Monday, October 20, 2003
Lincoln
University, America’s First Historically Black University
To Celebrate 150th Anniversary at Philadelphia Gala on
Friday, Oct. 24
Celebration at Wyndham Philadelphia at Franklin Plaza
Will Highlight Lincoln's Legacy; Philadelphia Music Icon
Kenny Gamble Among University’s Honorees.
Lincoln
University, PA (www.lincoln.edu)— Lincoln University—America’s
first Historically Black University---will celebrate 150
years of milestones, accomplishments and distinguished
history in higher education at its Philadelphia Gala on
Friday, October 24, from 6 p.m.-11 p.m., at the Wyndham
Philadelphia at Franklin Plaza, 17th and Race Streets,
in Philadelphia.
The
Gala will feature noted speakers and the showing of a
short video paying tribute to Lincoln on the occasion
of its 150th anniversary. More than 500 guests— including
local and regional dignitaries as well as Lincoln alumni—are
expected to attend the gala. Most notable among the highlights
of the Philadelphia Gala will be Lincoln’s award
presentations to four individuals for their distinguished
achievements.
The
following honorees exemplify Lincoln’s ideals of
community and alumni service as well as leadership and
business excellence:
Leadership
Excellence Award —Lozelle J. DeLuz, Ph.D.
Lozelle
J. DeLuz, Ph.D., is a woman of extraordinary talents and
energy that has allowed her to achieve success in three
distinct careers: education, publishing and as an entrepreneur.
She is president and CEO of DeLuz Management Consulting,
Inc. and the former owner ofthree Wilmington-area McDonald’s
franchises along with her late husband, Anthony. Employing
nearly 300 people, Dr. DeLuz is not just a business woman,
but a community leader, volunteer, philanthropist and
mentor. By providing nurturing, family-friendly work environments,
Dr. DuLuz has greatly contributed to the Wilmington economy
and enriched the quality of life for many disadvantaged
individuals. Dr. DeLuz, whose civic, social, educational
and business activities in Delaware have earned her national
recognition, earned her B.S. degree in elementary education
from Winston-Salem State University and has a master’s
degree from George Washington University, and Ph.D. in
urban affairs and public policy from the University of
Delaware.
Community
Service Award—Kenneth Gamble
Kenneth
(Kenny) Gamble, one of Philadelphia’s favorite sons,
currently serves as CEO and chairman of the board of Philadelphia
International Records and is credited for being the musical
pioneer in the development of soul/rhythm and blues music
in America.
He has written, produced, recorded and published more
than 3,000 songs performed by numerous artists, including
The Jackson Five, The Intruders, Teddy Pendergrass, Billy
Paul, Nancy Wilson, Lou Rawls and Phyllis Hyman. For writing
the songs “Me and Mrs. Jones” and “If You
Don’t Know Me By Now,” Gamble received the coveted
Grammy Award in 1974 and 1989, respectively. However,
Gamble’s other calling was from the community in
which grew up. Gamble assisted, developed and founded
numerous community organizations, including African American
Foundation, Universal Institute, The Universal Community
of Truth, and the South Philadelphia Ministries. In founding
Universal Community Homes in 1993, Gamble began one of
largest community revitalization projects in Philadelphia
history. In 1992, he and his wife, Faatimah, left the
Philadelphia suburb of Gladwyne and returned to 15th and
Christian Streets to have a more active and “hands
on” approach to this rebuilding effort.
Business
Excellence Award—Walter P. Lomax, Jr., M.D.
Walter
P. Lomax, M.D. began his medical career as a solo practitioner
in the South Philadelphia neighborhood in which he grew
up and went on to establish Lomax Health Systems, Inc.
(LHS), a management company concentrating exclusively
on health care. In 1984, LHS won a medical services contract
to recruit physicians and physician assistants to supplement
Philadelphia’s staff prison system staff. In 1990,
Correctional Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (CHS) was incorporated
to specialize in the management and delivery of health
services to correctional facilities. CHS emerged as a
major participant in the industry. When the company was
sold in 2000, CHS was providing health care in 60 correctional
facilities in 16 states. Today, Dr. Lomax serves as chairman
of The Lomax Companies, which includes two international
food companies, a residential development and a communications
company. Dr. Lomax is a graduate of LaSalle University
and Hahnemann Medical College and was affiliated with
Graduate Hospitals.
Distinguished
Alumni Award—Dr. H. Alfred F. Farrell ’34
Dr.
H. Alfred Farrell, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Lincoln
University in 1934 and was salutatorian of his class.
In 1939, Dr. Farrell received his master’s in English
from Ohio State University while serving as a graduate
assistant at the university. Dr. Farrell went onto receive
his Ph.D. from Ohio State in 1948 before returning to
his alma mater in 1953 as an assistant to Dr. Horace Mann
Bond, Lincoln’s first black president. While at Lincoln,
Dr. Farrell served in a variety of capacities, including
as director of Public Relations, Alumni Relations, freshman
studies and the Thirteen-College Curriculum Development
Program. For 16 years, Dr. Farrell was chairman of Lincoln’s
Department of English and served as executive secretary
of the University’s Alumni Association for 30 years.
Dr. Farrell was also the editorial consultant for Dr.
Bond’s book, Education For Freedom: A History
of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania.
Located
in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, Lincoln University
is nationally recognized as a major producer of African
Americans with undergraduate degrees in the physical sciences
(biology, chemistry and physics); computer and informational
sciences; biological and life sciences. Lincoln has the
unprecedented distinction among all colleges and universities
of having two of its alumni -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Thurgood Marshall, and poet Langston Hughes -- honored
with first-class commemorative postage stamps in February
2003, and January 2002, respectively.
Tickets
for the black tie affair are $250 per person. For ticket
information, please contact Lincoln's Office of Special
Events and Community Relations at 610-932-1235. For more
information about
the University, visit Lincoln's Web site at www.lincoln.edu.
Media Contacts: Lincoln University’s Office of Marketing
and Communications, Samuel W. Pressley, or Howard G. Kelly,
Jr., (610) 932-1094.
