J. Maynard Dickerson was born in Hamilton, Ohio July 9, 1899. He came to Youngstown as a youth, graduating from The Rayen School before going on to The Ohio State University. He become a member Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Zeta Chapter in 1919.He then pursued legal studies at the Youngstown College of Law and was admitted to the bar in 1930. He married Virginia Hall in 1933 and they were together until his passing.

After two stints as an assistant prosecutor (1928-1936 and 1939-1942), he was named the first black city prosecutor of Youngstown in 1943. During his legal studies, he ran a printing business, and out of this launched The Buckeye Review, a local weekly newspaper covering the black community in Youngstown at a time when The Vindicator gave very limited coverage.  Nathaniel R. Jones mother came to work for him as a subscription manager, and this led to Nathaniel’s association with Dickerson.

Dickerson first gave him the opportunity to write sports columns. He was a tough editor, marking up his columns with red ink so that they looked “like something chickens had a fight over.” But he explained why every correction he made mattered as well as grooming him in speaking and public behavior. Dickerson was a local officer and president (later state president) of the NAACP. A number of national speakers came to Youngstown to speak, and Dickerson always made sure Jones was at his side to learn from, and establish a relationship with these leaders. Jones served as president of the NAACP Youth Council and was alongside Dickerson in his civil rights advocacy. Later, Dickerson helped advocate for his appointment by Robert Kennedy as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio in Cleveland in 1961.

In 1949, Dickerson was appointed as Vice Chairman and first black member of the Ohio Industrial Commission and eventually was appointed Chairman in 1959, holding that position until 1963. In 1958 he attended a conference convened by President Eisenhower. When Dickerson died, Bob Riley, assistant superintendent of the Safety and Hygiene Division said of his service:

“For many years Maynard served the people of Ohio as Industrial Commission Chairman. He combined a dedicated sense of responsibility while retaining and conveying ‘the common touch’ with employers and employees alike.”

He then went on to serve on the Ohio Liquor Commission until 1970. He fought for civil rights for blacks all his life, advocating for the first Fair Employment Practices Law in Ohio and serving as counsel in school desegregation cases in Dayton and Columbus.

Among his affiliations were membership at Oak Hill A.M.E. Church in Youngstown, the Elks, a Masonic Lodge, and the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He received a Phi Beta Kappa award for outstanding work in the field of education and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Central State University in 1960.

He died at his home in Columbus, Ohio on August 5, 1976 of a cerebral hemorrhage. He was a civil rights pioneer, publisher, mentor, and a leader in city and state government. Perhaps Nathaniel R. Jones, in his memoir, summarized it best when he said, “…I shall be forever grateful to J. Maynard Dickerson. He stood out as the most powerful African-American in the valley and one of the most significant in the state. He did not shirk from using The Buckeye Review to challenge the racial status quo.”

Judge Haynes was the first African-American Municipal Court Judge in Youngstown, Ohio. Judge Haynes moved to Youngstown as a child from Dublin, Georgia. He graduated from the Rayen High School, where he was an All City Basketball Player, while working as a Vindicator carrier. Upon graduating from Rayen, he entered the Youngstown Police Department as a policeman. He later became a vice-squad officer, deputy sheriff and retired from the department as a detective. While serving on the police force, he attended and graduated from Youngstown State University and law school. He went on to become a Mahoning County Assistant District Attorney. It was at this time Former Governor John J. Gilligan appointed him as a Municipal Court Judge. Judge Haynes was later elected by the Youngstown community and served on the bench for over twenty years. He belonged to numerous organizations including Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated as a founder of the Beta Pi Chapter May 5, 1946. He was also a Deacon at Lincoln Avenue Christian Church.

Judge Haynes was a proud man and loved his family. He is survived by his wife Helena Harvey Haynes. They had four children: Betty Haynes Rogers of Houston, TX, Loretta Haynes Hobbs (deceased), Attorney Lloyd R. Haynes, Jr. (deceased), and Lisa Michelle Haynes (deceased). Judge Haynes has six grandchildren: Dr. Lori Hobbs of Los Angeles, California, Dr. Lisa Hobbs Richardson of Los Angeles, California, Leslie Hobbs Fisher and husband, Dr. Keith Fisher of Alexandria, Virginia, Attorney Lynne Hobbs Smith and husband, Attorney Sanders Smith of Los Angeles, California, Terri L. Rogers of Houston, Texas and Attorney Clarence David Rogers, III of Houston, Texas. Judge Jaynes also has five great-grandchildren: Loretta Richardson, Lauren Richardson, Brandon Fisher, Cameron Fisher, and Sanders Smith, Jr. as well as a host of other loving relatives.

Attorney Floyd Haynes was born in Georgia in 1914 and came to Youngstown at the age of ten.  Haynes was president of Youngstown’s first NAACP Youth Council as a young man, leading the movement against segregation in Youngstown. After serving in World War II, receiving a Victory Medal and a Good Conduct Medal, Haynes returned home to Ohio and was appointed a Field Auditor with the Bureau of Workers Compensation.  Haynes attended Youngstown College where on May 5, 1946 became one of the founders of Beta Pi Chapter. He then received his JD Degree from Akron University and practiced law from 1959-1996.  Attorney Haynes remained active in various civic organizations throughout his life, including serving on the General Counsel and as a Board Member of the Trustees of Youngstown Area Development Corporation, as well as membership in the United Way Council and as President of the Buckeye Review Publishing Corporation.

Dr. Armstrong was born April 17, 1919 in Youngstown, a son of Fletcher F. and Maggie (Madge E. Harth) Armstrong.

He was a product of the Youngstown City Schools, having graduated from South High School, class of January 1938, and remained a lifelong resident of this city, where he devoted his life to education and community service.

He was a WWII Army veteran having served in the Field Artillery and Quartermaster Corp as a drill sergeant and company battalion headquarters clerk. After duty in the South Pacific, he was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1946.

He entered Youngstown College and graduated with a BS degree in Business Administration with certification for high school teaching in 1949.  He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity  and was initiated at Youngstown State University, Beta Pi Chapter  12/21/1947.

Dr Armstrong  passed away to the chapter invisible  on February 21, 2007

He was born Oct. 24, 1935 in Youngstown, (Mahoning county) Ohio; the son of the late Henry R. and Rosalie Weathers Johnson.

A 1953 graduate of Youngstown’s North High School, Cliff earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Youngstown State University, Masters of Arts degree from Westminster College of Pennsylvania, and a degree in Special Education from Kent State University.

Professionally; Cliff was a teacher, counselor and coach at Market High School in Warren, Ohio. He was also Principal of First Street Elementary and Warren Western Reserve High School. After retiring for the Warren City School System, Cliff continued working as a Education Consultant for Youngstown and Warren City School Systems. Additionally, Cliff served on the OPERC Board for the Ohio Department of Education, was a member of the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and ONTASC, Inc., as its Chief Executive Officer. Cliff was also a national instructor for the American Red Cross on diversity issues.

Valued for his sage advice, adept management skills, and proven ability to work with diverse population groups, Cliff was past Chairman of the Ohio Parents for Drug Free Youth, Vice Chairman for Valley Counseling/Mental Health, a member of the 910th Airlift Wing, Base Community Council and Trumbull County Heart Association. Additionally, Cliff was part Chairman and current member of the Trumbull County Red Cross and Mahoning Valley Leadership, President of the Campbell Apartments/Mental Health, co-founder, past Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Sharonline Reunion Committee, past Chairman of the United Way of Trumbull County Board of Directors, and the Rebecca Williams Community Center.

Finally, among his memberships were the Warren Sports Hall of Fame Executive Board, Martin Luther King “Dream Team,” the Trumbull County N.A.A.C.P., and was a 50-year member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.  He joined the Fraternity May 22, 1955 at Youngstown State University Beta Pi Chapter.

A notable pioneer in area history, Clifford Johnson was the first African American Foreman of a Trumbull County Grand Jury, first African American high school head coach in the Warren City School System, and the first African American on the Warren City Board of Health.

In spite of all the honors, awards and accomplishments in his life, Cliff was most notably a member of the Second Baptist Church, serving as a Sunday School Teacher, Adult Fellow President, and a member of the Brotherhood.

At every opportunity, Cliff would say that he was second to his devoted wife, Lillie, had unabashed pride in his two sons, Brian and Mark, and cherished his lifelong close relationship with his sister, Bernadette.

YOUNGSTOWN – Otis Coney Sr., 90 of 462 W. LaClede, passed away Thursday, Feb. 22, at Regency Hospital in Barberton.

He was born June 16, 1916 in Dublin, Ga., a son of Eddie and Lillia Pearson Coney.

Otis Coney was a product of the Youngstown City Schools, graduating from The Rayen School, class of 1935 and remained a lifelong resident of this city.

He devoted his life to family, church and community service. He was a WWII U.S. Army veteran, serving as a Tech Sgt. procurement and distribution of supplies. He was honorably discharged in 1945.

He entered Youngstown College and graduated with a B.A. in psychology in 1953. He became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Beta Pi chapter on February 28, 1953. Continuing his education, he received a M.A. degree in vocational counseling from Westminster College in 1955, with additional graduate work from John Carroll University in 1966.

He was an employment interviewer for the Bureau of Employment Services, Director of Human Services with General Fireproofing Co., retiring in 1983, and a faithful employee of the Elm Tree Catering until his illness.

His organizational membership and recognition include being a lifelong member in good standing of St. Andrews AME Church, Sunday School teacher for 20 years, treasurer of the Lay Organization, member of the Wednesday Free Lunch Program, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Elks Buckeye Lodge No. 73, Northside Old Timers, Inc., Caymen Golf League, NAACP and Mahoning Valley Industrial Management Association Inc., past president of Republican Council, Salvation Army Advisory Board, Jubilee Gardens and 12 years on the Youngstown Civil Service Commission.

He was a 33rd degree Mason, a Past Master of Covenant Lodge No. 59, Past Commander-in-chief of Bezaleel Consistory No. 15 of the AASR of Cleveland, Past Most Excellent High Priest of Excelsior Chapter 39 Royal Arch Masons, Past Illustrious Potentate of Al Asir Temple No. 210 and a Past Worthy Patron of Covenant Chapter No. 48 Order of the Eastern Star.

Lawrence was born in Youngstown, Ohio. He graduated from Youngstown East High School. He grew up without much exposure to classical music, but had an extremely musical childhood, playing trumpet, guitar and drums, and singing Gospel music at his family in church in Youngstown. His first gigs were at Cedar Point Park in Sandusky, Ohio singing pop and show tunes.  Brownlee attended Anderson University in Indiana for his undergraduate degree and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music for graduate studies. He studied with soprano Costanza Cuccaro, David Starkey, and Fritz Robertson.  While a graduate student, he became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, his desire to become a member was due in large part to his association with members of its Alpha chapter, founded at Indiana University Bloomington in January 1911. He was officially initiated into the Indianapolis Alumni Chapter in the fall of 1999 but considers himself close to the founding chapter and was involved in many of its activities while a student. He became a life member in 2008. 

Brownlee participated in young artist programs at the Seattle Opera and the Wolf Trap Opera Company. Brownlee has performed worldwide Brownlee lives in Atlanta with his wife, Kendra, and their two children. He is a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also likes photography and playing table tennis, and is an avid salsa dancer. He sang the national anthem at Heinz Field on November 15, 2015 when the Steelers played the Cleveland Browns. He also performed his Spiritual Sketches Concert in 2015 at the DeYor Center Youngstown, Ohio which was sponsored by the Youngstown Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Youngstown Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.