Historical Society to Present Local Black History Program
November 09, 2008 Filed in: History
On Wednesday, November 12, 2008, at 7:30 PM, in the
Mackay Room of the Englewood Public Library, the
Englewood Historical Society is presenting a program
by retired Englewood teacher, Thomas E. Monroe,
entitled Steal Away, Steal Away: Englewood’s Rich
Black History As Seen Through the Eyes of Thomas E.
Monroe and Longtime Englewood Residents. Between
2004 and 2006, Monroe interviewed 30 longtime
residents of Englewood’s Fourth Ward, ranging in age
from 53 to 95, to get their reminiscences about life
in Englewood.
He will discuss the following topics involving Blacks in Englewood during the program: the first Blacks in Englewood; churches; an interview with Ms. Edna Dobbins Floyd, then 86; education and schools; early students (1921-1953); Black educators (teachers, principals, and board members); Black police officers and firefighters; funeral homes; Henry P. Douglas American Legion Post; The Memorial House; Shiloh Lodge No. 53; Black businesses in the Fourth Ward; accomplished Blacks who went through the Englewood school system; famous athletes, such as basketball stars Sherman White and Bill Willoughby and Dallas Cowboys defensive end Tony Tolbert; and MacKay Park basketball legends. Also, MacKay Park and the garden tea parties; Black "hot spots"; musicians, actors and actresses; The Johnson family - - all college graduates; The Great Fires in 1967; the Black community’s many voices, including the Rev. Isaiah P. Goodman; community actors; and stories involving Eddie Jones, Dr. Fletcher Johnson, Grady Joe Echoes, Tommie Smith, Dr. Willoughby, and Dr. Leroy McCloud.
Monroe, who spent 31 years in the Englewood Public School System and is a former football, basketball, and track coach, is a counselor at Englewood’s drop-in youth services program, The Zone, coaching, tutoring and leading field trips. Monroe played on Englewood’s State Championship football (1959) and basketball (1960) teams, and also played basketball and ran track at Norfolk State.
He will discuss the following topics involving Blacks in Englewood during the program: the first Blacks in Englewood; churches; an interview with Ms. Edna Dobbins Floyd, then 86; education and schools; early students (1921-1953); Black educators (teachers, principals, and board members); Black police officers and firefighters; funeral homes; Henry P. Douglas American Legion Post; The Memorial House; Shiloh Lodge No. 53; Black businesses in the Fourth Ward; accomplished Blacks who went through the Englewood school system; famous athletes, such as basketball stars Sherman White and Bill Willoughby and Dallas Cowboys defensive end Tony Tolbert; and MacKay Park basketball legends. Also, MacKay Park and the garden tea parties; Black "hot spots"; musicians, actors and actresses; The Johnson family - - all college graduates; The Great Fires in 1967; the Black community’s many voices, including the Rev. Isaiah P. Goodman; community actors; and stories involving Eddie Jones, Dr. Fletcher Johnson, Grady Joe Echoes, Tommie Smith, Dr. Willoughby, and Dr. Leroy McCloud.
Monroe, who spent 31 years in the Englewood Public School System and is a former football, basketball, and track coach, is a counselor at Englewood’s drop-in youth services program, The Zone, coaching, tutoring and leading field trips. Monroe played on Englewood’s State Championship football (1959) and basketball (1960) teams, and also played basketball and ran track at Norfolk State.
