www.theaustinvillager.com
Page 2 ~ February 6, 2015/THE VILLAGER
THE COMMUNIQUÉ
Top Lady Legend is a 9-time
Grammy-winning
of the
Year for Singer & Songwriter
2014-15
First African-American to Win NASCAR Premier
Series Race Joins Bill Elliott, Fred Lorenzen, Joe
Weatherly and Rex White in Sixth Induction Class
continued from page 1
Gonna Miss You” from “Glen Campbell...I’ll Be Me”
and “Lost Stars” from “Begin Again.”
Common won a Grammy® in 2002 for Best R&B
Song for “Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop),” and in
2007 for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for
“Southside,” with Kanye West. His many acting credits
include the films “American Gangster,” “Wanted,” “Date
Night” and “Selma,” in which he plays the role of Civil
Rights leader James Bevel.
Legend is a nine time Grammy-winning singer/
songwriter. His critically acclaimed debut album, “Get
Lifted,”scored multiple Grammy Awards in 2006, includConnie P. Williams
ing Best R&B Album, Best New Artist and Best Male
Photo credit: Dr. General Marshall
R&B Vocal Performance. The follow up was the platiAUSTIN, TX - The num-selling “Once Again,” which garnered a Best Male
Capital City Chapter of Top R&B Performance nod. Legend’s most recent highly
Ladies of Distinction, Inc. acclaimed fourth studio album, “Love in the Future,”
(TLOD) elected Connie scored two Grammy nominations and features his break
Pendergrass Williams as out hit, “All of Me,” which is his highest selling and
Top Lady of the Year for charting song to date and also earned a 2015 Grammy
2014-2015. Lady Williams Award nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance.
The 87th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February
received this distinguished
honor because of her com- 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highmitment and service to land Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live
on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
the organization.
Dr. Williams was in- The Oscars, produced by Zadan and Meron, also will
ducted into the Austin, be televised live in more than 225 countries and terriTexas Capital City Chapter tories worldwide.
of TLOD in 2007. She has
served in various committee pant in the Austin commu- ity, Austin Alumnae Chappositions and with National nity, she serves as a Board ter. She and her husband,
Projects. She has been member of the Austin Re- Jerry L. Williams, are also
elected to serve as Second vitalization Authority committed members of
Vice President and is cur- (ARA); President of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in
rently serving as First Vice Austin Area Chapter of Austin where she is a
President of Capital City Texas Association of Black Greeter and he is a DeaChapter. She is an effective Personnel in Higher Edu- con. They are the parents
contributor at the Area and cation (TABPHE); and a of three adult sons and the
National conferences.
Golden Life Member of grandparents of four.
As an active partici- Delta Sigma Theta SororDr. Williams’ educa-
continued from page 1
who accepted induction on his behalf. “Daddy
was a man of great honor.
He didn’t let his circumstances define who he
was.
“Daddy realized that
life has a generational
component and he pre-
dicted a lot of what is happening. He would be delighted and happy that
there is evidence of more
opportunities for diversity
and inclusion.”
Franklin concluded
his speech with a quote
from Martin Luther King Jr.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where
he stands in moments of
comfort and convenience,
but where he stands at
times of challenge and
controversy,” he said.
“Wendell O. Scott, Sr. stood
the test of time.”
tional path has included a
Bachelor of Arts Degree
from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North
Carolina and Master of
Science in Education and
Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Jackson State
University in Jackson, Mis-
sissippi. She has provided
service to students at preschool through post-secondary levels throughout
most of her career and she
continues that service
now at Austin Community
College.
Capital City Chapter
proudly salutes Dr. Connie
Pendergrass Williams on
her dedication and commitment to TLOD and the
community and wishers
her success at the Area
One Conference in Houston, Texas on February 27
– March 1, 2015.
How
Dick
Gregory
Got his
Hollywood
Star
By George E. Curry
NNPA Columnist
Civil Rights activist and
comedian Dick Gregory in
2010. Photo courtesy of Rep.
Keith Ellison, via Flickr.
Activist/ SiriusXm satellite radio host Joe
Madison was helping on a campaign to get the
Four Tops a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
when he noticed another serious omission from
the world-famous tribute to entertainers.
“You go to Hollywood and Gene Autry had
five (one in each category). Big Bird had a star.
When we did our campaign to get the Four Tops a
star, I said, ‘My God, Dick Gregory doesn’t have a
star.” In 1997, seven years after getting inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Four Tops,
– whose 1960s hits included such songs as “Baby I
Need Your Loving,” “Ask the Lonely,” “I Can’t
Help Myself” and “It’s the Same Old Song” – finally were awarded a star.
But Madison couldn’t get over the fact that
Dick Gregory, the first Black comedian to earn more
than $1 million a year yet gave up his career to
actively support Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), hadn’t been recognized with a star on
the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“You can walk down there and not see Dick
Gregory, but you’ll see Eddie Murphy, Richard
Pryor and Whoppi Goldberg,” Madison said. “ I
don’t know of any entertainer from the era who
sacrificed more than Dick Gregory.”
About 10 years ago, he set out to change that.
“The first time we tried it, we filled out a very
See Before Gregory could receive his honor, page 7