Notable Alumni-Politicians and Public Servants
Name | Graduation Year | Position Held |
---|---|---|
Barbara Leek-Wesson | 1948 | Mrs. Wesson has always been interest in service to others. She was one of 3 Negro students to integrate The Methodist Nursing School. They lived in the nurses' dormitory on 6th and Grant. She later became involved with the "Model Cities Program," as a Community activist. She worked her way up to the position of Assistant Director of Model City. Then President of Gary Model Cities Resident Community Organization. Ms. Wesson was very familiar with the problems of the Gary citizens and her neighborhood. She decided to seek the office of City Clerk and won. |
Bishop Henry M. Williamson | 1967 | Bishop Williamson was very young when he answered his call to the ministry. After graduation from high school. He went on to college and received a degree in Sociology from Purdue University Calumet. Progressing on to Divinity school at Garrett-Evangelical Seminary. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from United Theological Seminary. Shortly after high school Bishop Williamson became associate minister at Israel CME church in his home town of Gary, IN. He was affiliated with a number of churches in the Mid West and the South. Bishop Williamson's fight for civil rights and his focus on partnerships between churches and schools ; estblisged the "One Church, One School" program. He became President of Operation Push (1991-1993). |
Carolyn Brown Mosby | 1949 | After graduating from Roosevelt and the University of Illinois, she worked as administrative assistant for the University of Chicago Graduate Department of Economics. Ms. Mosby was an active participant in civic affairs in her community. Her first emergence in the political area resulted with her becoming the first Afro-American woman becoming a State Representative of Indiana. |
Charles "Chuck" Huges | 1966 | Chuck has always been interested in people and how to help them. Educated at IUNW and Midwestern School of Broadcasting. He was the first Afro-American sports director and play by play announcer for the radio station WWCA. Chuck has served on the Gary City Council and currently the Executive Director of the Gary Chamber of Commerce. |
Cleo Wesson | 1943 | Mr. Wesson served on the Gary City Council for 37 Years, from 1960 - 1997. He was respectfully thought of as, and called the (Dean of City Council). Mr. Wesson served on every committee within the Council structure and held the Presidency 7 years. |
David Wade | 1962 | Mr. Wade has led a life of service. He enlisted into the US Air Force after graduation, served 4 years, and returned to work with the US Postal Service, then joined the Gary Police force. Advancing his career to Gary Asst. Police Chief & then, Chief of Police (1988-1994) |
Deidre Monroe | 1979 | Judge Monroe was an honor grad from Roosevelt high school. She Attended Indiana State University and Valparaiso University Law School. She has had experience from both sides of the court room. A Public Defender, 8 yrs and a Deputy Prosecutor for 3 yrs. She is currently serving as Gary City Judge for the past 6 years. |
Dr. Bernard C. Watson | 1947 | Dr. Watson was co-founder of our National Gary Theodore Roosevelt Alumni Assoc. Inc. He holds the position of President Emeritus. His love of educational endeavors started at Roosevelt. He was an honor graduate, class of 1947, returning as a teacher, and Administrator, all at Gary Roosevelt. He moved on to higher education and became a University Professor, and Academic VP at Temple University. He was also a Presidential Appointee to Nat'l Advisory Council on Educational Development. He was the past President and CEO of William Pen Foundation. Dr. Watson has also authored several educational books. |
Earline S. Rogers | 1952 | Mrs. Rogers formal education after Roosevelt was a degree and masters from Indiana University-Bloomington. She also earned an advanced inducement in Reading. Working with Gary Community Schools, she moved from the classroom to administration. In 1980 she became intensely interested in politics. Becoming the Councilperson of Gary's third district. Mrs. Rogers continued her political career and became President of the City Council. Making her the first female president in the City's history. In 1983 she was elected State Representative of the Fourteenth House District; making her the first Afro-American female to serve in that 100 member body. Moving from Representative to Senate in 1990 she retied after 34years of State and local service. |
Karen Freeman-Wilson | 1978 | Mrs. Freeman-Wilson was an honor graduate from Roosevelt and matriculated to Harvard University and Harvard Law School. She has served as a city judge, Indiana Attorney General and two term Mayor of the City of Gary. Currently president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. |
Kimberly Robinson | 1986 | Ms. Robinson has had a work history in helping people. She became interested in politics and ran for her first political office in 2014, and was elected to Calumet Township Trustee. She currently serving her third term. |
Linda Barnes-Caldwell | 1983 | Councilwoman Barnes-Caldwell being a Register Nurse had an innate interest in helping people, especially in her community she ran for the city council for the 5th District and won. Currently in her second term as Councilwoman |
Maurice D. Bean | 1946 | Maurice was active in a variety of school activities while at Roosevelt. He was in both junior and senior national honor society. He went to Howard University. After graduating from college Maurice became interested government. In the area of foreign services caught his attention. He worked with the US Bureau of Census first. that job lead him to Djakarta, Indonesia. He had many different foreign service assignments. Mr. Bean's international career spans more than 25 years. |
McArthur Hayes | 1962 | Postmaster USPS |
Robert E. Rucker | 1964 | Justice Rucker was working his way through college, (IUN), when a slight change in his schedule caused him to be drafted into the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He returned to his studies. Planning to become a doctor. A chance meeting with a young Black lawyer caused him to change his direction. Completing law school, he worked as City of Gary Attorney, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Lake County. Justice Rucker has had a continuous and consistent career advancement becoming a Judge on Indiana Court of Appeals and retiring as a Indiana Supreme Court Justice. |
Roosevelt Allen Jr. | 1965 | Mr. Roosevelt Allen Jr. was Co-Owner of one of the oldest Black owned business in Gary. He also had a strong desire to serve his community. He became interested in politic and was elected to the Calumet Township Advisory Board for 24 years. He was also elected to the Lake County Commissioner for 6 years. |
Roy Pratt | 1957 | Mr. Pratt was a formidable high school football player. He attended Indiana University- Bloomington. He returned to Gary started his teaching and coaching career at Beckman Junior High. His political interest started in 1972 and he was elected to Gary City Council in 1983. Councilman Pratt was known as a person of strong opinion who relished in speaking his mind. Mr. Pratt had six term on the City Council. |
Rudolph "Rudy" Clay | 1953 | Mr. Clay matriculated to Indiana University-Bloomington for several years. Returning to Gary and developing a number of entrepreneurial projects. He also sold insurance and was active in community life. He decided to become more directly involved with the political structure of the County. realizing the relationship between the City and County was not what it should be. He decided to run for County Council, his first time running for any office; he won! Successfully breaking down racial barriers, becoming the first Black to be elected to the Council in the history of Lake County. Mr. Clay, always advocated for constituents and was able to get many Bills enacted that made life better for Lake County citizens. In 1972 he ran and won for State Senator, served for 4 yrs. He returned to run for County recorder, After being the Recorder. He became the Mayor of Gary for two terms, |
Thomas V. Barnes | 1954 | After high school, Mr. Barnes attended and graduated from Purdue University; then received his law degree form DePaul University in 1972. Mr. Barnes became Mayor of Gary in 1988, and re-elected in 1991. |
Thomas Crump | 1958 | Mr. Crump attended Wiley College in Texas and Indiana University-Northwest. Businessman/ Politian, and Entrepreneur. Insurance Representative; Senior Care facility owner, and mayoral candidate (1983). |
Know of any Notables we should include? Please fill out the form below, give us their name, Graduation year, and information such as their achievement pre- and post graduation and their occupation.