ABOVE PHOTO: Linda Wright Moore speaks in front of the portrait dedicated to her late husband Acel Moore. The artist of the portrait Raphael Tiberino, Stephen Satell and Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr. look on. (Photo: Robert Mendelsohn)
Patricia Gilliam Clifford
By Patricia Gilliam Clifford
The Third Annual Philadelphia Legacies Awards Dinner was held on September 30 at the Victorian Banquet Hall in the city’s historic Germantown section. Stephen C. Satell is the executive director of the organization which honors Philadelphians that have made outstanding contributions to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection through communications/media, education, sports, philanthropy, entrepreneurship and other occupations.
This year’s distinguished honorees were former Phillies All-Star Richard “Dick” Allen; Trudy Haynes, pioneering television newswoman and talk show host, whose career spanned 33 years at KYW-TV; the late Acel Moore, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and founder of the National Association of Black Journalists; and Tina Sloan Green, Temple University’s three-time National Championship Lacrosse Coach and president and founder of the Black Women in Sport Foundation.
CBS-3 news co-anchor Ukee Washington, was the evening’s engaging host. Commissioned portraits of the honorees by talented local artist, Raphael Tiberino, were unveiled during the awards presentation. Guests also enjoyed live music by accomplished saxophonist Sam Reed.
I asked Satell about his inspiration for bringing this event to fruition.
“In 1996, I created the largest speakers, mentoring and critical thinking program in Philadelphia schools —Bridging Worlds,” Satell said. “When the Democratic Convention was held here, I wanted to showcase Philadelphia in a broader way and show the accomplishments of people such as David and Falaka Fattah, who ended territorial gang war in the 1970s; Miller Parker, who was the inspiration for the Negro League Baseball statue and Charles Blockson, who created the fifth largest Black library in the country.
I also wanted to create a platform to shine the light on those who helped solve problems in the past and who also focus on the problems of today. Philadelphia generates billions of dollars for job opportunities, but we also have the highest poverty rate of any major city. We need to roll up our sleeves and solve some of these problems in a positive atmosphere, as we recognize the accomplishments of the past.”
Satell also spoke with me about his appreciation for the continuous support of Philadelphia Legacies by former Philadelphia Mayor, the Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr., who has been an invaluable advisor; Catherine Hicks, co-owner and publisher of the Philadelphia Sunday SUN; Lowell Thomas, Esq., professor of law; Diane Turner, curator of the Charles Blockson Collection at Temple University, and other members of the Philadelphia Legacies Steering Committee.
Former colleagues of Acel Moore take a group photo: Joseph Blake; Sarah Glover, President of PABJ; Linda Wright Moore, Michael Days and Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr. (Photo: Robert Mendelsohn)
Linda Wright Moore, widow of Acel Moore, who is an accomplished, retired broadcast journalist and communicator in her own right, accepted the award on his behalf.
“The Philadelphia Legacies Awards event was warm and inspirational, and I know Acel would be proud to be included,” she said. “The portrait of him by Raphael Tiberino is beautiful. For me, the occasion was made more memorable because people who knew and loved Acel were in attendance. NABJ President Sarah Glover, one of his favorite proteges, was there along with other journalistic colleagues, including Michael Days, vice president for diversity and inclusion, Philadelphia Media Network; Joseph Blake, formerly of the Philadelphia Daily News and Oscar Miller, also of PMN, who has worked so hard to keep the Acel Moore High School of Journalism program going and growing. Also present were Acel’s and my dear friends, Raymond and Sylvia Webster.
I really respect and appreciate Steve Satell’s passion and commitment to keeping the stories of outstanding Philadelphians alive, sharing those stories with young people – and also fundraising to support nonprofit leaders in the community. I thank Philadelphia Legacies for this prestigious honor.”
Honoree Tina Sloan Green, founder and president of Black Women in Sport Foundation, stands in front of her portrait with her husband Frank Green. (Photo: Robert Mendelsohn)
Tina Sloan Green delivered heartfelt remarks when honored.
“It is my hope that my life story and my beautiful portrait will inspire Black women and girls to participate in non-traditional sports,”she said. “I am living proof that education and sports can be valuable change agents.”
Sloan Green shared that she was raised in Eastwick Philadelphia by her parents, Norwood and Sally Sloan, who did not attend college, but kept her family involved in church, where God, values and respect for self and others were emphasized. As a student at the Philadelphia High School for Girls, her physical education teachers and coaches recognized her talent and invited her to participate in field hockey and other sports.
“My coaches also advised me to attend West Chester State College where I would be coached and mentored by the renown Vonnie Gros,” she said. “In addition, education and sports allowed me to coach and teach at Lincoln University, experience different cultures, acquire lifelong friends, participate on national and international teams and inspire other young ladies from various racial and economic backgrounds to attend Temple University, where they received a superb education and elevated the lacrosse team to national prominence.”
Trudy Haynes pays tribute to Stephen C. Satell, executive director of Philadelphia Legacies after she received her portrait. (Photo: Robert Mendelsohn)
The legendary Trudy Haynes —who continues to host an online show called “The Trudy Haynes Show” — remains poised, elegant and enthusiastic about her work.
“How very grateful I am to receive this honor from old and new friends, and be able to say thank you to Philadelphia for the successful and encouraging years in throughout my career,” she said. “The portrait is a delightful and everlasting tribute.”
When Ukee Washington introduced Haynes, he thanked her for paving the path for him to be in his current role as a successful broadcast journalist.
The portrait unveiling of Philadelphia educator Dr. Ruth Wright Hayre took place at Richard R. Wright Elementary School among students, teachers, community and political leaders including Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, State Rep. Jim Roebuck and State Rep. Donna Bullock. This event was part of the Philadelphia Legacies celebration week. Born to a family of educators, she carried her family’s legacy as Philadelphia’s first African-American high school teacher and principal, and the first female head of the Philadelphia School Board.
(Photo courtesy: Facebook of Rep. Donna Bullock)
Richard Allen Jr. accepted the honor on behalf of his father, Philadelphia Phillies star Dick Allen.
“I would have to say that I am proud of my father and his accomplishments,” he said. “Knowing that he made a positive impression on the City of Philadelphia makes me even more proud to be Richard Allen, Jr.”
Allen, Jr. was accompanied by Mark “Froggy” Carfagno, a former groundskeeper for the Phillies at the old Connie Mack Stadium. Carfagno told the approximately 200 people assembled for the dinner at the Victoria Banquet Hall on Germantown Ave., that Allen was a fantastic player who deserved to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame, and performed brilliantly on the field well despite the taunts, threats, slurs and hatred hurled at him. . . even by Phillies fans.
“I don’t see how he did it,” said Carfagno. “Night after night of people cursing you, calling you all sorts of names and even throwing smoke bombs; and still he performed with calm and dignity.”
Legacy Week activities also include:
- Friday, October 5th — Approximately 75 students will take a ghost tour at 7:30 p.m. to discover hidden secrets in the shadows of one of America’s most historic and, some say, most haunted city—Philadelphia. The tour will go along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence Park , Society Hill and Old City, where ghostly spirits, haunted houses and centuries-old graveyards offer a deeper look into the City of Brotherly Love.
- Saturday, October 6th — Award winning actress Daisy Century will give a one-woman presentation as Harriet Tubman at Fergie’s Pub, 1214 Sansom Street. The performance starts at Noon and admission is free.
- Tuesday, October 9th — Close to 75 students will join the Franklin Instiute’s Chief Astronomer, Derrick Pitts, on a Night Skies tour of the planets through telescopes in the Bloom Observatory on the observation deck.
Congratulations to Philadelphia Legacies, honorees, supporters and all involved in this inspiring endeavor.
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