career further and won a seat in the United States House of Representative in 1996 after her mentor, Andy Jacobs, decided to retire. She became the first African American and the first woman elected from Indianapolis to go to Congress, where she served six terms. She was a champion of and for the people. Julia May Carson died on December 15, 2007. She was the first minority and woman to lie in state in the Indiana State House.
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February 16 – Music: JAMES THOMAS RAMEY
James Thomas Ramey, better known as Baby Huey, was an American rock and soul singer. Ramey was born on August 17, 1944, in Richmond, Indiana. When Ramey was in high school, he began work with his first band, The Vets. Ramey had a glandular disorder, which contributed to his weight and presence on stage. He made light of his condition and adopted the stage name "Baby Huey" after Paramount Pictures' giant duckling cartoon character. In1963, he founded the band Baby Huey & the Babysitters, comprised of himself, organist/trumpeter Melvyn "Deacon" Jones, and guitarist Johnny Ross. The band released several 45 RPM singles, which include "Beg Me," "Monkey Man," "Messin with the Kid," and "Just Being Careful." During the late-1960's the band became a psychedelic soul act. Huey began wearing an Afro and donned psychedelic African-inspired robes and adding sing-song, self-referential rhymes to his live performance. The Babysitters were a popular live act, but never took the time out to record an album. By 1970, Ramey had developed an addiction to heroin, and his weight had increased to over 400 pounds. Ramey died on October 28, 1970, of a drug related heart attack. Baby Huey's album, The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend, was released posthumously. Many people, including the Babysitters themselves, see The Baby Huey Story as a significant and important influence on hip-hop music since the 1980s.
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February 15 – Medicine: DR. ERIC A. YANCY
For more than 40 years, Dr. Eric A. Yancy has provided exceptional medical care to thousands of children in inner-city Indianapolis, the majority of whom are without insurance or are on Medicaid. His devotion stems from a promise made as a young boy old enough to recognize the race and poverty-based disparities in health care that he witnessed in the segregated South. Dr. Yancy pledged to become a physician and help the underserved … and he has been delivering on that promise ever since. Born in Louisiana, Dr. Yancy received his Bachelor of Science from Southern University in Baton Rouge before earning his Doctor of Medicine from Creighton University Medical School in 1976. Straight out of medical school, he and his new bride, Pamela, moved to Indianapolis where he had been offered a residency in pediatrics at the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children – becoming the first Black resident at that hospital. He was named Chief Resident of Pediatrics in 1979. Over the years, Dr. Yancy has taught and mentored hundreds of medical students and pediatric, family practice and obstetric residents at Methodist Hospital of Indiana and at Indiana University School of Medicine. His commitment to excellence led to his induction in Alpha Omega Alpha in 2007. He was twice named teacher of the year by Methodist Hospital. In 2011, Dr. Yancy was named Chief Medical Officer of Managed Health Services, an Indiana-based health maintenance organization. Dr. Yancy continues to maintain his pediatric practice five days a week … still delivering on that promise made long ago.
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February 14 – Civil Rights – PRESTON E. EAGLESON
Preston E. Eagleson was born in Mitchell, Indiana, in 1876. During his early years, his family moved around Indiana before settling in Bloomington where he attended Bloomington High School. He graduated second in his class in 1892 at the age of sixteen. Later that year, Eagleson enrolled in Indiana University (an all-white faculty and a predominantly white student body) where, as a skilled athlete, he became the first African American to participate in intercollegiate athletics. He joined the football team as a freshman and played throughout his undergraduate career. Because he was a black player, his team experienced some racial discrimination when traveling to other schools. One specific incident occurred in October 1893, when his team traveled to Butler University. Butler, as the host school, did not properly greet the football team, and during the game, there were reports of unfair calls, fights on the field, and the crowd shouting racist expletives at Eagleson. The next year, in October 1894, Eagleson appeared in the Indianapolis Journal headlines, "AGAINST THE COLORED PLAYER: Two Hotels in Crawfordsville Refused to Take in an I.U. Man." The IU football team traveled to Wabash College, and was refused lodging accommodations by two separate inns, after learning one player was black. A third innkeeper welcomed the entire team. This event infuriated Eagleson's father, who filed a lawsuit. In 1885, Indiana passed a Civil Rights Act that stated all persons were "entitled to the full and equal enjoyments of the accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of inns, restaurants, eating-houses, barbershops, public conveyances on land and water, theaters, and all other places of public accommodations and amusement." Punishment for violations were up to a $100 fine and/or up to 30 days in jail. The lawsuit was heard in Montgomery County Circuit Court on January 29, 1895. After hearing evidence, the jury deliberated throughout the night and awarded Eagleson $50, equivalent to just over $1,500 today. An appeal was filed and in March 1896, and the case was reviewed by the Appellate Court of Indiana, where the decision for Eagleson was confirmed. There were no other racial discrimination incidents reported during Eagleson's college years at IU. He continued as a leader on the football field, and during his junior year he won the right to represent IU at the State Oratorical Contest; he was the first African American student to appear at the contest, and he took fourth place. Eagleson earned his bachelor's in philosophy in 1896, and in 1906 he became the first African American at IU to earn an advanced degree with an MA in philosophy. After graduation, he became a teacher but due to poor health, he died at home in 1911 at the age of 35.
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February 13 – Author/Poet - MARI EVANS
Mari Evans was a poet, writer, director, and producer associated with the Black Arts Movement. She was born on July 16, 1919, in Toledo, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis in 1947. From 1947, until her death on March 10, 2017, she resided in the Indianapolis area. Evans taught at several institutions including Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and Purdue University. From 1968 until 1973, she wrote, directed, and produced "The Black Experience" for WTTV-4. In addition, Evans published multiple collections of poems and books throughout her career. A mural depicting Mari Evans was created in 2016, and is located in downtown Indianapolis (Mile Square), Mass Avenue Cultural District. For more information, visit https://www.indyartsguide.org/public-art/mari-evans/
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February 12 – Military and Medicine: LT. COL. JOSEPH WARD
Lt. Col. Joseph Ward was a physician, hospital administrator, and Hoosier veteran. A first-generation freedman born in North Carolina, Ward came to Indianapolis as a teen. He lived with and worked for Dr. George Hasty, a founder of the Physio-Medical College of Indiana, who helped Ward complete his education – eighth grade, followed by three years at Indianapolis High School (later Shortridge High School,) and the Physio-Medical College of Indiana in 1897. In 1901, Ward opened an office on Indiana Avenue, where he was one of eight African American doctors. He later went on to open Ward’s Sanitarium, a hospital and surgery center offering medical services to all. Ward enlisted for military service during World War I and served with the 92nd Division medical corps in France - one of two segregated units of the Army. Ward became one of only two African American officers in the medical corps to attain the rank of Major. He was honorably discharged from active service on May 29, 1919, and continued in the reserves until 1934, when he left the Army at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1924, Dr. Ward became the first African American commander of the segregated Veterans Hospital No. 91 in Tuskegee, Alabama, where southern Black WWI veterans, many suffering from what is now referred to as PTSD, were treated. In 1934, A historical marker is located on the northwest corner of West 21st Street at North Boulevard Place marks the location where Ward’s Sanitarium found a lasting location until it ceased operation.
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February 11 – Education: MANONA TAYLOR MARTIN
Manona Taylor Martin was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1919. She attended John Hope Indianapolis Public School (IPS) #26 and Crispus Attucks High School. She then attended Talladega College, where she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and received her degree in elementary education. In 1947, she was assigned to James Whitcomb Riley IPS #43 to help integrate the school’s faculty; she was the first Black person assigned to teach at the then all-white elementary school. She taught school for over 40 years and was well-known throughout IPS for her effective teaching strategies during a period when IPS was nationally renowned for its high educational quality. She was particularly revered for her educational support and personal inspiration to young women and men in her classes, in her neighborhood, in her church, and even those she encountered on the street or in the grocery store. Throughout her life, Ms. Martin had a quest for knowledge. When she retired from teaching, she went back to school and earned a degree in Psychology. Ms. Martin’s life was one of nurturing, educating, encouraging, and inspiring others. She was a life-time member of the NAACP, a founding member of the Indianapolis Chapter of The Northeasterners, a member of The Cliques and The Fortnightly Literary Book Clubs, and a member of the Indianapolis Chapter of Jack and Jill Clubs of America. She passed away in November 2011.
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February 10, 2022 – Underground Railroad: ELIJAH ANDERSON
Elijah Anderson was born a free person of color in 1808 in Fluvanna County, Virginia. Sometime before 1835, Anderson relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, due to Virginia passing severe restrictions on free blacks after the 1831 Nat Turner Rebellion. Anderson was trained as a blacksmith and skilled in making wrought-iron undercarriages and decorative fences. These skills allowed Anderson to find employment as a laborer fixing metal and steam fittings on steamboats. Between 1835 and 1840, Anderson relocated to Madison, Indiana, which is where he established his blacksmith shop. Eventually, Anderson involved himself in the Underground Railroad organization of Madison, Indiana. Soon after, he abandoned his trade as a blacksmith to assist fugitive slaves full time. Anderson took numerous trips into Kentucky where he purportedly rounded up to 20 to 30 enslaved people at a time. Anderson was light-skinned and often passed as a white man. Because of his light skin, he traveled with freedom seekers to Canada on steamboats and trains masquerading as their master. Anderson soon attained leadership in the Madison Underground Railroad. He prevailed at opening and developing secure routes. Anderson assisted at least hundreds to a thousand fugitives in gaining their freedom. His fellow abolitionists referred to him as the “general superintendent” of the Underground Railroad. Anderson moved his operations base to Lawrenceburg, Indiana as a result of increased danger, fines levied against him and the Madison riots. In December 1856, Louisville police officers captured and arrested Anderson on an Ohio River steamboat for taking a group of freedom seekers from Lawrenceburg, Indiana to Cleveland. He was found guilty of violating the Kentucky Law “enticing slaves to run away” and was sentenced to an eight-year term. Suspiciously, the day Anderson was to be released from a Frankfort, Kentucky prison, he was found dead in his cell in April 1861.
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February 9 – Art: WILLIAM EDUOARD SCOTT AND JOHN WESLEY HARDRICK
Born on March 11, 1884, Indianapolis native William Edouard Scott graduated from Emmerich Manual High School in 1903. He was an assistant art teacher at Manual High School. Scott was the first African-American to teach in an Indianapolis High School. He attended the School of the Art Institute in Chicago and then went to France in 1909. His artwork in Paris made him so renowned that it was accepted by the Royal Academy in London and the Salon at La Loque in France. Scott came back to the U.S. and painted murals for schools and government buildings. Some of those murals were in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Washington, D.C. One important collaborative mural that he painted was at City Hospital, better known to us Indianapolis natives as Wishard Hospital. William Edouard Scott died on May 16, 1964. Born on September 21, 1891, Indianapolis native John Wesley Hardrick attended Harriet Beecher Stowe Public School and Emmerich Manual High School. He also attended the John Herron Art Institute, graduating in 1918. His paintings won praises at the Indiana State Exhibition in 1933 and the American Negro Exposition in Chicago. Exhibits of his paintings were also located at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Smithsonian. President Roosevelt and his team enlisted Hardrick to paint a mural for Crispus Attucks High School. The school accepted the mural. However, it was never unveiled. To this day, the location of the mural is unknown. Newfields and the Indiana State Museum have preserved collections of his artwork. Josh Wesley Hardrick died on October 18, 1968.
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February 8 – Education: MATTHIAS NOLCOX
Matthias Nolcox served as the first principal of Indianapolis’ celebrated Crispus Attucks High School. Born and raised in Lyles Station, Indiana, he graduated from Terre Haute Normal School and attended Indiana State University, before graduating from Indiana University. Nolcox was 19 years old when he became principal of the high school in Patoka, Indiana. He started his tenure with Indianapolis Public Schools in 1922, as a teacher at IPS School 26. During his summers, he completed coursework at Harvard University and earned his doctorate degree in Education in 1927 – the same year he became the first principal of Crispus Attucks. According to Jones family lore – provided by his great-niece, Tracy Jones, a supervisory paralegal at the Office of the United States Attorney – “Uncle Matt” traveled the country to recruit the first group of teachers for Crispus Attucks (many of them with doctorates and other advanced degrees). As an activist and educator, Nolcox was in contact with the likes of W. E. B. Du Bois and a member of the board of directors of the Senate Avenue YMCA. When he retired in 1950, Nolcox became the head of Anderson College’s English Department. A fellowship in his name was established at Anderson College for students pursuing an education for Christian work. Nolcox was married to Marie Anderson (1900-1980) and had two sons and one daughter: Rudolph, Vernona, and Noble. He died June 27, 1985, at age 99.
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February 7 - Music: KENNETH "BABYFACE" EDMONDS
Kenneth Edmonds, better known as Babyface, is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Babyface is a 12-time Grammy Award winner and music producer with 200 top 10 R&B and more than 50 top 10 pop hits. Babyface was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 10, 1959 and attended North Central High School. Babyface has been an active musician since 1974. He subsequently co-founded LaFace Records where he produced and written hit songs for other musicians such as Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston and many more. In 1999, Governor Frank O’Bannon dedicated a 17-mile stretch of I-65 through Indianapolis in honor of Babyface named Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds Highway. In a statement, O’Bannon wrote, “Kenny Edmonds has made great strides in the entertainment industry and has brought great distinction to the state of Indiana through his music and by never forgetting to give back to the community.” During the dedication ceremony, Babyface reportedly had given $110,000 to programs geared towards the artistic interests of Indiana children. Babyface is a philanthropist for the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and performs at fundraising events for FasterCures. Babyface works tirelessly for the United Negro College Fund and gives generously to the VH-1 Save the Music. Babyface received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented to him by Coretta Scott King in 1999. In 2013, Babyface was honored with a star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2017, Babyface was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. On October 18, 2018, Babyface received an honorary doctorate degree from the Indiana University Bloomington in recognition of his notable career in music. As of August 2021, Babyface can be seen on a mural in Carmel, Indiana along with five other black heroes and heroines with ties to Indiana.
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February 6 – Religion: BISHOP WILLIAM PAUL QUINN
William Paul Quinn was born in India on April 10, 1788 and immigrated to the United States by 1808. He was active in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first independent black denomination in the United States. In 1836 Quinn settled in Richmond, Indiana, founding Bethel AME Church there and several other churches throughout Indiana, including a church in Indianapolis then known as "Indianapolis Station," which later became Bethel AME Church. He played an important role in establishing a number of other churches throughout the region. On May 19, 1844, due to his success in planting churches in the Northwest, the General Conference of the church elected him the fourth bishop of the AME Church. He became the Senior Bishop of the church in May 1849, serving until his death in Richmond on February 3, 1873. During that period, another 47 AME congregations were established across the country and territories. Quinn is buried at Earlham Cemetery in Richmond.
Black Church History in Indiana – The Indiana Historical Society
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February 5 – Athlete: GEORGE TALIAFERRO
George Taliaferro was born on January 8, 1927, in Gates, Tennessee. He attended Roosevelt High School in Gary, Indiana, before moving on to Indiana University (IU) in 1945, where he was a successful football player. He finished his freshman season as IU's leading rusher with 719 yards. He missed the 1946 season to serve in the Army but returned to play in the 1947 and 1948 seasons. He was voted Indiana's Most Valuable Player in 1948. Taliaferro was a three-time All-American who led Indiana in rushing, passing, and punting in different seasons during his college career. However, he was as big of a figure off the field as he was on it and was well-known for his efforts to desegregate the school's Bloomington campus. He became the first African American player drafted by an NFL team when he was selected in the 13th round by the Chicago Bears in 1949. However, he signed his first professional contract with the Los Angles Dons of the All-American Football Conference. He later played in the NFL for franchises in New York, Dallas, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, earning trips to the Pro Bowl in 1951, 1952, and 1953. Taliaferro and his wife, a judge who worked with juveniles, championed young people in Monroe County, Indiana. He was one of three men to found Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monroe County in 1973. After retiring from football, he became an assistant to the president of Indiana University and helped to implement affirmative action programs throughout the IU system. He worked successfully to open doors of higher education to minorities. On October 8, 2018, at the age of 91, Taliaferro passed away. He was the fifth-oldest living Hall of Fame player at the time of his death.
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February 4 – Military: BRIGADIER GENERAL FELICIA BROKAW
Colonel Felicia Brokaw became the Indiana National Guard’s First African American Female Brigadier General on Friday, September 10, 2021. The promotion took place in a ceremony held at the Indiana War Memorial. The Joliet, Illinois, native and Indianapolis resident began her career as an enlisted military police officer with the 38th Military Police Company. She gained her commission from the Indiana National Guard's Officer Candidate School in 1992, and has served at every level from platoon, company, battalion, and staff across the state. In 2006, Gen. Brokaw deployed with the 38th Infantry Division Support Command in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Gen. Brokaw has served more than 34 years in the military. Her most recent Indiana National Guard assignment was as the Human Resource Officer and prior to that the commander of Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center from June 2018 to July 2021. Throughout her career she's earned the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal four times, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal, among many others. General Brokaw is married to David and they have three children.
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February 3 – Entrepreneur: EDNA MAE BARNES MARTIN
Edna Mae Barnes Martin was born in 1898 to a southern migrant, working-class family. After growing up in the Martindale neighborhood on the east side of Indianapolis, and having lost a child of her own, Edna recognized a need for childcare in the community. She took matters into her own hands in 1941, when she established a Christian daycare in a rented room. While she started with a client base of two young girls, within a year the business had outgrown the space. Edna fought continuously for funding to serve the children and their families, and by 1946 had secured enough money to open the East Side Christian Center. Over the following decades, and continuing to the present day, the Center expanded its programming to include adult education classes, meals, after-school programs, summer camps, and other services. Edna Mae Barnes Martin died in 1946, and the Edna Martin Christian Center will continue her legacy for generations of future Hoosiers.
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Carrie Barnes Ross was an influential leader in the Indiana woman suffrage movement. Born in 1884, Ross attended Columbia University in New York. She graduated from its Teachers College in 1905. Ross spent three years teaching at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama before taking a job teaching English in the Indianapolis Public School System. In Indianapolis, Ross joined the NAACP and became secretary of the local chapter. She also became active in the woman suffrage movement, believing that African American women would greatly benefit from the right to vote. In July 1912, Ross organized an African American branch of the Equal Suffrage League of Indiana. Thirty women and ten men attended the group's first meeting. Ross was elected its first president. As president, Ross worked tirelessly to recruit African Americans to join the woman suffrage movement. Her efforts were instrumental in bringing together a diverse group of people to fight for a woman's right to vote. In 1916, Ross married Hubert Heaton Washington Ross, a Boston dentist, and left Indianapolis shortly thereafter. She died from childbirth complications in 1918. Indiana became the twenty-sixth state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote on January 16, 1920.
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Born on June 21, 1902, Henry J. Richardson, Jr., became a prominent civil rights lawyer in Indianapolis. During his long career, he served two terms in the Indiana House of Representatives (1932-1936), was appointed a Marion County judge, and worked for equality as legal counsel for the NAACP in Indiana. While serving in the legislature, Richardson earned a reputation as a leader in Indiana's civil rights movement. He authored the state's first fair employment practices law, was instrumental in integrating the Indiana National Guard, and ended discriminatory practices in student housing at Indiana University. After leaving the legislature in 1936, Richardson continued to fight for equality, especially in areas of housing and education. In 1949, he led a campaign for the passage of Indiana’s school desegregation law. In 1953, he worked with Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley to win an important housing discrimination case against the city of Evansville. Richardson was a founding member of the Indianapolis Urban League and served on the Federal Civil Rights Commission from 1964 to 1968. He died on December 5, 1983.