'Gallery Of Greats' Calendar Recognizes Contributions Of Black Publishers

OBSERVER STAFF REPORT

Miller Brewing Company's 2002 edition of the "Gallery of Greats" calendar series was unveiled this week in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. at the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) mid-winter meeting.

For the past 19 years, Miller has presented the "Gallery of Greats" collection to highlight the accomplishments of the nation's most prominent African Americans in a variety of fields including educators, entrepreneurs, politicians, authors, athletes, musicians and filmmakers.

Partnering with the NNPA to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Black Press, this year's collection, entitled "Power in the Press: Black Publishers Righting History," pays tribute to the pioneering publishers of African American newspapers.

Honoring for this year's calendar include the following:

• Robert S. Abbott - Founder of "The Chicago Defender"
  
• Cheryl and Hardy Brown - "The Black Voice News"
  
• Carl J. Murphy - "The Afro-American"
  
• William Alexander Scott II - Founder of the first successful African American daily in the nation
  
• Plummer Bernard Young Sr. - Publisher of the "Norfolk Journal and Guide"
  
• Ida B. Wells-Barnett - Anti-lynching crusader and editor of the "Memphis Free Speech and Headlight"
  
• Samuel E. Cornish - Co-publisher of "Freedom's Journal"
  
• John B. Russwurm - Founder of "Freedom's Journal"
  
• John H. H. Sengstacke - Second publisher of the "Chicago Defender"
  
• Charlotta Spears Bass - Publisher of the "California Eagle"
  
• Frederick Douglass - Publisher of the "North Star"
  
• Cornelius Adolphus Scott - Publisher of "The Atlanta Daily World"
  
• Robert L. Vann - Publisher of the "Pittsburgh Courier"

The 2002 collection again features the work of Dell G. Godbold, the artist whose original concept led to the creation of the first "Gallery of Greats" collection sponsored by Miller Brewing Company.

"In partnership with the NNPA, Miller is pleased to present the 2002 edition of the 'Gallery of Greats' collection," said John D. Bowlin, President and CEO of Miller Brewing Company.

"Recognizing and paying tribute to these pioneering publishers during the 175th anniversary of the Black Press is fitting," he added.

Tina Walls, Vice President for Corporate Affairs who attended the unveiling reflected, "These are the men and women who were responsible for telling the facts and truths about our community and our people. They produced newspapers of record for the African American community and raised the day's momentous issues. Their voice then informed, illuminated and influenced audiences in both the African American community and the public at large."

This year, the calendar program will be augmented by the introduction of a "Gallery of Greats" Web site.

"With the corresponding launch of the "Gallery of Greats" Web site, it is our goal to inform and educate the general public about African American history makers," said Virgis Colbert, Executive Vice President at Miller Brewing Company and Chairman of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.

"We have broadened the reach for the calendar and made it more hands-on, interactive and dynamic. We hope this learning tool provides all users with a deep appreciation of a past that has so shaped our present and will undoubtedly influence our future," Colbert added.

"We are extremely grateful for the tremendous level of support that TMSF has received from Miller Brewing Company and Chairman of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.

The address for the Web site is http://www.GalleryofGreats.com. It can also be downloaded from the Miller Brewing Company Web site at http://www.MillerBrewing.com and the NNPA Web site at http://www.nnpa.org.

T-shirts commemorating this year's honorees can be purchased for $11.75. With a purchase of a T-shirt, customers are also sent a calendar.

A portion of the proceeds benefits the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, the only national organization of its kind that awards four-year merit scholarships and capacity building support to students attending historically Black public colleges and universities.