Morehouse College 2026 Candle in the Dark Gala Program
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An evening supporting student scholarships while honoring Morehouse College’s 159-year legacy and the inauguration of its 13th President F. DuBois Bowman ’92, Ph.D.
February 14, 2026
PRESENTED BY
CELEBRATING THE 159 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF MOREHOUSE COLLEGE & THE 2026 BENNIE AND CANDLE AWARD HONOREES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2026 7:30 P.M.
DONATE NOW! & INAUGURAL BALL
Joseph T. RobeRT 1871–1884
Founders & Presidents
FOUNDER
William Jefferson White
ASSOCIATE FOUNDERS
Richard C. Coulter & Edmund Turney
PRESIDENTS OF MOREHOUSE COLLEGE
saMuel gRaves 1885–1890
benJaMin e. Mays 1940–1967
RobeRT M. FRanKlin ’75 2007–2012
geoRge sale 1890–1906
hugh M. glosTeR ’31 1967–1987
John s. Wilson JR. ’79 2013–2017
John hope 1906–1931
leRoy KeiTh JR. ’61 1987–1994
saMuel h. aRcheR 1931–1937
WalTeR e. Massey ’58 1995–2007
DaviD a. ThoMas, hon. ’25 2018–2025 F. Dubois boWMan ’92 2025–Present
HELD THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT WITH THE TITLE “ACTING” OR “INTERIM”
David Foster Estes 1884–1885
John Hope 1906
Charles D. Hubert ’1909 1937–1940
Wiley A. Perdue ’57 1994–1995
Willis B. Sheftall Jr. ’64 2013
William James Taggart 2017
Michael E. Hodge 2017
Harold L. Martin Jr. ’02 2017
F. DuBois Bowman ’92, Ph.D.
F. DuBois Bowman, Ph.D., is the 13th President of Morehouse College, a role that marks a full-circle return to his alma mater. A nationally respected biostatistician and academic leader, Dr. Bowman has had a distinguished career at the intersection of scholarship, leadership, and public service. He brings decades of experience advancing research excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and institutional transformation.
A proud 1992 magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse College, Dr. Bowman earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics before completing his master’s in biostatistics at the University of Michigan, and his doctorate in biostatistics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His career reflects a sustained commitment to mentoring the next generation of scholars and expanding diversity in the sciences. He leverages large-scale data to advance human health and social good.
As President of Morehouse College, Dr. Bowman leads with the conviction that excellence, equity, and service are inseparable, believing that institutions grounded in purpose can shape a more just and healthier world.
Prior to his presidency, Dr. Bowman served as dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, from 2018 to 2025. He also held the Roderick J. Little Collegiate Professorship of Biostatistics. As dean, he led one of the nation’s top public health schools through significant growth and global impact, elevating its ranking to No. 2 nationally at the time of his departure. He expanded research infrastructure and launched an equity-centered interdisciplinary initiative to create healthy cities, prevent firearm injuries, and combat infectious diseases. Dr. Bowman further contributed to university-wide priorities in data science, precision health, and sustainability. He also strengthened the faculty, grew student enrollment, and launched innovative academic programs. His leadership emphasized public health as both a scientific enterprise and a moral imperative.
Before joining the University of Michigan, Dr. Bowman held senior academic leadership roles at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. He served as chair of the Department of Biostatistics and as the Cynthia and Robert Citrone–Roslyn and Leslie Goldstein Professor. Earlier, he spent 13 years at Emory University. There, he was a tenured professor, founding director of the Center for Biomedical Imaging Statistics, and a key contributor to interdisciplinary neuroscience and data science initiatives.
Dr. Bowman’s scholarly research has earned him international recognition, focusing on statistical methods for complex biomedical and neuroimaging data, while making influential contributions to understanding Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, mental health, and brain connectivity. He has served as principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous National Institutes of Health–funded projects and has authored or coauthored an extensive body of peer-reviewed publications in leading journals across statistics, medicine, and neuroscience.
His research and leadership have received numerous prestigious recognitions, including the highest honors in science and medicine by being elected to the National Academy of Medicine and becoming a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His alma mater, Morehouse College, honored him with the Benjamin E. Mays “Bennie” Trailblazer Award in 2019, the highest honor bestowed upon the College’s alumni. He also received a distinguished alumnus award from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he completed his doctoral studies. For contributions within his discipline of statistics, he was elected as a fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA) in 2012, named an ASA Black History Month Trailblazer in 2020, and presently serves as the vice president and a member of the board of directors of the ASA.
Dr. Bowman is a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He and his wife, Cynthia, are the proud parents of four amazing children, and they have two grandchildren.
Board of Trustees
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Justin Bayless ’07
Founder & General Partner Ten Figures
Founder & President The Journey Venture Studio
A. Scott Bolden ’84
Senior Partner Reed Smith LLP
Jeffrey Brenzel
Higher Ed Consultant, Writer, and Speaker Yale University
James “Jim” Casselberry Jr. Chief Investment Officer Health Forward Foundation
Chairman and Co-Founder Known Holdings
Allen M. Chan
Managing Director Diversified Search Group (DSG)
Delman L. Coates ’95
Senior Pastor Mt. Ennon Baptist Church
Javarro Edwards ’92 President JME Group LLC
Valerie S. Grant
Managing Director Nuveen
Douglas Hertz Chairman & CEO United Distributors Inc.
COLLEGE ADMINISTRATOR/EX-OFFICIO TRUSTEE
F. DuBois Bowman ’92
President Morehouse College
PRESIDENTS EMERITI
Leroy Keith Jr. ’61
FACULTY TRUSTEES
Jeffrey Handy ’92
Asssistant Professor of Biology
STUDENT TRUSTEES
Kenneth Ugo ’26 94rd President SGA
CHAIRMEN EMERITI
Robert C. Davidson Jr. ’67
TRUSTEES EMERITI
Billye S. Aaron
Benjamin A. Blackburn II ’61
Robert Davidson Jr. ’67
Valerie Ervin
James L. Hudson ’61
Javarro Edwards ’92
President Morehouse College National Alumni Association
Walter E. Massey ’58
Keisha Tassie
Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Frederick S. Humphries Jr. ’83 Vice President, U.S. Government Affairs Microsoft Corp.
Samuel R. Johnson ’88 Americas Vice Chair, Market & Accounts Ernst & Young
Jennifer Mann EVP and President North America Operating Unit The Coca-Cola Company
Harold Martin Jr. ’02 CEO Taco Mac Restaurant Group
John O’Neill
President and Managing Partner Southeast Region Cushman & Wakefield
Verdun S. Perry ’94 (Chairman)
Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Strategic Partners Blackstone
R. Owen Williams
President Emeritus
Associated Colleges of the South & Transylvania University
Tyler Mathieu ’26
Senior Board of Trustees Representative SGA
Robert M. Franklin ’75
David A. Thomas, Hon. ’25
Adria Welcher Associate Professor and Chair of Department of Sociology
Charles Winfrey ’27 Junior Board of Trustees Representative SGA
Otis Moss Jr. ’56
James L. Hudson ’61
Willie E. Woods ’85
Dale E. Jones ’82
Robert Levin
C. David Moody Jr. ’78
Jim Moss ’70
Otis Moss Jr. ’56
Avery A. Munnings ’86
John L. Thorton
F. Euclid Walker ’94
John A. Wallace
Stanley E. Washington ’85
Willie E. Woods ’85
Dorothy Cowser Yancy
Andrew Jackson Young Jr.
Bank of America
2026 Gala Sponsors
PRESENTING SPONSOR
The JME Group LLC
The Coca-Cola Company
Georgia-Pacific
FanDuel
Ariel Investments
Georgia Natural Gas
Georgia Power
Brown Estate - Napa Valley
Carver State Bank
LUMINARY SPONSOR
Keith Burks ’91
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Delta Air Lines Chick-fil-A
GOLD SPONSORS
Meta
SILVER SPONSORS
PNC Bank
ReedSmith
BRONZE SPONSORS
Google
Lincoln Financial
Jim Moss ’70
Yolanda and Dale E. Jones ’82
Julian Grace Foundation
Morgan Stanley
UPS
Willie E. Woods ’85
Kaiser Permanente Microsoft Sierra SodexoMagic
MAROON SPONSOR
Mangham-Scott Wealth Management
GALA TRIBUTE SPONSORS
Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.,
Psi Chapter
R.H. Bolton Inc. Show Creatives
2026 Gala Patrons
Billye Suber Aaron Jann Adams
Tony Alexander
Marvin Anderson ’62
Paige Anderson
George Bandy ’91
Robert H. Bolton Jr. ’86
John Brewer ’84
Moses Brown ’75
Jamal Harrison Bryant ’94
Wendell Bryant ’86
Keith Burks ’91
Gregory Burrell ’90
Rodney & Janice Burt
Mark Bush
Byron Calhoun ’90
Trey Campbell
Kent Carey ’88
Hazel and Dr. Joseph Carlos Jr.
John Castelly
Patricia Chestang Duncan
Donnell Collins ’93
Todd Collins ’95
Marcus Crawford ’98
Timothy Crim
Thomas Davenport ’02
Faye and Robert C. Davidson ’67
Anderson Davis
Reginald Davis
Freddie DuBose ’88
Eugene Duffy ex. ’76
Jon Eldridge Sr. ’69
Sean Forbes
Drs. Cheryl & Robert M. Franklin ’75
Miles Fuller ’12
John Gilmore IV ’06
Kathryn Gramling
Gordon Greenwood ’85
Kenneth Grimes ’90
Reggie Hadley
Okera Hanshaw ’00
Marc Hardy ’93
Monte Harris ’88
Triscia Hendrickson
Darren Hicks ’04
Michael Hodge
Carson Hollowell
James Hudson ’61
Daniel Jackson ’94
Keith Jackson ’94
Terry Jeter ’84
Calvin B. Johnson ’88
Garrett Johnson ’07
Devetus Jones ’95
Paul Judge ’98
Gillian Lakhan
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Jeff Lawrence ’94
Michael and Mattie Lawson
Kirsten Lollis
Richard Makerson ’03
Reggie Marable ’95
Wayne Martin ’06
Shirley & Walter Massey ’58
Treasure McClain
Lester McCorn ’88
Mark McGruder ’95
Jerome Menifee ’79
David Mitchell ’91
David Moody ’78
Caden Morris
Otis Moss Jr. ’56
Tarra & Jeffery Moten
Tuwanda Muhammad
Sean Norman ’90
William Norris ’95
Isaiah Norwood
Kimberly Payne
Verdun Perry ’94
Melvin Phillips
Joseph Press ’84
DeWayne Reed ’84
O ’Rell Roberts
Nathaniel Robertson ’95
Nicole and Mark Ross ’90
Charlie Rouse ’84
Kenneth Saffold ’98
Darryl Sams ’84
Robert Satcher
Merwyn Scott ’92
Marcus Shaw ’99
Jim Sills ’55
Julie Sills-Molock
John Sims ’87
Timothy Sloan ’94
Stacy Spann ’95
Kristian May Stewart
Rodney K. Strong ’76
Eric Tait ’88
Richard Thaler
Phillip Thomas ’99
Truman Tolefree ’02
Darryl Tookes ’82
Andrea and Stuart Turner ’86
Eugene Wade ’92
Jonathan Lee Walton ’96
Adria Welcher
George Wells ’00
Rashaun Williams ’01
Alain Williams du Marquis dAsserac
Adrienne & Lorenz Willis ’90
Charles Winfrey
Terry Woodard ’81
Kevin Woods ’99
Drs. Sylvia and Keith Wright ’87
Victor Wynn ’96
Dr. Dorothy Yancy
Dr. Robert Yancy ’64
Master of Ceremony
Charles Malik Whitfield
Esteemed Actor, Producer, and Director for Television, Film, and Theater
Charles Malik Whitfield was born and raised in the Bronx, New York City.
Whitfield, an actor, producer, and director, has had an expansive career in film, television, and theater. He is best known for his leading role as Otis Williams in the acclaimed miniseries, The Temptations, an award-winning television miniseries that garnered a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing.
Whitfield’s film credits include: Behind Enemy Lines and Notorious. And his television credits include series regular roles on OWN’s If Loving You Is Wrong as Lushion Morgan, CBS’s The Guardian as James Mooney, and Last Call on Bounce TV as Darius Knight. He has also portrayed memorable recurring characters on the CW Network’s Supernatural as FBI Agent Victor Henriksen, NBC’s Chicago Med as Ben Campbell, FOX’s Empire as the Rev. L.C. Pryce, and the highly acclaimed FX show American Horror Story
Whitfield currently stars as Jules on Netflix’s acclaimed show Beauty In Black.
A high school teacher introduced Whitfield to acting, and it soon became a creative outlet for him to channel his natural energy and passion. The actor has said that he realized acting was his true calling at a group home for boys after her performed a monologue about losing his best friend to street drug wars.
In addition to his impressive body of work, Whitfield has been teaching acting classes for more than 20 years in an effort to help aspiring and accomplished thespians to develop their own craft.
Call to Celebration & Introduction of Gala Hosts
Invocation
The Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery Dean, Duke University Chapel Professor of Homiletics and African and African American Studies, Duke Divinity School
Greetings
Verdun S. Perry ’94 Chairman, Morehouse College Board of Trustees
F. DuBois Bowman ’92, Ph.D. President, Morehouse College
Presenting Sponsor Remarks
Javarro Edwards ’92 Owner/President, The JME Group LLC
Dinner
Candle in Business Award
Eric G. Johnson, MBA
Music provided by the Morehouse College Jazz Collective Chad E. Hughes, Ph.D., Director
Candle in Science, Engineering, and Technology Award
Robert L. Satcher, M.D., Ph.D.
the bennie awards
Bennie Leadership Award
Willie Underwood III ’88, M.D.
Bennie Trailblazer Award
James L. Hudson ’61, Esq.
Closing Remarks
President Bowman
The College Hymn
“Dear Old Morehouse”
J.O.B. Moseley ’29 & INAUGURAL BALL
Candle in Arts & Entertainment Award
Malcolm D. Lee, MFA
Bennie Service Award
Willie E. Woods ’85, MBA
Congratulations to the 2026 Award Winners
Keith Burks ’91
proudly sponsors the 38th annual A Candle in the Dark
& INAUGURAL BALL
2026 CANDLE AWARD HONOREES
For 159 years, Morehouse College has been a beacon of light and a source of knowledge to the global community.
The Candle Award usually recognizes outstanding non-alumni who are exemplary in their professions and are committed to excellence, community service, and leadership—the values taught at Morehouse College.
2026 CANDLE IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY AWARD
Recipient
Robert L. Satcher, M.D., Ph.D.
Orthopedic Surgeon and Oncologist, Chemical Engineer, and former NASA Astronaut
Robert L. Satcher, M.D, Ph.D., is an orthopedic oncologist, chemical engineer, and former NASA astronaut whose career stands at the intersection of science, surgery, and service. An accomplished clinician and researcher, he has devoted his life’s work to improving outcomes for patients with complex bone and soft tissue cancers while advancing innovative approaches to care in academic medicine.
Satcher earned his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering before completing both a doctorate in chemical engineering and a medical degree, preparing for a vocation that unites rigorous scientific inquiry with hands-on healing. He went on to specialize in orthopedic surgery and musculoskeletal oncology, building a reputation for technical excellence, compassionate bedside care, and a deep commitment to those facing some of medicine’s most challenging diagnoses.
In 2004, NASA selected Satcher to join its astronaut corps. This invitation answered one of Satcher’s childhood dreams, allowing him to step into a pioneering role in American spaceflight. He flew as a mission specialist on STS-129 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, becoming the first orthopedic surgeon to travel to space. Over the course of that mission, Satcher conducted experiments related to human physiology in microgravity and completed spacewalks to help install equipment and support operations on the International Space Station. His work
in orbit contributed to a growing body of knowledge on how spaceflight affects the human body and how that knowledge might one day improve care on Earth.
After completing his NASA service, Satcher returned to academic medicine, where he continues to blend clinical practice, research, and education. His work has included leadership in global health collaborations, efforts to expand access to advanced cancer care, and early exploration of telemedicine and virtual care as tools to reach patients far beyond the walls of major medical centers. He remains a sought-after lecturer and mentor, encouraging the next generation of physicians, engineers, and explorers to bring both curiosity and conscience to their work.
For the Morehouse community, Satcher’s journey—from the laboratory to low Earth orbit and back to the clinic— offers a powerful example of what it means to use one’s gifts in service to humanity. His life demonstrates that excellence in science and medicine need not be detached from empathy, and that discovery is at its best when it expands both human knowledge and human possibility.
In honoring Dr. Robert L. Satcher at the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala, Morehouse College salutes a surgeon, scientist, and astronaut whose light has reached the stars and still returns, again and again, to illuminate the lives of patients, students, and communities here at home.
2026 CANDLE IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AWARD
Recipient
Malcolm D. Lee, MFA
Critically Acclaimed Film/Television Writer, Director, and Producer; Founder, Blackmaled Productions
Malcolm D. Lee is an acclaimed filmmaker, writer and producer known for films such as The Best Man franchise, Girls Trip, Night School and more. Lee’s work has earned him critical acclaim, a loyal fanbase, and honors, including the NAACP Image Award and AAFCA Award, and recognition at the Critics Choice Awards Celebration of Black Cinema & Television.
Since he was 12 years old, Lee has been making films in animation, video, and Super-8 film formats. He has also been working professionally in the industry since age 17 as a production assistant, apprentice film editor, casting associate, assistant director, and director’s assistant.
Lee completed his undergraduate studies at Georgetown University in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in English with a fine arts minor, and then accepted a year-long fellowship in screenwriting from Walt Disney Studios. Following his early Hollywood experience he gained entry into New York University’s Tisch School Of The Arts, honed his craft as a director and writer, and went on to make the award-winning short film, Morningside Prep
Since 1999, Lee’s directorial work has included his critically-acclaimed feature film debut The Best Man, which opened at No. 1 at the box office, Undercover Brother, Barbershop: The Next Cut, and the smash hit Girls
Trip—the first film with a full African-American creative team, both in front of and behind the camera, to surpass the $100 million mark at the domestic box office. Girls Trip grossed more than $140 million worldwide, followed by Night School, another box office hit grossing over $100 million.
One of Hollywood’s most bankable filmmakers, Lee released the popular Space Jam: A New Legacy, starring LeBron James, in 2021, followed by Peacock’s The Best Man: The Final Chapters, an eight-part series, in December 2022.
Through his Blackmaled Productions banner, Lee is currently overseeing the development of several feature and television projects, including directing and executive producing the spy procedural Need to Know, as well as a television adaptation of Ellen Won Steil’s novel Becoming Marlowe Fin, at Peacock.
In 2025, Lee expanded his storytelling into the literary world with the release of his debut novel, The Best Man: Unfinished Business, the first in a planned trilogy that continues the journey of the iconic characters from his film series. Lee’s untitled next feature film, starring Lynn Whitfield, Chloe Bailey and Coco Jones, is scheduled to premiere in 2026.
2026 CANDLE IN BUSINESS AWARD
Recipient
Eric G. Johnson, MBA
Chairman, Board of Trustees and Former President and CEO, Baldwin Richardson Foods Co.
Eric G. Johnson is the chairman of Baldwin Richardson Foods Co. One of the largest African-American-owned businesses in the food industry, Baldwin Richardson Foods is headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, with manufacturing facilities in Macedon and Williamson, New York.
In 1989, Johnson, following in his father’s footsteps, became chief executive officer of Johnson Products Co., the nation’s first African-American owned publiclytraded company. After Johnson turned around that company’s performance in 1991, it became the seventh best performing stock on the American Stock Exchange and earned the American Management Association’s Turnaround Award.
A business entrepreneur, Johnson purchased in 1991 the Baldwin Ice Cream Co., a small company established in Chicago in 1921. He expanded the distribution and sales of the company, and, in 1997, completed the acquisition of Richardson Foods from the Quaker Oats Co. The company produced Nance’s Mustard and condiments, Mrs. Richardson’s dessert toppings, and liquid products for McDonald’s.
Baldwin Richardson Foods, in fact, is now a major producer of products and ingredients for McDonald’s Corp., as well as the Kellogg Co., General Mills Inc., Dunkin’ Brands Inc., Starbucks Corp., Frito-Lay Inc., and the Quaker Oats Co.
Baldwin Richardson also has retail brands and food service products that it distributes nationally.
Eric Johnson received his bachelor of arts and science degrees in finance and management from Babson College. In 1971, as the student representative to the management department, he worked with Prof. John Hornaday on the evolution of the entrepreneurial studies program and curriculum.
Johnson has served three terms as a trustee of Morehouse College. Each year, a four-year, full-tuition, scholarship is awarded for the Baldwin Richardson Foods Scholars Program. The company also has a sister program at Spelman College for women in food science.
Johnson is also a member of the board of directors at Lincoln National Corp. and chairman of its Finance Committee, as well as a member of the board of trustees and vice chairman at Babson College, and a member of the board of trustees at the Pérez Art Miami Museum.
In addition, he serves as chairman of the foundation board for The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, vice chairman of The Greater Rochester New York Chamber of Commerce, and a consultant and advisor to The HistoryMakers, the world’s largest repository of African American Oral Histories housed in The Smithsonian Institution and The Library of Congress.
& INAUGURAL BALL
2026 BENNIE AWARD HONOREES
The Bennie Award, one of the highest honors that Morehouse bestows on its alumni, is named for one of the College’s most revered Presidents, Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, who served from 1940 to 1967.
His legacy lives on in the College’s international stature and in the success of its alumni.
2026 BENNIE LEADERSHIP AWARD
Recipient
Willie Underwood III ’88, M.D.
Urologic Surgeon; President-elect and Past Board of Trustees Chair, American Medical Association
Willie Underwood III, M.D., MSc, MPH, FACS is a urologic surgeon, health equity scholar, and national physician leader whose journey from Gary, Indiana, to the presidency of the American Medical Association (AMA) reflects a life spent turning talent into testimony and achievement into advocacy.
A proud Morehouse Man, Underwood earned his bachelor’s degree in biology on the Atlanta campus which shaped his conviction that Black excellence is not an exception, but an expectation—and that health care must work for the sum of us, not just some of us.
For more than 25 years, Underwood has practiced at the cutting edge of urologic surgery. His experience includes more than 15 years in robotic surgery, as well as years spent building a national reputation as an expert on healthcare disparities and policy reform. His research has attracted millions in federal funding and produced more than 120 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and abstracts, as well as patents for a novel prostate cancer biomarker, all underscoring a career where scientific rigor and moral purpose walk side by side.
Beyond the operating room and the laboratory, Underwood has become a trusted voice in the boardroom and on the public stage. He has served as presidentelect and chair of the AMA Board of Trustees and on the boards of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and
The Joint Commission, where he presses institutions to confront inequity not as a talking point, but as a mandate. His TEDx talks, national media appearances, and grand rounds presentations invite physicians, policymakers, and communities to imagine—and then insist upon—a system where ZIP code, race, and income no longer predict health outcomes.
In June 2026, Underwood will be inaugurated president of the American Medical Association, stepping into one of medicine’s most visible roles when the stakes for patients and physicians could not be higher. From this platform, he has pledged to fight for a fair Medicare payment system, to cut through the thicket of prior authorization, and to reduce physician burnout, all while keeping health equity at the center of the national conversation.
Tonight, as the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala illuminates the stories of those who lift our communities, we honor a son of Morehouse whose light now shines across exam rooms, board tables, government halls, and neighborhoods that have waited too long to be seen. In the life and leadership of Willie Underwood III, we see what happens when a disciplined mind, a compassionate heart, and an unshakable belief in justice are set ablaze in service to humanity.
2026
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Recipient
James L. Hudson ’61, Esq.
Attorney, Academic Lecturer, and Venture Capitalist; Trustee Emeritus, Morehouse College
James L. Hudson ’61 stands in that distinguished lineage of Morehouse Men whose lives testify to the College’s highest ideals—scholarship, integrity, leadership, and service to something larger than oneself. A man of Morehouse during the era of President Benjamin E. Mays, Hudson came of age when the campus was both classroom and crucible, pressing young men to marry intellectual rigor with moral responsibility. Those lessons would follow him well beyond the red clay of Atlanta, shaping a career that would reach from local communities to global centers of power.
After graduating from Morehouse, Hudson pursued legal training and entered the world of finance with a conviction that capital, law, and public policy could be harnessed in the service of the common good. Over decades, he has distinguished himself as an attorney and investment executive, navigating complex transactions and advising major institutions with a steady hand. His work in banking and international finance placed him at the intersection of markets and missions, where decisions made in boardrooms could translate into roads, schools, businesses, and jobs across continents. In those spaces, he became known not only for his technical expertise but also for his insistence that economic development must ultimately serve people, not just profit.
Hudson’s leadership reached a global stage through his service as a United States director at a major multilateral development bank. In that role, he engaged with some of the most pressing economic and social challenges of our time—supporting efforts to expand infrastructure, stabilize emerging markets, and broaden opportunity in communities often overlooked by traditional investment. Whether the work involved large-scale projects or targeted initiatives, he brought to the table a Morehouse-shaped
understanding that progress is measured not only in numbers, but in lives improved and futures expanded.
Yet, for all his international reach, Hudson has never lost sight of his responsibilities closest to home. A steadfast supporter of Morehouse College, he has given generously of his time, talent, and treasure. He has served on boards and advisory bodies, lent his experience to Presidents and senior leaders, and remained a visible, engaged presence in the life of the institution. To students and younger alumni, he has offered mentorship and example— demonstrating that it is possible to move with ease in the corridors of power while staying grounded in humility, faith, and community.
Hudson’s life also speaks to a broader story about Black excellence and institution-building. At a time when access to the highest levels of finance and global policy was limited for African Americans, he helped to widen the path, showing that Morehouse Men could not only enter those rooms, but shape the agenda within them. In doing so, he has served as both trailblazer and bridge— honoring the sacrifices of those who came before him and clearing space for those who will follow.
Tonight, as the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala honors those whose light has helped guide the way, we lift up James L. Hudson ’61 as a statesman of finance, a servant of the public good, and a faithful son of Morehouse. His journey reminds us that true greatness is not found solely in titles or positions, but in the enduring impact one has on institutions, communities, and individual lives. In celebrating Hudson, we affirm a legacy of disciplined mind, courageous heart, and unwavering commitment to leave both Morehouse and the world better than he found them.
2026 BENNIE SERVICE AWARD
Recipient
Willie E. Woods ’85, MBA
Founder, President and CEO, ICV Partners; Retiring Board of Trustees Chair, Morehouse College
There are evenings when the language of Wall Street is not enough, when terms such as “assets under management” and “internal rate of return” cannot capture what is truly at stake, which is the fate of families, neighborhoods, and futures. On nights like this, we remember that capital is not just a number on a page; it is a force that can either widen the distance among us or help close the gap.
Into that high-stakes arena stepped a Morehouse Man who refused to believe that the capital markets were reserved for a chosen few. Willie E. Woods ’85 is a visionary investor, strategist, and builder whose career has been defined by a simple conviction: Capital, rightly deployed, can change more than balance sheets—it can change lives. As president and CEO of ICV Partners, a leading private equity firm he co-founded, Woods has spent more than two decades investing in, and scaling, middle-market companies, particularly those that serve everyday people and anchor local communities. Under Woods’ leadership, ICV has grown into a respected platform known for disciplined performance, trusted partnerships, and a commitment to creating long-term value for employees, customers, and investors alike.
A proud Morehouse Man, Woods graduated in 1985 before continuing his education at some of the nation’s most competitive institutions and launching a career on
Wall Street. Across roles in investment banking, private equity, and corporate leadership, he has navigated complex transactions and changing markets with a steady hand and a clear moral compass. Colleagues often note that his greatest talent is not simply spotting opportunity, but seeing possibility—in companies, in people, and in communities others have overlooked.
Beyond the deal table, Woods is a dedicated mentor and civic leader who understands that representation in finance is both a symbol and a strategy. He has championed pathways for young professionals of color to enter and excel in financial services, offering guidance, sponsorship, and access to networks that have historically been closed. His board service and philanthropy reflect a deep belief in education, entrepreneurship, and the power of Black institutions, especially Morehouse, to reshape what leadership looks like in the global economy.
Tonight, as the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala honors those whose lives illuminate the way for others, we recognize Willie E. Woods ’85 as a steward of capital and a guardian of possibility. In boardrooms and classrooms, in mentoring circles and community gatherings, he continues to demonstrate that when excellence is tethered to purpose, investment becomes more than profit—it becomes a promise to the next generation.
As the world recognizes the need for socially responsible leaders, Morehouse College is poised with a pipeline of exceptional Men of Consequence who are prepared to do what Morehouse Men have done for 159 years—lead, serve, and work on the frontlines of change. We are working toward a future in which our endowment will allow the financial flexibility to support all deserving scholars, and the scholarships we offer students will be need blind. Your philanthropic investment will help ensure that Morehouse continues to produce enterprising, accomplished men who change the narrative, change the system, change each other, and change the world.
Morehouse College is in the midst of a $500 million fundraising campaign. More than $360 million has been raised to date. With your continued investment, we can fortify a legacy ignited in 1867 as an engine for excellence in higher education and a beacon of hope illuminating the path toward justice, equality, and economic empowerment. Et Facta Est Lux .
We also need your support in the following areas:
Building the Campus of the Future
Endowed student scholarships
Innovative academic programs, athletics, and access to global experiences
2026 Gala Presenters, Jazz Collective & Ushers
GALA PRESENTERS
CALL TO CELEBRATION
Charles Malik Whitfield introduced by Milton Rogers ’26 Africana Studies (Major) and Religion (Minor) Roxboro, N.C.
Gavin A. Weddington ’26 Economics, Silver Spring, Md.
CANDLE IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, & TECHNOLOGY AWARD RECIPIENT
Robert L. Satcher, M.D., Ph.D. introduced by Imari K. Welcher ’27 Music (Major) and Theater and Performance (Minor) Stone Mountain, Ga.
CANDLE IN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT AWARD RECIPIENT
Malcolm D. Lee, MFA introduced by DayMond Johnson ’26 Sociology, Detroit, Mich.
Linden M. Young ’26 Philosophy (Pre-Law), Columbus, Ohio
CANDLE IN BUSINESS AWARD RECIPIENT
Eric G. Johnson, MBA introduced by Zahni A. Sylvester-Stewart ’27 Communication Studies (Major) and Sociology (Minor), East Orange, N.J.
BENNIE LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT
Willie Underwood III ’88, M.D. introduced by Jayson K. Faulkner ’26 Biology, Charlotte, N.C.
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE JAZZ COLLECTIVE
Chad “Sir Wick” Hughes, Ph.D. Director
SAXOPHONES
Cole Kennedy ’27 (Lead)
Music Charlotte, N.C.
Lain Tucker ’29
Biology Atlanta, Ga.
Carrington Leroy ’28
Pre-Psychology Houston, Texas
TRUMPETS
London Shepherd ’26
Music
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Winston Doss ’26
Computer Science Chicago, Ill.
Tariq Tufts ’26 Music Cleveland, Ohio
Jeremy Warden ’26 Psychology Atlanta, Ga.
TROMBONES
Blake Greene ’26
Economics Mobile, Ala.
Ayden Percell
Longoria-Harris ’26
English, Gales Ferry, Conn.
David Winchester ’28 Applied Physics Philadelphia, Penn.
DeAngelo Anderson ’29
Business Administration
Memphis, Tenn.
Jalil Blash ’27
Management Atlanta, Ga.
Dylan Branch ’27
Business Administration
Los Angeles, Calif.
Ian Chamberlin ’26
Finance Bronx, N.Y.
Christian Clarke ’27
Computer Science Jacksonville, Fla.
Xavier Crawford ’29
Mathematics Los Angeles, Calif.
Dawud Crooms Jr. ’29
Finance/Psychology Dallas, Texas
Elijah Flores ’27
Computer Science Los Angeles, Calif.
Elijah Grace ’27 Finance Bronx, N.Y.
GALA USHERS
Amari Francis ’29
Biology
Detroit, Mich.
Lennox Lee ’26
Education Studies New Rochelle, N.Y.
Khyler McAlpine ’26
Applied Physics/Civil Engineering Miami, Fla.
Chase Morgan ’29 Chemistry Stockbridge, Ga.
Joe Norington-Reaves ’27
Philosophy Chicago, Ill.
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER AWARD RECIPIENT
James L. Hudson ’61, Esq. introduced by Damarion T. King ’27 Political Science (Major) and Sociology and Communications Studies (Double Minor), Raleigh, N.C.
BENNIE SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT
Willie E. Woods ’85, MBA introduced by Jeremiah E. G. Lowther ’26 Sociology, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Damaje A. Smith ’27
Political Science and Sociology (Double Major) Communications Studies (Minor), Newark, N.J.
VOCALS
Kennedy Faux CAU ’26
Psychology, Detroit, Mich.
Sage Lima-Jeffries C’28
Music, Atlanta, Ga.
Imari K. Welcher ’27
Music/Theater & Performance Atlanta, Ga.
RHYTHM SECTION
Miles Johnson ’27
Sports Journalism Atlanta, Ga.
Collin Brown ’26
Music Atlanta, Ga.
Jeremy Griffin
Pre-Psychology Dallas, Texas
Haki Pratt ’26
Theater & Performance Camden, N.J.
Enoch Omotayo ’28
Education Studies/Communication Bowie, Md.
Joe Pecot ’26
Engineering Los Angeles, Calif.
Manuel Rodriguez ’26
Economics
Baton Rouge, La.
Leslie Streeter ’29
Chemistry Houston, Texas
Joel Tembe ’27
Biology Somerset, N.J.
Jalen Toye-Ellis ’28
Business Administration
Charlotte, N.C.
Chase Wiggins ’28 Philosophy Philadelphia, Penn.
Robert Yarbrough ’28 Finance Ashburn, Va.
The Gala of Galas
Morehouse knew it needed to enhance its annual Founder’s Day celebration when alumni and friends of the College expressed the need for a formal, elaborate and celebratory fundraising event to draw them back to the College. Atlanta residents and local corporations, as well as members of the philanthropic community, were continually flooded with invitations from nonprofit organizations requesting their participation in fundraisers, so Morehouse needed to launch a unique, memorable event.
It was imperative that the Morehouse College family did all it could to make its event stand out by conveying several special facts about the College, such as:
• Morehouse, founded in 1867, is the nation’s only predominantly Black, allmale institution of higher learning; and
• The College is noted for its legacy of producing graduates who have become leaders in a variety of fields.
Despite the disheartening statistics regarding the plight of Black males, Morehouse continues to attract many of the nation’s brightest Black male students and provides an environment that is academically challenging and socially enriching.
Morehouse is committed to raising funds to ensure that a college education remains attainable for qualified Black males who are financially disadvantaged.
In 1988, alumni Robert H. Bolton ’86 and Hardy R. Franklin Jr. ’83, who were members of the College’s development team, conceived the idea for the “A Candle
in the Dark” Gala. With the support of President Leroy Keith ’61 and Richard A. Ammons, the institution’s vice president for development, plans were developed to unveil the Gala on Feb. 18, 1989, as a part of the College’s 122nd Founder’s Day Celebration.
The Gala is named for the official history book of Morehouse, written by alumnus Edward A, Jones, Class of 1926, “A Candle in the Dark: A History of Morehouse College.” The black-tie affair was designed to highlight the College’s traditional mission of producing leaders, pay tribute to nationally acclaimed Black leaders who are considered giants in their respective fields, and showcase the talents and oratorical skills of Morehouse students. It would also serve as one of the College’s major annual fundraising activities, with the goal of attracting approximately 1,000 guests, and generating revenue for the institution’s endowed scholarship fund.
Honorees would be presented with either a “Bennie” or “Candle” Award. Atlantabased artist the late Lev T. Mills was commissioned to design what would become two of the nation’s most coveted awards.
The late Mordecai Etchison Jr. sculpted the initial awards. Today, each award is individually hand-sculpted by renowned Lillie Glassblowers in Smyrna, Ga.
“Bennie” recipients, who must be graduates of the College, receive recognition in the categories of service, achievement, and leadership. The award is named in honor of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, who served as Morehouse President from 1940 to 1967, and is considered a legend among all alumni.
“Candle” recipients are honored for excellence in a variety of fields including the arts, athletics, business, education, entertainment, government, law, medicine, the military, religion, and science and technology.
In 1989, the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala was recognized as the most outstanding special event in Georgia and presented with the “Phoenix Award for Excellence” by the Public Relations Society of America, Georgia Chapter.
Since the first “A Candle in the Dark” Gala, the College has presented Bennie and Candle Awards to hundreds of talented individuals from a wide variety of fields.
In 1998, alumnus Henry M. Goodgame ’84, in his capacity as director of alumni relations, the annual fund and special events, began providing the direction and coordination for the Founder’s Day and Gala planning activities. He leads a college-wide team of dedicated staff to take the award-winning Gala to new heights of excellence.
Indeed, the Gala has become a signature event for Morehouse, Atlanta, and the nation. In 2004, Morehouse officials had the distinction of presenting the first Candle Award to an outstanding African American woman, Oprah Winfrey.
College friends, supporters, and alumni await with great anticipation their annual invitations for the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala. Since its inception, the Gala has raised more than $40 million, with net proceeds benefiting the Morehouse College General Scholarship Fund. 38th annual “a candle in the dark”
ET FACTA
“There is an air of expectancy at Morehouse. It is It is also expected that once a man bears the insignia of BENJAMIN
President, Morehouse College, Excerpt from
EST LUX
is expected that the student who enters here will do well. of a Morehouse graduate, he will do exceptionally well...”
1989
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Roderic Pettigrew ’72 Physician/Nuclear Physicist
BENNIE SERVICE
Otis Smith ’47 * President, Atlanta Chapter NAACP
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Louis Sullivan ’54 Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
CANDLE IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Danny Glover Actor
CANDLE IN ATHLETICS
Vincent “Bo” Jackson Professional Athlete L.A. Raiders and Kansas City Royals
CANDLE IN BUSINESS
George R. Lewis Vice President and Treasurer, Philip Morris Companies Inc.
CANDLE IN EDUCATION
Henry Louis Gates Jr.
W.E.B. DuBois Professor of Literature, Cornell University
CANDLE IN LAW
Kurt Schmoke Mayor, Baltimore, Md.
CANDLE IN MILITARY
Fred A. Gorden Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Military Academy
CANDLE IN RELIGION
Eugene A. Marino * Archbishop, Atlanta Catholic Archdiocese
CANDLE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Benjamin Carson Chief, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital
1990
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
T.M. Alexander Sr. ’31 * President, T.M. Alexander Co. Inc.
BENNIE SERVICE
Asa G. Yancey Sr. ’37 * Retired Medical Director, Grady Memorial Hospital
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Spike Lee ’79 Filmmaker and President, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks
CANDLE IN ATHLETICS
Henry “Hank” Aaron * Legendary Baseball Player Senior Vice President, Atlanta Braves
BENNIE AND CANDLE HONOREES
1989–2025
CANDLE IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Denzel Washington Academy Award-Winning Actor
CANDLE IN EDUCATION
Asa G. Hilliard III *
Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Urban Education, Georgia State University
CANDLE IN RELIGION
Calvin O. Butts III ’72 * Pastor, Abyssinian Baptist Church
U.S. Surgeon General and Assistant Secretary of Health
CANDLE IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Arthur Mitchell * Founder and Director, Dance Theatre of Harlem
CANDLE IN BUSINESS
Earl G. Graves Sr. *
Publisher, Black Enterprise Magazine Chairman and CEO, Earl G. Graves Ltd.
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Quincy Jones * Musician, Composer and Record Producer
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN SPORTS AND ATHLETICS
Muhammad Ali * Former Gold Medalist, and Heavyweight Champion of the World
2000
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Herman Cain ’67 * CEO, Godfather’s Pizza and President, National Restaurant Association
BENNIE SERVICE
Cameron Alexander ’59 * Noted Pastor and Community Activist Antioch Baptist Church North
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
Robert L. Mallett ’79 Deputy Secretary of Commerce
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Charles D. Watts Sr. ’38 * Physician and Medical Educator
CANDLE IN ATHLETICS
Tony Dorsett Football Hall of Fame
CANDLE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Bernard Harris
Astronaut Vice President, Spacehab Inc.
CANDLE IN EDUCATION AND BUSINESS
Clifton R. Wharton * Former President, Michigan State University Former CEO, TIAA-CREF
2001
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Ezra C. Davidson Jr. ’54 * Distinguished Physician and Educator
BENNIE SERVICE
Horace T. Ward ’49 * U.S. Federal Judge and Civil Rights Attorney
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
Charles “Chuck” H. James III ’81 * President and CEO, C.H. James & Co.
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Howard F. Jeter ’70 U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria
CANDLE IN HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS
C.T. Vivian * Civil Rights Strategist
CANDLE IN SOCIAL ACTIVISM
Dick Gregory * Civil Rights Activist, Nutritionist, and Comedian
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Harry Belafonte * Award-Winning Actor/Entertainment Legend
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Ray Charles * World-Renowned R&B Legend and Songwriter
2002
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Artis A. White ’51 * Maxillofacial Prosthodontist
BENNIE SERVICE
Tobe Johnson Jr. ’54 * Distinguished Political Scientist and Chair, Department of Political Science, Morehouse College
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
James H. Sills Jr. ’55 Former Mayor of Wilmington, Del.
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
William “Bill” G. Nunn III ’76 * Famed Actor
CANDLE IN LEADERSHIP
William H. Gray III * President and CEO, The College Fund/UNCF
BENNIE AND CANDLE HONOREES
1989–2025
CANDLE IN RELIGION
Charles Gilchrist Adams * Senior Pastor, Hartford Memorial Baptist Church Detroit, Mich.
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN LITERARY AND PERFORMING ARTS
August Wilson * Award-Winning Playwright
2003
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Harold A. Dawson Sr. ’63 * Entrepreneur and Real Estate Developer
BENNIE SERVICE
Jeh Charles Johnson ’79 Former General Counsel, U.S. Air Force Litigation Partner with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Willie J. “Flash” Davis ’56 * Prominent Criminal Defense Attorney and Litigation Partner Davis, Robinson & White LLP
CANDLE IN BUSINESS
Robert L. Johnson
Entertainment and Television Pioneer Chairman, Black Entertainment Television
CANDLE IN EDUCATION
Kwame Anthony Appiah
Distinguished Author and Philosopher
Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Philosophy Princeton University
CANDLE IN JOURNALISM
Ed Bradley * Award-Winning Journalist Senior Correspondent, CBS’ “60 Minutes”
CANDLE IN MEDICINE
Keith L. Black Director, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute and Division of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of California at Irvine
2004
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Sanford D. Bishop Jr. ’68 Congressman, Georgia, 2nd District
BENNIE SERVICE AWARD
Howard H. Carey ’57 * President & CEO Neighborhood House Association
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Isaac Willis ’61 * Distinguished Dermatologist Northwest Medical Center
CANDLE IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Tom Joyner
Nationally Syndicated Radio Host Founder, Tom Joyner Foundation & REACH Media Inc.
CANDLE IN MEDICINE
LaSalle D. Lefall Jr. *
Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery Howard University
CANDLE IN LEADERSHIP
Jesse Hill Jr. * Former Chairman Atlanta Life Insurance Co.
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Ossie Davis * Acclaimed Actor & Activist
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN HUMANITARIAN SERVICE
Oprah Winfrey
Philanthropist and Entertainer, Founder, Oprah’s Angel Network & The Oprah Winfrey Foundation, Chairwoman, HARPO Entertainment Group, Co-founder, Oxygen Media
2005
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
James O. Webb ’53 Founder & Managing Principal Baker-Eubanks LLC
BENNIE SERVICE
Richard O. Hope ’61 * Vice-President, Public Policy and International Affairs Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Program
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Gerald L. Truesdale ’71 * Distinguished Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
Reginald Davis ’84 Head of Business Banking, SunTrust
CANDLE IN BUSINESS
Herman J. Russell * Chairman H.J. Russell & Company
CANDLE IN EDUCATION
Charles J. Ogletree *
Jesse Climenko Professor of Law Harvard University
CANDLE IN MEDICINE
Charles J. McDonald
Professor of Medical Science
Chair, Department of Dermatology Brown University School of Medicine
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Berry Gordy Founder, Motown Records Chairman, West Grand Media Inc.
2006
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Michael L. Lomax ’68 President and CEO UNCF
BENNIE SERVICE
Albert J. Price ’50 * Retired U.S. Air Force Pilot and State Senator
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Thomas G. Sampson Sr. ’68 *
Managing Partner, Thomas, Kennedy, Sampson & Patterson Law Firm
CANDLE IN BUSINESS
Alphonse Fletcher Jr.
Prominent Businessman Fletcher Asset Management Inc.
CANDLE IN MEDICINE
Augustus White III Orthopedic Surgeon
CANDLE IN BUSINESS AND SPORTS MANAGEMENT
Butch Lewis *
Prominent Businessman and Sports Promoter
CANDLE IN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Gordon Parks * World-Renowned Photographer
CANDLE IN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FOR ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Geoffrey Holder * World-Renowned Artist, Dancer and Choreographer
2007
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
Robert C. Davidson Jr. ’67
Distinguished Businessman President and CEO
Surface Protection Industries
BENNIE SERVICE
Melvin D. Smith ’61 *
World-Renowned Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Leroy R. Johnson ’49 *
Pioneering Georgia Senator and Prominent Attorney
CANDLE IN RELIGION
Amos C. Brown Sr. ’64
Senior Pastor, Third Baptist Church
Noted Civil and Human Rights Activist
BENNIE AND CANDLE HONOREES
1989–2025
CANDLE IN BUSINESS
Alden J. McDonald Jr. Prominent Businessman CEO and President, Liberty Bank & Trust
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS
Joseph E. Lowery * Renowned Civil Rights Activist Co-Founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Roscoe Lee Browne * Acclaimed Actor and Renowned Poet
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Sidney Poitier * Academy Award-Winning Actor
2008
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
M. William Howard Jr. ’68
Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church and former President, New York Theological Seminary
BENNIE SERVICE
Mack Roach ’75
World-Renowned Urology Researcher Professor, Radiation Oncology and Urology
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
James R. Hall ’57
Lt. General, U.S. Army (ret.) and Morehouse College Trustee
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Clinton Warner ’44 *
Pioneering Georgia Physician and Morehouse College Trustee Emeritus
CANDLE IN BUSINESS
Lloyd G. Trotter
Prominent Businessman
General Electric
CANDLE IN MEDICINE
Alvin H. Crawford, M.D., FACS Director, Pediatric Orthopedics Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
William “Smokey” Robinson Jr. Legendary Grammy Award-Winning Recording Artist, Record Producer, and Record Executive
2009
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
Charles David Moody ’78
Entrepreneur and Business Executive Owner, President, and CEO
C.D. Moody Construction Co. Inc.
*Deceased NOTE: Career title at time of recognition
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
J. Jerome Farris ’51 * U.S. Court of Appeals Judge (Ninth Circuit) and Former President, Board of Regents, the University of Washington
BENNIE SERVICE
Arthur Lee Johnson ’48 * Civil Rights Leader, NAACP Pioneer, and Retired Educator
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Richard C. Caesar ’40 * Noted Dentist, Original Tuskegee Airman and Philanthropist
CANDLE IN GOVERNMENT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Charles Bernard “Charlie” Rangel * Distinguished U.S. Congressman and Civil Rights Activist
CANDLE IN MEDICINE
Ernest A. “Ernie” Bates, M.D.
Distinguished Neurosurgeon and Philanthropist President and CEO, American Shared Hospital Services Inc.
CANDLE IN RELIGION
Samuel Berry McKinney ’49 * Civil Rights Activist and Pastor Emeritus, Mount Zion Baptist Church, Seattle, Wash.
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN SPORTS AND SOCIAL ACTIVISM
Tommie Smith
1968 Olympic Gold Medalist and Human Rights Activist
2010
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
Ronald S. Sullivan Jr. ’89
Distinguished Clinical Professor of Law Director, Harvard Criminal Justice Institute, Harvard Law School
BENNIE SERVICE
Perry A. Henderson ’54 * Renowned, Retired Physician and Professor of OB/GYN, University of WisconsinMadison Medical School
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Julius E. Coles ’63 Internationally-renowned Career Minister and Foreign Service Officer (USAID) Immediate Past President, Africare
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Lonnie C. King ’69 * Noted Civil Rights Activist President and CEO, Onyx Development Co. LLC
CANDLE IN HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT
Lloyd Dean
President and Chief Executive Officer Catholic Healthcare West
CANDLE IN EDUCATION
Freeman A. Hrabowski III
Noted Author and Educator President, University of Maryland Baltimore County
CANDLE IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Antonio “L.A.” Reid Music Industry Pioneer Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group
2011
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Melvin D. Gerald, M.D. ’64 Distinguished Physician, Gerald Family Care Associates
BENNIE SERVICE
Curley M. Dossman ’73 Education Advocate and President, Georgia-Pacific Foundation
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
William M. Jackson ’56 Distinguished Space Scientist and Educator University of California at Davis
CANDLE IN BUSINESS AND LAW
Donald V. Watkins
Noted Entrepreneur and Attorney, Donald V. Watkins, P.C.
CANDLE IN RELIGION
Harry S. Wright Sr. ’53
Pastor Emeritus Cornerstone Baptist Church, Brooklyn, N.Y.
CANDLE IN JOURNALISM
Ronald R. Davenport Sr. Radio Broadcasting Pioneer Chairman, Sheridan Broadcasting Corp.
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ATHLETICS
Frank Robinson * Major League Baseball Legend Major League Operations
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Morgan Freeman Academy Award-Winning Actor and Director
2012
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
Herman F. Bostick ’49 * Distinguished Professor Howard University
BENNIE SERVICE
Earl F. Hilliard ’64 Former United States Congressman
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Calvin W. McLarin ’68 * Renowned Cardiologist
BENNIE AND CANDLE HONOREES
1989–2025
CANDLE IN EDUCATION
Robert M. Franklin ’75 10th President, Morehouse College and Distinguished Professor
CANDLE IN HUMANITARIAN SERVICE AND BUSINESS
Earl W. Stafford Sr. Founder, The Stafford Foundation
2013
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Calvin Mackie ’90
Author, Educator, Engineer, and Motivational Speaker
BENNIE SERVICE
Milton J. Little Jr. ’76
President & CEO
United Way of Greater Atlanta Inc.
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
Willis B. Sheftall Jr. ’64 *
Professor of Economics and Acting President Morehouse College
CANDLE IN SCIENCE
Charles F. Bolden
NASA Administrator and Famed Astronaut
CANDLE IN BUSINESS
Ulysses L. Bridgeman Jr.
Founder and CEO, Bridgeman Foods Inc. Former NBA Star
CANDLE IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Laurence J. Fishburne
Critically Acclaimed Actor, Director and Producer
2014
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
James H. Shelton III ’89 Acting Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
BENNIE SERVICE
Donald L. Hense ’70
Educator, Founder and CEO of the Friendship Public Charter School
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
John E. Williams ’69
Former Division Dean, Interim Provost and Professor Emeritus at Morehouse College
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Reginald C. Lindsay ’67 (Posthumously)
Attorney and Former U.S. District Judge (Massachusetts)
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Stevie Wonder
Grammy Award-Winning Musician, Producer, Songwriter, and Performer
2015
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Paul Q. Judge ’98
Technology Entrepreneur
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Eugene V. Wade Jr. ’92
Education Entrepreneur CEO, University Now
CANDLE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Robert B. Crews Jr. CEO Airport Retail Management (ARM)
CANDLE IN BUSINESS
Thomas A. Moorehead Owner, BMW/Rolls-Royce Dealership
CANDLE IN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Grant H. Hill
Former NBA All-Star Player and Real Estate Investment Firm Owner
2016
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Rufus H. Rivers ’86
Managing Partner, RLJ Equity Partners
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
Joseph L. Press III ’84
Senior Division Sales Manager, Ethicon Inc. Johnson & Johnson
BENNIE SERVICE
Robert E. Steele ’65
Founding Executive Director
David C. Driskell Center University of Maryland, College Park
CANDLE IN BUSINESS AND LAW
Christopher P. Reynolds
Chief Legal Officer Toyota Motor North America
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Richard Roundtree * Award-Nominated Actor
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN CIVIL RIGHTS AND PUBLIC SERVICE
John Lewis *
Civil Rights Activist
U.S. House of Representatives
Georgia’s 5th Congressional District
2017
BENNIE SERVICE
Jonathan L. Walton ’96
Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard Divinity School and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church at Harvard
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
Theodore Colbert III ’96
Chief Information Officer & Senior Vice President of Information Technology, Boeing Co.
CANDLE IN MUSIC, BUSINESS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Jon Platt
Chairman & CEO, Music Publisher, Warner/Chappell Music
CANDLE IN PHILANTHROPY, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Usher Raymond New Look Foundation
Acclaimed Singer, Dancer, Actor, Producer and Philanthropist
CANDLE IN PHILANTHROPY, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Tyler Perry
Owner, The Tyler Perry Co. Inc.
Actor, Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Playwright, Author and Philanthropist
2018
BENNIE SERVICE
William T. McDaniel Jr. ’67
Professor Emeritus of Music and African American & African Studies, The Ohio State University
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Emmett D. Carson ’81
Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director, Silicon Valley Community Foundation
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
Cedric I. Richmond ’95
U.S. Representative Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District
CANDLE IN BUSINESS
William M. Lewis Jr.
Managing Director and Co-Chairman Investment Banking at Lazard Freres & Co. LLC
CANDLE IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Oz Scott
Celebrated Director and Producer
CANDLE IN BUSINESS AND PHILANTHROPY
Robert F. Smith
Founder, Chairman and CEO, Vista Equity Partners
2019
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Steve Pamon ’91
President & CEO, Parkwood Entertainment
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
F. DuBois Bowman ’92
12th Dean, University of Michigan School of Public Health Tenured Professor of Biostatistics
BENNIE AND CANDLE HONOREES
1989–2025
CANDLE IN BUSINESS
Ray M. Robinson
Retired President, AT&T Southern Region
Chairman of the Board, Citizens Trust Bank
CANDLE IN LAW AND BUSINESS
Jeffrey Harleston
General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs for North America Universal Music Group
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Norm Nixon
Two-time NBA World Champion & NBA All-Star Accomplished Businessman and Humanitarian
CANDLE IN SCIENCE AND INNOVATION
N. Anthony Coles
Chairman & CEO Yumanity Therapeutics LLC
2020
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Verdun Perry ’94
Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Strategic Partners, Blackstone
BENNIE LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE
Admiral Alvin Holsey ’88
Rear Admiral and Commander Commander, Strike Group One, U.S. Navy
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Eddie Glaude ’89
Chair, African American Studies Program
James S. McDonnell Distinguished Professor of African American Studies, Princeton University
CANDLE IN MISSION AND MINISTRY
Lawrence Edward Carter Sr.
Founding Dean, Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Author, Archivist, College Curator and Professor of Religion Morehouse College
CANDLE IN BUSINESS
Adebayo Ogunlesi
Chairman and Managing Partner, Global Infrastructure Partners
CANDLE IN ART, HISTORY AND CULTURE
Lonnie G. Bunch III
Director, National Museum of African American History and Culture 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
2021
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Gordon L. Joyner ’72
Owner, The Law Offices of Gordon L. Joyner
Fmr. Executive Director/Administrator, State of Georgia Civil Rights Department, Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity
BENNIE SERVICE
Robert “Rob” Gore ’98
Physician and Founder, Kings Against Violence Initiative Inc.
*Deceased NOTE: Career title at time of recognition
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Raphael G. Warnock ’91
U.S. Senator from Georgia
Senior Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church
CANDLE IN LAW AND INNOVATION
Kenneth C. Frazier
Chairman, President and CEO, Merck
CANDLE IN EDUCATION AND PHILANTHROPY
Darren Walker
President and CEO, Ford Foundation
CANDLE IN BUSINESS, ARTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT
Byron Allen
Founder, Chairman and CEO, Allen Media Group Media Mogul, Philanthropist
2022
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Paul S. “PJ” Morton Jr. ’03
Grammy Award-Winning Musician,Composer, Educator, Recording Artist, and Member of Maroon 5
BENNIE LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE
Bakari T. Sellers ’05
CNN Contributor, Author, and former Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
John K. “JK” Haynes ’64 Distinguished Educator, Researcher and former Dean of Science and Mathematics, Morehouse College
CANDLE IN LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Marc H. Morial
President and CEO, National Urban League Former Mayor of New Orleans
CANDLE IN TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
Charles E. Phillips
Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Recognize Former CEO of Infor
CANDLE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PHILANTHROPY
Judson W. Pickard Jr. Cincinnati Businessman, Philanthropist, Owner of McDonald’s Franchises
CANDLE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PHILANTHROPY
William “Bill” F. Pickard *
President and Co-Owner, Real Times Media Chairman, Global Automotive Alliance
Detroit Businessman, Philanthropist, and Author
2023
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Terry L.Woodard ’81
Managing Director and Vice Chairman, Financial Sponsors Group, Private Bank, J.P. Morgan
BENNIE LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE
James W. Compton ’61
Civic Leader and Former President, Chicago Urban League
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Sanford L. Biggers ’92
Acclaimed Visual Artist and Sculptor
CANDLE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PHILANTHROPY
David J. Grain
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Grain Management
CANDLE IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Courtney B. Vance
Award-Winning Actor and Producer
2024
BENNIE SERVICE
Aaron L. Parker Sr. ’75
Senior Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church and Professor, Philosophy and Religion Department, Morehouse College
BENNIE AND CANDLE HONOREES
1989–2025
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
John David Washington ’06 Film producer, and SAG and Golden Globe-Award Nominated Actor
BENNIE LEADERSHIP
Dale E. Jones ’82
CEO, Magna Vista Partners and Morehouse College Trustee Emeritus
CANDLE IN BUSINESS AND PHILANTHROPY
Raymond J. McGuire
President, Lazard
CANDLE FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Mack Wilbourn
Owner and President, Mack II Inc.
2025
BENNIE SERVICE
Marvin Dunn ’61
Author, Historian, Educator, Veteran, Race Relations Expert, and Social Activist Professor Emeritus, Florida International University
BENNIE ACHIEVEMENT
Bryan Rand ’01
Deal Maker, Entrepreneur, and Civic Leader; Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Rand & Co Holdings
BENNIE TRAILBLAZER
Rashaun L. Williams ’01
Venture Capitalist, Financial Literacy Advocate
Atlanta Falcons Limited Partner
Chairman, Value Investment Group
CANDLE IN RELIGION AND SOCIAL ACTIVISM
Otis Moss III ’92
Author, Poet, Social Activist, Filmmaker; Senior Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago
CANDLE IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Pharrell Williams
Award-winning Recording Artist, Producer, Songwriter, Philanthropist, Fashion Designer, and Entrepreneur Men’s Creative Director, Louis Vuitton
CANDLE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
John Hope Bryant
Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and Financial Literacy Advocate Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Operation HOPE
Here in Atlanta, we all need to share in the responsibility to do more. That’s why we work closely with Morehouse College and other local businesses, nonprofits and community leaders who share our vision of creating meaningful change. Side by side, we’re committed to making a difference in communities in which we live and work.
Al McRae President, Bank of America Atlanta bankofamerica.com/atlanta
What would you like the power to do?®
Congratulations, Morehouse College
It is our pleasure to celebrate the legacy of Morehouse College and support its enduring commitment to advancing opportunity through education, service, and community investment.
FanDuel is honored to support
Morehouse College’s 159-Year Legacy
of developing extraordinary leaders through The 38th Annual “A Candle In The Dark” Gala
Honoring Innovation And Excellence
Meta is a proud sponsor of the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala hosted by the esteemed Morehouse College.
Through AI-powered smart glasses, virtual reality, and augmented reality, Meta is building technology that expands what's possible. We stand with Morehouse men - beacons of innovation and leadership, lighting the way to what's next.
VP, Hardware Engineering
Gala sponsored by Meta Reality Labs and Morehouse alumnus Alfred C. Jones II
Morehouse Class of ‘03
reedsmith.com
Morgan Stanley is proud to support
Morehouse College’s Annual A Candle in the Dark Gala
At Morgan Stanley, diversity is an opportunity — for clients, employees and the firm. Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion is fundamental to our role as a global leader striving for excellence in all that we do. By valuing diverse perspectives, we continue to expand our inclusive culture, focus on our people and deliver innovative solutions to the communities where we live and work.
Learn more at morganstanley.com/about-us/diversity
Reed Smith is a proud sponsor of the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala by the esteemed Morehouse College. Congratulations to the highly distinguished honorees for their outstanding contributions in business, law, education, science, technology, sports, entertainment, and other professions. We appreciate your contributions to our communities and admire your achievements.
A. Scott Bolden Partner, Washington, DC Morehouse College Graduating Class of 1984
A FUTURE SO BRIGHT YOU CAN ALMOST TASTE IT
FROM YOUTH DEVELOPMENT TO SKILLS-BASED LEARNING, COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AND MORE, WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT EDUCATION BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE EVERYONE WITH A THIRST TO LEARN SHOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS.
Building for everyone, with everyone.
There’s a world where everyone belongs. Let’s build it together. Every person deserves the opportunity to express their creativity, achieve their goals, and reach their full potential. Getting this right requires partnership, so we’re designing with overlooked communities and sharing what works with everyone.
GNG’s impact on Atlanta’s youth
You’ve worked hard for the life you’ve built. That’s why we work hard to help you protect it. Since 1905, our
and protection products have been helping Americans plan for a
We understand that Atlanta faces unique challenges when it comes to breaking the cycle of poverty — especially for its youth. That’s why we have dedicated a significant portion of our community resources toward supporting children and education. Go to gng.com to learn more.
SUNDAY, JAN.
TUESDAY, FEB.
SUNDAY,
2026 Gala Steering Committee
Henry M. Goodgame Jr. ’84 Chair, Founder’s Week Planning Committee Vice President, Office of External Relations and Alumni Engagement
Joe Carlos III ’04 Director of Alumni Engagement, Programming and Events Office of External Relations and Alumni Engagement
Kimberly M. Brown
Signature Events Coordinator Office of External Relations and Alumni Engagement
Candace Bazemore Director, Digital Strategy and Transformation Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
Kevin R. Booker ’90 Vice President for Student Services and Dean of the College Office of Student Services
Kendrick Brown, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President Office of Academic Affairs
Shiekgo Carter Associate Director Office of Event Support Services
Gary C. Clark II ’15 Multimedia Coordinator Office of External Relations and Alumni Engagement
Barry Cauthen Deputy Chief of Police Campus Police & Security
Christian Cobb
Assistant Director of Facilities Cushman & Wakefield Services
Michael Davenport Director of Transportation Services Transportation Services
D. Aileen Dodd
Associate Vice President of Advancement Communications and Marketing Office of Institutional Advancement
Katina Henderson Hawkins Director of Parent Engagement, Partnerships, and Event Sponsorships Office of External Relations and Alumni Engagement
Ako Drew
Sports Marketing Manager Office of Athletics
Harold Ellis ’92 Director of Athletics Office of Athletics
Lindsey Ferguson
Senior Executive Assistant Office of the President
Robert H. Bolton ’86 Gala Co-Founder & Consultant President and CEO
R.H. Bolton Inc.
James Smartt Director, Event Support Services Office of Event Support Services
Philmon Thomas Associate Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer Office of Business and Finance
Michael Turner Associate Dean of Students and Ombudsperson Division of Student Services/Department of Housing and Residential Education
Klara S. Wesley Executive Assistant Office of External Relations and Alumni Engagement
Kimberly Wigley Executive Assistant Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
Adrienne C. Willis Gala & Society Dinner Consultant Founder and CEO Lance Lucas & Associates
Stephanie Whittaker Senior Administrative Support Specialist Division of Creative and Performing Arts
Timothy A. Williams ’87 Assistant Dean of Campus Ministry Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
Tracie Young
Associate Vice President of Finance Office of Business and Finance
& INAUGURAL BALL
The President and Board of Trustees would like to thank the Morehouse community and friends for your generous financial support of our General Scholarship Fund.
Thank you for your generosity. Your contributions have allowed us to realize our dreams. We are on our way to becoming Morehouse Men.
