On March 24, 2017 I stood on a stone outside of the Lincoln Memorial that identified the very place where Martin Luther King, Jr. had stood on August 28, 1963 when making his famous “I Have A Dream” speech.
I stood there trying to imagine what that must have been like for the 250,000 or so people who were there that day. Each one had a story. Each one had challenges, frustrations, and dreams of their own.
But, there or not, many people were inspired to dream – and still are being inspired to this day. Dr. King’s words were timeless.
At WVWC, there have been many people inspired to dream and to help others to make their dreams a reality. In no way is this a full list, but merely a few examples to celebrate Martin Luther King’s vision and influence. The list would be extremely long even if it were possible to document the influence of Dr. King on each of these persons.
Robert Hunt, who was blind, taught history from 1959-1989. Students were often amazed to find that Dr. Hunt was an avid and talented bowler! He never let his blindness define who he was, and took students to Selma in 1965 for the March. One of the students wrote his thoughts about this trip. These young men from a small school in West Virginia were actively involved as volunteers. Dr. Hunt may not have had his sight, but he had the vision to take these students to volunteer at this important march.
Alfred Leon Moye, a junior, was elected Community Council President in 1959. He also ran track, sang in the choirs, acted in plays, sang in a quartet called the Chordials, and all this while being the top chemistry student at the school multiple years. At a time even before the Civil Rights Marches were being held, he managed to rise to the top. He has excelled in many areas of leadership throughout his life, including serving on the board of trustees for his Alma Mater from 1988-2013.
Lastly, I would like to mention a young sociology student from Ohio State University who rode the midnight bus from Columbus to Washington, D.C. to be present for the “I Have a Dream” speech in August of 1963.
Reginald Olson went on to become a United Methodist minister, professor of Sociology and Social Work at West Virginia Wesleyan, and a passionate worker for peace and justice. He taught at the college from 1979-1988, and during that time established the West Virginia Wesleyan College Peace Award which he personally presented to the first four recipients:
- 1985 (April 13) Senator Jennings Randolph for his work to establish the United States Institute of Peace
- 1985 (November 11) Jimmy Carter for the Camp David Peace Accords
- 1987 (November 10) Retired Admiral Eugene Carroll, Jr. of the Center for Defense Information
- 1988 (May 13) United Methodist Council of Bishops for their letter, “In Defense of Creation: The Nuclear Crisis and a Just Peace.”
Reginald and his wife, Barbara, were activists, pushing for openness and reform within the United Methodist Church and worked to change the church’s official policy that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. They advocated for a fully inclusive and loving church for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities at four international General Conferences between 2000 and 2012.
Peace. Honor. Respect. Justice.
Dr. King’s words were, indeed, timeless. We need to know them, study them, and remember them today. We need to keep marching.