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BOOKER T. BLACKWELL, SR.
Mr. Blackwell was born in Metropolis, Illinois on September 18, 1904. He is married to Thelma Barnes Blackwell and their anniversary is June 10th. They are members of St. Luke AME Church where the Rev. Emanuel Leake is Pastor. Mr. Blackwell is honest, dependable, conscientious.- sincere, articulate and courteous.
An adversity in my life were trumped up charged against me as teacher in Madison Schools. I resigned and went into the insurance business for fourteen years before going back into education. I am a retired Principal and enjoyed seeing that youngsters were motivated to do their best in life. I also enjoyed being associated with these persons and others while principal: Mrs. Viola Jackson, Mrs. Jeanette Compton, Mrs. Mildred Kirk, Mrs. Alva Tarrant, Mr. Myrtle Harris,, Mr. V.H. Eldridge, Mrs. Esther Holland, Mr. Ralph Jones, Mrs. Charlene O'Nell, Mr. Roland Hoehn, Mrs. Elizabeth Overall, Mrs. Ernestine Anderson, Mrs. Hortense Lyons, Mrs. Irene Kirkpatrick. Memberships: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity-Life Member; East St. Louis Business and Professional Men's Club; and NAACP, Former Board Chairman. Cherished Awards: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Distinguished Brother Award, 1969; Alpha Phi Alpha Hall of Fame. Favorite TV programs: SIXTY MINUTES, CBS News, and football games. My favorite books are biographies of persons like Abraham Lincoln who came from so-low to highest heights. I believe that man is measured not by what he attained but the depths from which he came. My most hurtful segregation experience was when I was in Fort McClelland, Alabama and was on my way to see Thelma in Anderson, Alabama. They sold all the White people tickets before selling Blacks any tickets at all even though we were there way before time. Then they refused us black soldiers in the uniform of the United States of America. They sold out of tickets, and we were not able to board the bus to go where we wanted to go.Coming from the University of Illinois on the train, I was told to move into another coach because they had crossed the Mason-Dixon line. I told the conductor, "You're a liar! I get off at the next station and the Mason-Dixon line doesn't start until a number of miles after you have passed my station. I'm staying right here until then." I did. As punishment when I was growing up, my folks used switches or straps the old-fashioned way. if you said something before the switch got you, something might be thrown at you. We live on Gray Boulevard. The people who are homeowners take pride in their homes and look after your home when you are away. BOOKER BLACKWELL, SR.
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