Rosenwald High School - Torch Yearbook (Harlan, KY)

Page 71 text:

1 HISTORY OF THE FIRST HARLANITES In 1 969, Horace Wesley Elliott came to Detroit on a visit. In getting together with some of his schoolmates, he gave us the idea of organizing a Kentucky Club. Dorothy (McCary) Sanders then sent out letters to all known Kentuckians in the Detroit area. The response was very good. Our first meeting took place October 14, 1 969 at the home of Eloise James Ramseur with eight (8) persons present, namely; Winfred Didlake, John Didlake, Emma Lee (Jones) Burton, James (Mudcat) Ramseur, Eloise (McCary) Ramseur, Dorothy (McCary) Sanders, Gladys (Lockett) Warren and Booker T. Kennedy. This was just a temporary get together. One week later we met at the home of Veta Winfred Didlake. The following officers were elected: Winfred Didlake President James Ramseur Vice President Dorothy Sanders Secretary Emma Burton Corresponding Secretary Alberta Lewis Williams Treasurer Gladys Warren Business Manager Emma Didlake Chairperson of the Social Committee The purpose of this club was to have fellowship and annual affairs for all interested Kentuckians and their families. After several meetings we came up with the idea of awarding scholarships to descendants of families of the Harlan County area. We were officially named the Harlanites on November 15, 1969. Our colors are Gold and Black. Our emblem is coal , which stands for the Black Gold mined in that county. We continued to progress and other interested persons became members, namely; Clarence Rhodman, Miriam Kennedy (wife of Booker Kennedy) who became our Sick Fund Treasurer, Floyd Turner, Willie and Mary Eff inger, Henry and Edwina Trentman, Willie B. and Bethel Jackson, Veta Didlake, George and Nora Mahone (Geo. Pratt), Adell Sanders, Hartford L Warren, Jesse and Mattie Logan and Claudia Gardner. The following year, 1 970, Horace W. Elliott, seeing his dream fulfilled became a member, as well as his wife Louise. Still growing, new members to join in 1 970 were as follows: Charles and Mattie Gore, Louise (Calloway) Rivers, Mary Didlake, Ruby (Knox) Person, Charlie Davis, George J. Washington, Vernon Langford, Arthur and Lucille Ramsey, Jesse and Dorothy Mason, George Burton, J. D. Weldon, Emmaand Leroy Ramsey, Gradyand Sally Anderson, Jackie (Didlake) Hinton, Tereace Johnson, and Steve and Beatrice Hill. We as Harlanites stayed active, working towards the First Annual Kentucky Reunion (Harlan County Area), September 5, 1970, held at Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Detroit. Harlanites from all states attended. As the years went along we worked together with our activities and travels which led to our reunion held in Detroit, July 30, 31 and August 1 , 1 976 at the Detroit Cadillac Hotel. We as a club moved into the hotel to be with our guests. The affair was climaxed with a fabulous ball in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel. The following morning at 1 0 A.M. the ground work was set for the National Board to be organized. Being the first chapter and the first chartered chapter, delegates from Detroit were appointed to attend the meeting held in Columbus, October 30, 1976. They were as follows: Alberta Lewis Williams Dorothy Sanders Emma Burton Winfred Didlake Grady Anderson As a result of several meetings held in various cities, we now have ten (10) nationwide chapters, and have become an incorporated body.

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£-3 ' u DETROIT CHAPTER KosenuiaUi-iifarlanttes, Inc. G. ANDERSON V. LANGFORD F. TURNER M. JACKSON W. EFFINGER A.B. WILLIAMS W. B. JACKSON S. ANDERSON H. TENTMAN A. RAMSEY D. SANDERS E. BURTON M. EFFINGER W. DIDLAKE, SER. E. TENTMAN E. RAMSEUR J. DIDLAKE E. DIDLAKE