The late Ulysses R. Barber

Ulysses R. Barber found desire and motivation in a one-room ABC school to become one of the Lower Richland community’s most influential educators. As the son of a preacher and school teacher, Ulysses Barber had the value of education instilled in him at an early age. In 1926, the Barber family arranged for Ulysses to stay with an aunt in Columbia so he could attend Booker T. Washington, the only public high school during that time for African-American children. After dropping out for several years during The Depression, Barber returned to graduate in 1933.

In 1935, Barber enrolled in classes at Allen University, where he excelled in academics and sports and became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. In 1939, he received his bachelor of science degree from Allen and started his teaching career at Waverley School in Columbia.

In 1940, Barber returned to Hopkins to replace his father as teacher and principal of Hopkins School. In the following years, Ulysses Barber organized and coached the first boys and girls basketball teams at Hopkins High School, where he became principal in 1953. He also led the construction of the Hopkins Health Clinic in 1944.

Ulysses Barber received his master’s of science degree in education from South Carolina State College in 1958. He returned to his hometown area to teach at Gadsden Elementary School and dedicated the remainder of his career and life to the students, teachers and community.

In 1970, Barber received a citation for 35 years of service as a 4-H Club leader. In 1972, he received a Human Relations Award from the Richland County Education Association, was honored as Gadsden Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year and Richland One Teacher of the Year. In 1973, "Professor Barber" as he was lovingly referred, earned the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award from the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and was nominated for State Teacher of the Year.

Barber retired from Richland County School District One in 1978 after 40 years of experience as principal and teacher. He continued to be an active member in the community and was honored with the Hopkins Citizen for a Better Community Award in 1985 for his volunteer work. In 1990, Barber earned the Outstanding Older Citizen of Richland County Award from the Council on Aging of the Midlands.

Ulysses Barber was married to Ann Portee of Gadsden, and they had four daughters who are all successful in various careers in education and social work.

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Reubin B. Bookert

Reubin B. Bookert’s successful career can be traced back to the education provided by Richland County School District One. After graduating from C.A. Johnson High School in 1968, Bookert continued his education at North Carolina A&T State University, where he majored in electrical engineering and graduated in 1973.

Bookert faced the normal challenges of starting a career. However, he was determined to make every bit of his effort count. He chose to follow a dream that once seemed out of reach - to become an officer in the Navy. In 1974, Reubin Bookert entered the officer’s candidate program where every facet of his body, mind and spirit were tested. He prevailed and was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy in February of 1975.

Bookert reported to his first fleet assignment in March of 1976 as Communications Officer on the USS Truett. Subsequent sea tours include the staff of Commander Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Four as Communications Officer; Weapons Officer on the USS Joseph Hewes; Operations Officer on the USS Lamoure County; and Executive Officer on the USS Blakely. His command-at-sea tours include: USS Lamoure County and the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge.

In July 1995, Bookert assumed duties as Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Personnel and Director, Professional Relationship Division, in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. He has also been Director of Navy Diversity Programs and Professional Development for the entire United States Navy. Bookert was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in 2002. He made history as one of only 28 African-American admirals in the 229-year history of the U.S. Navy.

He retired in March of 2006 as Commander of Amphibious Group Two in Norfolk, Va. His primary responsibilities were training, planning and preparation of Navy forces for real-world and contingency operations and command of the Amphibious Force on the East Coast. His command included 18 warships, 38 shore commands and 15,000 sailors and Marines. He has been awarded numerous decorations including three Legion of Merit Medals, The Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal and several other awards and decorations. His last significant accomplishment before retirement was to serve as the Commander of Maritime Forces for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort in New Orleans.

While in the Navy, Bookert continued his education and graduated from the United States Naval War College with an M.A. in Strategic Studies and Political Affairs. He also holds an M.S. in Management from Salve Regina University, Newport, RI.

He serves on the Board of Directors for the Tidewater Area Urban League and has focused his efforts on giving back to the community in hopes of providing the same foundation of quality education he received in Richland One at C.A. Johnson High School.

Bookert and his wife Marvis - a Columbia native and graduate of Eau Claire High in Richland One - have two sons, Brian and Russell. Bookert is currently employed as Vice President, Business Development at Gap Solutions in Reston, VA.

 

George E. Glymph

George E. Glymph proved at an early age that he was serious about his education. He attended Waverley Elementary School, where he had perfect attendance from grades four through 12. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1961, ranked second in his class.

Glymph continued his education at Benedict College where he graduated in 1965 with honors and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. He later returned to school at the University of South Carolina and earned his Master of Education degree with an emphasis in mathematics, again with honors.

Although George Glymph did not participate in varsity sports in college, he became an astute student of the game of basketball while playing with amateur teams in Columbia. The influence of basketball made him more than a math teacher at Eau Claire High School – he became known as one of South Carolina’s legendary coaches.

He was named “Coach of the Year” 25 times in basketball, track and field, and cross-country. His basketball teams at Eau Claire boasted an impressive record of wins and five state championships between 1974 and 1996. During the 1986-87 school year, Eau Claire became the first team from South Carolina to win the Beach Ball Classic. Glymph was voted #1 in the 1989-90 Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 Basketball Poll.

He received many other numerous awards for his coaching abilities but was best known for being a role model to his students. He set high standards for everyone and insisted that his players earned a "C" average or better to remain on his team. Despite his demanding schedule, Coach Glymph left his classroom doors open after school Monday through Thursday for math tutoring.

Glymph sent numerous players to play on the collegiate and professional basketball levels, including Jermaine O’Neal. In 1997, Glymph left Eau Claire to spend a year with the Portland Trailblazers as Director of Player Development. When O’Neal was traded from Portland to the Indiana Pacers, Glymph was hired to serve there as Director of Player Development. He is currently Director of Pro Player Development and Assistant Coach for the New York Knicks.

Some of Glymph’s many honors and awards include induction into the S.C. Black Hall of Fame in 1995; being selected as an Olympic Torch bearer in the 1996 Summer Olympics; induction into the S.C. Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998; being honored with the George Glymph Room in the Colonial Center in 2001; and induction into the Benedict College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.

Glymph and his wife of more than 40 years, Betty, have two children and six grandchildren and still reside in Columbia.

Dr. Linda L. Kershaw

Linda Kershaw has spent much of her professional career giving back to the schools that helped cultivate her talents as a musician. The C.A. Johnson High School graduate has traveled the world but still considers Columbia her home. Her resume boasts an impressive education and work background that begins with graduating from C.A. Johnson as valedictorian.

Kershaw earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of South Carolina in 1998 and was a student of Dr. Larry D. Wyatt. In 1974, she earned a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1971, Cum Laude, Honor Recitalist, Highest Honors in Music.

As a student and early in her career, Kershaw was involved in activities and organizations such as: associate conductor/vocal coach/accompanist for the Academy Boys Choir in Philadelphia; keyboardist for Carolina Alive Show Choir of USC; vocal coach for Miss America Suzette Charles; theory and harmony tutor for the jazz trio Pieces of a Dream; musical director of "RAGTIME - THE MUSICAL" produced by Workshop Theatre; and touring with the USC Concert Choir, featuring as contralto soloist in Innsbruck, Austria and as conductor in Munich, Germany.

Additionally, Kershaw has been associated with societies such as Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society; American Choral Directors Association; The College Music Society; Intercollegiate Music Association, for which she served as president; Sigma Alpha Iota Professional Music Fraternity; and Delta Sigma Theta Public Service Sorority, Inc.

Kershaw is conductor of the Benedict College Concert Choir and Immediate Past Chair of the Department of Fine Arts at Benedict. She is especially fond of working with children. Some of her experiences with Richland One students include facilitating the collaboration with C.A. Johnson string students to participate in the Benedict College Community Orchestra; acting as clinician and conductor of Richland One Middle School Honors Chorus (2005) and of the S.C. Music Association’s High School Music Honors Chorus (2006); and conductor and artistic director for each annual Yuletide Concert at Benedict College since 1990.

Kershaw is co-founder of the Southeastern African-American Collegiate Music Festival. She was the recipient of both the Benedict College Distinguished Professor and Distinguished Honors Faculty Member awards for 2000-2001. She was appointed by the Columbia City Council to Mayor of Columbia’s Art Task Force in February 2002 and, in 2005, she was appointed to the Board of Columbia City Ballet Company.

Her dedication goes beyond music and education to community service. Kershaw earned the NAACP Award for community service to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday observance, Retired Veterans Award for community service and the Diamond Award for community service from the YWCA of the Midlands in May 2003. She remains a dedicated volunteer at her church, Second Calvary Baptist. Her role model is her mother, Mrs. Wilhelmina M. Kershaw, retired educator and administrator of Richland One’s C.A. Johnson High School.