2 | The Daily News | Black History Month | February 2022 Valuable Advice in Advance Planning. Compassionate Guidance in Your Time of Need. We offer quality, understanding and expertise in funerals, cremations and preplanning. Our entire team is committed to providing honest and knowledgeable service in times of need, making us the funeral home our community trusts to ensure dignified and personalized final arrangements for cherished loved ones. We’re here for you Preplan Today & Save Get the value and peace of mind that come with preplanning, and spare your loved ones the hardship of making difficult decisions in their time of grief. Contact us today to arrange your free preplanning consultation with an experienced professional. 3828 Ave O | Galveston, TX 77550 409.762.8470 | www.fieldsjohnson.com Fields-Johnson Family MortuaryFebruary 2022 | Black History Month | The Daily News | 3 celebrates UTMB is proud to celebrate and honor the many historical firsts that are a part of our storied legacy as the first medical school in Texas. UTMB’s Black Alliance Employee Resource Group recently produced a historical overview of Black Americans and health milestones in our region. Watch the video by scanning the QR code above or visiting https://fb.watch/bae0UczKA6/ . utmbhealth.com Dr. Herman Barnett In 1949, after serving as a World War II fighter pilot and member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, Austin native Dr. Herman Barnett became the state’s first Black medical student and the first to earn a medical degree when he graduated from UTMB in 1953. He graduated with honors and went on to complete his internship and surgical residency at UTMB. In 1968, the surgeon, anesthesiologist and civic leader became the first Black American to serve on the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners and, a few years later, the first Black president of the Houston Independent School District Board of Education. Nurse Wilina Gatson , R.N., B.S.N., was the first Black woman to graduate from the UTMB School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. She actively promoted civil rights through her long-standing work with the NAACP at the local and state levels. She also made major contributions to the Galveston community through her decades of service and leadership in numerous organizations, including the Galveston County Black Nurses Association, Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation and St. Vincent’s House, which honored her in 2011 with the Houston Heroes Award. 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Robco FACILITY SERVICES 409-945-5539 Fax (409) 945-5835 www.robcoservices.com “The time is always right to do what is right.” -Martin Luther King Jr. February 2022 | Black History Month | The Daily News | 5 GALVESTON GREATS African Americans who contributed to island’s past, present and future Stories courtesy of Galveston Historical Foundation Photos courtesy of Rosenberg Library ANDREW AUGUSTUS ‘GUS’ ALLEN Entrepreneur, businessman and restaurateur (1905-1988) • Allen was one of Galveston’s best- known African-American entrepreneurs. His business interests were diverse and included motels, barbecue pit stops, restaurants, coffee shops, clubs and apartment buildings, all of which catered to the African-American community. • He started out shining shoes at the historic Hotel Galvez on the seawall. Allen always told family, friends and employees that, “Success comes before work in the dictionary.” • At the time, most beachfront activi- ties for African Americans were confined to the one block area of 28th Street and Seawall Boulevard. Capitalizing on this, he opened his businesses within this one block stretch, including the Jambalaya Restaurant, Gus Allen’s Hotel, Gus Allen’s Cafe, as well as the colored dance hall. • In the 1950s, he joined the civil rights movement in an effort to ensure the African-American citizens of Galves- ton, as well as African-American visitors to the island, had places to shop, lodge and find entertainment. THOMAS D. ‘T.D.’ ARMSTRONG Entrepreneur (1907-1972) • Thomas D. Armstrong was born on a sugarcane plantation in Meeker, Louisi- ana in 1907. • In 1938, he worked as an assistant manager of Strode Funeral Home in Galveston. He eventually purchased the funeral home and changed the name to Strode Armstrong Mortuary. • Armstrong was known around town and became a very successful business- man who owned several properties and businesses that employed numerous Galvestonians. • His business ventures included T.D. Armstrong Real Estate, Tyler Life of Texas Insurance, T. D. Armstrong Invest- ments, apartment buildings, a barber shop, a beauty shop, a laundromat and a service station. • Armstrong was very active in the community and supported the YMCA, the Boy Scouts of America, The Boy’s Club and several other nonprofit organizations. • In 1961, Armstrong became the first African American elected to Galveston’s City Council since Norris Wright Cuney was elected a city alderman in 1883. • Armstrong’s personal wealth was not- ed in printed articles published in Ebony magazine and other publications. In Sep- tember 1961, Ebony magazine included a story about Armstrong titled “Negro Politician Makes Good in Texas — Plan- tation-born ex-teacher rises to wealth and post on Galveston City Council,” followed by an article in May 1962 issue of Ebony that declared Armstrong one of “Amer- ica’s 100 Richest Negroes.” The list also included Harry Belafonte, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis and Floyd Patterson. • Armstrong died Dec. 28, 1972, at age 65. Most, if not all, of his property has been destroyed, demolished or sold but his legacy lives on through the memories of everyone who was lucky enough to know him. NORRIS WRIGHT CUNEY Businessman, politician, educator and activist (1846-1898) • Cuney was born near Hempstead, Texas to a slave-owning father and enslaved woman. His father was a state senator and very wealthy planter. • He moved to Galveston after the Galveston Greats » Page 76 | The Daily News | Black History Month | February 2022 BLACK HISTORY ROSENBERG LIBRARY CELEBRATES MONTH EXPLORE BLACK GALVESTON'S HISTORY Galveston & Texas History Center • Rosenberg Library Museum • Databases • Books 409.763.8854 rosenberg-library.org Julie Greenwell Real Estate Agent 281-622-1344 O’CONNELL COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Celebrates our amazing Seniors during Black History month! Katherine Taylor - National Honor Society Vice President, German Honor Society, O’Connell Student Ambassador. Majoring in Psychology at the University of Houston Alyce Walker-Como - Student Body President, First team all-district basketball 2020-2021, O’Connell Student Ambassador. Majoring in Kinesiology at Galveston College and Texas Southern University Raphfel Moss - Class President, State runner-up in 300 hurdles, honorable mention for EXOS Select 50 All-American basketball, 1st team all-state for basketball. Will run track and major in Sports Management at Spring Arbor University Re’Nae Horton - 2nd team all-district basketball 4 years running, 2nd team all-district softball freshman year, Student Council. Majoring in Health/ Kinesiology at the University of Houston NOW ENROLLING GRADES 9-12 -765-5534 WWW.OCONNELLPREP.COM February 2022 | Black History Month | The Daily News | 7 Civil War; he helped victims as a volun- teer nurse during the 1867 yellow fever epidemic. • Cuney was the inspector of cus- toms at the Port of Galveston in 1873, the first Black-elected alderman in Galveston in 1883, school director of Galveston County in 1871 and collector of customs at the port in 1889. • When Cuney proposed to have one integrated school on the island, council did not approve. So, he secured the funding to establish Central High School, the state’s first high school for African-American students. • In 1879, Cuney led the Cotton Jam- mers Association (Black dockworkers who could not get into the Screwmen’s Benevolent Association). In 1883, he formed Screwmen’s Benevolent Associ- ation 2. He was the only employer who would hire black workers from the 1880s to 1890s. LILLIAN DAVIS Librarian (1897-1955) • Davis served as the librarian for the Rosenberg Library Colored Branch from the 1920s through the 1950s. • She was admired by students and highly regarded by administrators at the main library. • Davis and John R. Gibson, head librarian at the time, worked to build a book collection relevant to the island’s African-American residents. They re- quested funds from Rosenberg Library’s board of directors for the purchase of books by Black authors and scholars. • During her tenure, Davis created popular programs for adults, such as the Book Lovers’ Club. In addition to regular book discussion meetings, the club presented musical programs and art exhibits at the Colored Branch. WILINA GARNER MITCHELL GATSON Registered nurse (1925-2011) • Gatson was the first African-Amer- ican female to graduate from the University of Texas Medical Branch Bachelor of Science Nursing Program and is a Distinguished Alumnus in the University of Texas Medical Branch Hall of Fame. • Gatson graduated from Galveston’s Central High School with honors and was a lifelong resident of Galveston, active in the religious, civic and com- munity affairs of the city. Her drive to achieve and excel, despite racial, gender and cultural limitations of that time, led her to become a trailblazer in her field. • She was named Outstanding UTMB School of Nursing Student of the Year in 1958 and was an officer of the UTMBSN Alumni Association. • Gatson served as Director of Nurs- ing at Moody State School for Cerebral Palsied Children and was Nursing House Supervisor of St. Mary’s Hospital. • While making inroads on an individual level, Gatson continually fought for rights and opportunities for all people through her work with the Civil Liberty League, the NAACP and more. JOHN ARTHUR ‘JACK’ JOHNSON Heavyweight boxing champion (1878-1946) • Johnson became a professional boxer in 1897, and won all but six of 113 fights. • He was the first African-American Heavy Weight Champion of the World. He held this title from 1908 to 1915. •His nickname was “The Galveston Giant.” • Johnson was sentenced to jail in 1913 for violating Mann Act. He fled the country soon after and toured Mex- ico, Canada and Europe. He returned to serve his sentence in 1920, and was pardoned May 24, 2018. • He received a patent for improve- ments on a wrench in April 18, 1922. • Jack Johnson Park at Old Central, 2601 Ave. M in Galveston, was dedicat- ed to him in 2012. JESSIE MCGUIRE DENT Teacher, dean and activist (1891-1948) • During her time at Howard Univer- sity, Dent joined Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first African-American intercolle- giate sorority. Soon, she felt that the sorority was more of a social club because members were not equipped to engage in social issues, such as the suffrage movement. So, she founded Delta Sigma Theta, which marched in GALVESTON GREATS Continued Page » 5 Galveston Greats » Page 9 Courtesy/Galveston Historical Foundation, Gatson Family Private Collection Wilina Gatson was the first Black student to graduate from the University of Texas Medical Branch’s nursing program in 1960. Lillian Davis, right, presents a $25 savings bond to Central High School student Roberta Woolright for her prize-winning essay, “Why Galveston Should Support the Rosenberg Library” in 1946.8 | The Daily News | Black History Month | February 2022 MAINLAND FUNERAL HOME Michael W. Hurst, Location Manager 2711 Hwy 1765, La Marque | 409.938.8123 | www.mainlandfhlamarque.com A T rAdiTion of Q uAliTy And E xcEllEncE S incE 1951 Sunday, February 22, 2022 4:00 pm Old Central Cultural Center 2627 Ave M, Galveston Celebrating Music By African American Composers & Arrangers 30th Anniversary Concert Galveston Heritage Chorale’s FREE ADMISSION!ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE ACCESS RESPECT INTEGRITY INNOVATION STUDENT SUCCESS STEWARDSHIP OPENING DOORS. CHANGING LIVES. GC.EDU the women’s suffrage parade in March 1913. • Dent was a teacher of Latin and English, as well as the Dean of Girls at Central High School. She was a charter member of the Gamma Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in Galveston. • In 1943, she sued for equal pay- ment for Black educators and oth- er employees in Galveston’s public schools; they had been paid 20 percent less than white teachers. Dent won the case June 15, 1943, and the judge ruled that the district increase African-Amer- ican employees’ pay to be equal to whites by 1945. CLARY MILBURN Restaurateur (1940-2016) • Born the son of sharecroppers in Opelousas, Louisiana, Milburn expe- rienced a lifestyle of hard work first- hand. In 1957, he moved to Galveston and acquired a position at John Sealy Hospital’s restaurant. • He took his strong work ethic to Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant and Pelican Club, a private, member’s-only dining area within the historic seawall restau- rant. He was known as the “best of the best” of an elite group of waiters selected to work the club. • He opened Clary’s Seafood Restau- rant in 1977. The menu at Clary’s reflected family influence and offered a variety of Louisiana-style dishes that included gumbo, shrimp, oysters and fish cooked in a variety of ways. Ev- erything was delicious, but it was the service and ambiance that customers remembered. • Milburn and his wife, Doris, were the parents of seven children, many of whom worked in the family restaurant. • Clary’s Seafood Restaurant strug- gled to return after Hurricane Ike in 2008. In 2011, the restaurant was dam- aged in a fire. The restaurant eventual- ly closed in 2015. BARRY WHITE Musician (1944-2003) • Born Barry Eugene Carter, White was a singer-songwriter, recorder, pro- ducer, arranger and musician. His mu- sic focused primarily on funk, rhythm and blues, soul and disco. • Over the course of his career, he generated 106 gold and 41 platinum albums, 20 gold and 10 platinum records and accrued sales in excess of 100 million records. Also, he won three Grammy awards. • His infamous voice was often uti- lized for voice-overs in movies, televi- sion shows and commercials. February 2022 | Black History Month | The Daily News | 9 GALVESTON GREATS Continued Page » 7Next >