Mayor Davis declares Jan. 14 Roscoe Williams Day at Martin Luther King tri-college celebration
By Rakiyah Lenon | Co-editor in chief
Augusta University, Augusta Technical College and Paine College joined to host an annual event commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. in the Maxwell Theatre on Friday, Jan. 14. Roscoe Williams, the first Black professional hired by Augusta College, was the keynote speaker.
Representatives from the three colleges including Paine College president Cheryl Evans Jones, Augusta Technical College president Jermaine Whirl and Augusta University’s president Brooks Keel spoke at the event.
“Today’s celebration is about unity,” said Keel.
Mayor Hardie Davis and members of the Augusta commission were in attendance as Mayor Davis announced that Jan. 14 will be known as Roscoe Williams Day in Augusta.
“Our keynote speaker is a renaissance man,” said Davis.
Williams was hired by Augusta College in 1970 and spent 27 years with the university. While at the university, he was advisor to the Black Student Union and an Instructor of Photography. The Jaguar Student Activities Center ballroom was recently named the Dr. Roscoe Williams Ballroom on Nov. 4, 2021.
At the event, Williams spoke about what working with both Augusta and Paine meant to him.
“I don’t take for granted the opportunity to have worked with two universities,” he said. “It’s a blessing to do that in fact in your hometown. I don’t take that lightly at all.”
Williams spoke of the late civil rights leader King and the significance of his work. Williams reflected on his opportunity to meet with King and described the person he was.
“Humility is strength. Dr. King was one of the most humble men I met in my life,” he said. “He realized it was important to educate himself.”
Speaking of King’s life, Williams said, “He had the satisfaction of serving others.”
Those who could not attend in-person were able to view the event virtually. Recordings of live-streams events are made available at the following website: https://www.augusta.edu/stream/ .
At top of page, Williams, (center) poses for a photo with Mr. and Ms. Paine College, (left) and Ms. and Mr. Augusta University, Chelsea Paulding and Zyare Orr (right). See other photos from the event below. (photos by Rakiyah Lenon)
Contact Rakiyah Lenon at rlenon@augusta.edu.
