ATLANTA, February 13, 2003 -- Morehouse College will celebrate its 136th anniversary during Founders’ Week 2003, February 10-16.

The celebration will kick off with a special Founders’ Day Convocation that will include:

• the unveiling of a portrait of the College’s fourth president, George Sale;
• the official naming of the Margaret Mitchell Marsh Dean’s Chair for the Humanities and Social Sciences, named for Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone With the Wind,”;
• and the conferring of the honorary doctorate of humane letters on former Motown music executive and recording industry pioneer Clarence Avant.

During his 30-year career, Avant has been actively involved in promoting opportunities for African-Americans in the recording industry. He has helped foster the reputations of numerous performers and producers, and advised prominent Americans in both government and business. His success has been achieved mostly through individual effort, rather than collaboration with others in the recording industry.

"He's been there for everybody, and if he'd helped himself as much as he's helped everyone else along the way, he'd be a billionaire by now," said Quincy Jones, record producer and good friend of Avant, in a 1991 Black Enterprise article.

The Convocation, which will take place at 10:45 a.m., will also feature a special preview performance by the world-renowned Dance Theatre of Harlem. The troupe will perform at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on Friday, February 14 at 8 p.m.

The full Founders’ Week schedule is below:
Thursday, February 13, 2003
Founders’ Day Convocation
Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
Speaker: Rev. Otis Moss III ’92
Pastor, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Augusta, GA
Honorary Degree Recipient: Clarence Avant, Music Recording Executive
Unveiling of Sale Portrait
Official naming of Margaret Mitchell Marsh Dean’s Chair for the Humanities and Social Sciences
10:45 a.m.

Friday, February 14, 2003
The Campaign for a New Century Launch
(Morehouse College announces its $105 million capital campaign)
Kilgore Campus Center Plaza
11: a.m.

Founders’ Day Concert
Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
Featuring the Dance Theatre of Harlem
Tickets Available through TicketMaster
VIP Seating: $50
General Admission: $40
8 p.m.

Saturday, February 15, 2003
Reflections of Excellence
Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
Featuring the 2003 “Bennie” and “Candle” Award Recipients
(Honorees address the campus community in a panel discussion on their goals and accomplishments-see list below)
Moderator: Jovita Moore, Reporter/Anchor, WSB-TV
11a.m.

15th Annual “A Candle in the Dark” Gala
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Centennial Ballroom
Mistress of Ceremonies: Lynn Whitfield, Emmy Award-winning Actress
7:30 p.m.

This year's honorees include:

• Candle Award in Journalism: Edward Bradley-Senior Correspondent for CBS News 60 Minutes
• Candle Award in Business: Robert L. Johnson-Founder/Chairman Black Entertainment Television, Owner NBA expansion team, Charlotte, N.C.
• Candle Award in Science: Keith L. Black-Director, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute and Division of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• Candle Award in Education: Kwame Anthony Appiah-Distinguished Author and Philosopher, Laurence S. Rockefeller Professor of Philosophy, Princeton University
• Bennie Trailblazer Award: Willie "Flash" Davis '56-Prominent Criminal Defense Attorney and Litigator, Partner with Davis, Robinson & White, LLP
• Bennie Service Award: Jeh Charles Johnson '79- Former General Counsel for the United States Air Force, Litigation Partner with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
• Bennie Achievement Award: Harold A. Dawson, Sr. '63- Distinguished Atlanta-based Entrepreneur and Real Estate Developer, Chairman and CEO, Harold A. Dawson Company

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