DR. ALMA W. BYRD

Dr. Alma Weaver Byrd was born in Aiken, South Carolina, a daughter of the late Frank Ernest Weaver and Annie Lou Spann Weaver. Her parents believed strongly in education. They encouraged her to do her best and she did. She graduated from Martha Schofield High School in Aiken and received an A.B. degree from Benedict College in Columbia, graduating cum laude with a double major in French and English. She went on to earn her M.A. degree from Columbia University in New York. She was awarded a Certificat d’Etudes Francaise from the Sorbonne in Paris, France, and a Certificat d’Etudes Francaise from the Universite’ de Poitiers in La Rochelle, France. She also earned a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina.

Dr. Byrd has taught at the elementary and secondary levels, as well as in several adult education programs in South Carolina. She has served as an assistant principal, adjunct professor at Allen University in Columbia and at Voorhees College in Denmark, SC. She is married to a fellow educator, Wallace Byrd.

Dr. Byrd has a long, distinguished record of service to her community. She believes the two most important assets a person must have are a healthy spiritual mind and a healthy body. Her beliefs have guided her actions in private and public life. She is a founding member of the James R. Clark Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, the United Black Fund and the South Carolina Osteoporosis Coalition. In addition, she has devoted much time to various heart fund campaigns and to promoting the establishment of the cancer center at Palmetto Richland Hospital.

The extension of Dr. Byrd’s love for knowledge is expressed through her involvement in the community. She is a member of St. John Baptist Church in Columbia, where she served as a Sunday School teacher. Her missionary practices span local, state and national church bodies as well as prisons. Her missionary duties have allowed her to travel extensively in Europe and western Africa. She served as an interpreter in the Second African Summit in Libreville, Gabon, in 1993.

Dr. Byrd is a member of many professional, civic and social organizations, including Phi Sigma Iota International Honor Society, Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Chi Honor Society, American Association of University Women, National Association of University Women, League of Women Voters, S.C. Federation of Women and Girls Clubs, Toastmasters International and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. During the 1970s, Dr. Byrd was instrumental in coordinating and organizing the Columbia Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Inc. and the Benedict-Byrd Section.

In 1978, after collaborating with the chairman, Mr. Wallace Brown, of the Basic Skills Commission, they began the concept to facilitate Minority Access for Teacher Education (MATE) program at Benedict College.

From 1980 to 1991, Dr. Byrd was a member of the Richland One Board of School Commissioners, serving as board chairwoman, vice chairwoman and secretary during her tenure. After her school board service, Dr. Byrd successfully ran for the S.C. House of Representatives and went on to represent Richland County House District 74 from 1991 to 1999.

Dr. Byrd’s many honors and awards include: the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest honor (1983); BellSouth African-American History Calendar honoree (1990); and Legislator of the Year Award from the S.C. Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (1994); Hall of Fame for United Black Fund; South Carolina Woman of Achievement (1999); AWB Community Foundation, a non-profit organization which has been reactivated. In addition to her many written documents and writings, her most recent accomplishment is the publication of her book called The First Generation Reception of the Novels of Emile Zola in Britain and America: An Annotated Bibliography of English Language Response to His Work 1877-1902.

 

THE HONORABLE ROBERT D. COBLE

Robert D. "Bob" Coble is a product of Richland One schools. He attended Schneider Elementary School and Hand Junior High School (now Hand Middle School) and graduated from Dreher High School in 1971. He went on to attend the University of South Carolina, where he graduated cum laude in 1975. He also graduated cum laude from the USC School of Law in 1978. He is a partner in the law firm of Nexsen Pruet.

Affectionately known as "Mayor Bob" Coble was first elected as the City of Columbia’s municipal leader in 1990. His first elected position was on Richland County Council. He served on County Council from 1985 to 1988.

Coble has successfully led Columbia’s growth for over 17 years as mayor - an impressive feat in today’s politically charged environment. This is a tribute to his vision for a brighter future and his tenacity for positive change. Early on, he embraced the concept of the "knowledge economy" with open arms and has shown a steadfast dedication to creating a shared vision for Columbia’s economic future. Along with USC President Andrew Sorensen, Coble chairs EngenuitySC. His leadership fostered the growth of Columbia’s knowledge economy and created a dynamic and thriving moment, leading the city well into the 21st century

Neighborhood empowerment, economic development and technological advancement remain at the forefront for Coble. He also is heavily involved in community commitments, serving on many boards and commissions and volunteering his time in various ways to the citizens of Columbia. He started the City of Columbia’s Lunch Buddy program and was a lunch buddy in Richland One for 12 years. He and his wife, Beth, founded the First Ladies Walk for Life in collaboration with Palmetto Health Alliance to help raise funds for breast cancer research. He chairs the Mayor’s Campaign Against Breast Cancer and also started the Mayor’s Corporate Citizen of the Year Award 16 years ago to recognize a company each year that has made a significant contribution to the community for our nonprofits and that encourages volunteerism in their employees.

Coble has served as the president of the Municipal Association of South Carolina and chairman of the Fighting Back Task Force for Alcohol and Drug Abuse. He was instrumental in creating the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and has been the fund-raising chairman for the United Negro College Fund. He also is a former member of the advisory board for the Medical University of South Carolina, the Council on Aging, the South Carolina Special Olympics and the Bethlehem Community Center. He is currently a board member with the River Alliance and the Central Carolina Economic Development Alliance. The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce named the mayor its 2004 Ambassador of the Year.

He is married to the former Beth McLeod and they are the proud parents of six children, all of whom attended Richland One schools. They are members of Trenholm Road Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday school and was a Boy Scout leader for a number of years.

Coble has been a champion of public education since the day he took office and has supported the strengthening of our education system throughout his term. His popularity as mayor reflects his rare ability to build consensus within the diverse socioeconomic, cultural and political citizenry that now thrives in our city and schools.

 

THE LATE CHARLES H. DICKERSON

Charles H. "Charlie" Dickerson graduated from Dreher High School in Richland One and went on to attend Palmer Junior College. He worked for 39 years at The R.L. Bryan Company in capacities that included vice president, president, chairman and chief executive officer.

Dickerson had a vision for business and passion for his community. By all accounts, he always put values before economics. A true humanitarian, Dickerson took his civic responsibilities to heart and was a role model for young business leaders, teaching them the importance of community involvement.

His eyes always sparkled, but they were at their brightest when he talked about South Carolina’s children. While his affiliations and associations were broad, public education was dear to his heart and he recognized the critical role that teachers play in the education process.

Dickerson’s involvement in the State Teacher of the Year Program spanned the length of his tenure at The R.L. Bryan Company. Several years ago, he established the Palmetto Horizon Foundation, the private group formed to fund the annual State Teacher of the Year awards banquet and to honor some of the state’s brightest educators.

His personal qualities reflect the values of good character that Richland One seeks to promote in its students - respect, fairness, kindness, cooperation, honesty, dependability, responsibility, good citizenship, caring and self-discipline.

A devoted husband, father and church leader, Dickerson distinguished himself at the local and state levels. His professional experiences included serving on the Benedict College Board of Trustees, Columbia Urban League Board, Palmetto Health Board of Trustees, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Capital Senior Center Board, Columbia Rotary Club, Boy Scouts of America Indian Waters Council and as president of University Associates at the University of South Carolina and Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital Board of Directors. He also was a former vice president of the Columbia Jaycees, a member of Richland One’s Partners In Education Foundation Board and the Midlands Technical College Foundation Board, a past president of the Cultural Council of Lexington and Richland Counties and a past chairman of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

He received many honors and awards for his community service, including the Palmetto Patriot Award; Silver Beaver Award for Distinguished Service to Youth; Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award (Boy Scouts of America); Partner in Education Award and Excellence in Education Award, both from the S.C. Department of Education; National Junior Achievement Bronze Leadership Award; and the Spirit of Junior Achievement Award. He also served as honorary chairman of the Heart Ball and March of Dimes WalkAmerica.

Charlie Dickerson’s contributions to South Carolina are a testament to his desire to leave the world better than he found it. While his untimely passing in December 2006 has left a tremendous void in the Columbia community and in our state, his impact will be felt for many years to come.

He is survived by his wife, Anne "Sissy" Dickerson; a daughter, Kimberly Dickerson Leighton, her husband, John Michael Leighton, of Columbia; a daughter, Darby Dickerson and her husband, Mike Capozzi, of St. Petersburg, Fla.; a son, Todd Dickerson of Dallas, Texas; and a grandson, Charles Montague Leighton of Columbia.

 

THE HONORABLE KAY PATTERSON

Kay Patterson was born January 11, 1931 in Darlington County, the son of James and Leila Patterson, and was reared in Darlington and Sumter counties by his grandmothers, Mrs. Meta B. Patterson and Mrs. Emma Joseph. He graduated from Lincoln High in Sumter in 1949.
Senator Patterson attended Claflin College (now Claflin University) in Orangeburg from 1949-1951. After he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951-1953 as a buck sergeant, he completed requirements for the baccalaureate degree in social sciences at Allen University in 1956. He pursued additional education at Temple University and attended an NDEA (National Defense Education Act) Institute in Black History at Atlanta University in 1963. He received a master’s degree in education from South Carolina State College (now South Carolina State University) in 1971. He also was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from S.C. State in 2000 and an honorary doctor of public service degree from USC in 2005.

He taught social studies for 14 years (1956-1970) at W.A. Perry Middle School in Richland One. He also taught at C.A. Johnson High School (now C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy) and at Benedict College. He served for 16 years (1970-1986) as a UniServ representative for the South Carolina Education Association (SCEA), from which he retired in June 1986.

After serving for 11 years in the S.C. House of Representatives (1975-1985), Patterson was elected to the Senate in 1985, representing Richland County Senate District 19. He also has served as chairman of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus during his tenure. He currently serves on the following Senate committees: Banking and Insurance, Corrections and Penology, Education, Finance and Invitations. He also serves as the chairman of the Richland County Legislative Delegation. In January 1983, he was elected by the S.C. House Education Committee to serve on the University of South Carolina Trustee Board, the first African-American to serve on the Board since Reconstruction. He is a former member of the Education Commission of the States and Southeastern Regional Education Board and served as a commissioner for the S.C. Department of Highways and Public Transportation.

Senator Patterson is active in many civic and community organizations which include the North Columbia Civic Club and life membership in the NAACP. While a student at Claflin, he joined the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Edisto Lodge No. 39 Prince Hall Masons. His many honors and awards include having been featured on the 2003 BellSouth African-American History Calendar. He is a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where he has served as Senior Warden of the Vestry, Secretary and Treasurer of the Vestry.

Senator Patterson has often been one of the few, and sometimes the only one, to speak about human and civil rights in South Carolina and the nation. As an outspoken and fiery speaker in his practice of politics, he has been a moving force in promoting and effectuating change in the state of South Carolina, championing the cause of the poor and downtrodden.
As the history of South Carolina is recorded, Senator Kay Patterson will be one that students will learn about for years and years to come.

Senator Patterson is married to Jean James of Pinewood, S.C., and has two children, Eric (deceased) and Pamela; and three grandchildren, Eric Jr., Ashley and Courtland.