| Rev. Robert Toatley Died in 1997 at age 75. He was a leader in the civil rights movement. Pastor at Hermon Presbyterian Church, 1969 to 1987. Provided counsel to the students, The Friendship Nine, from Friendship College, they were arrested at the Woolworth in Rock Hill. His son was one of the first black students to transfer to Rock Hill High. Honored by the NAACP in 1995. |
Charles Randolph- Wright New York based director, writer and producer for television, film and theater. He receive awards for his first feature film "On The One" from the NAACP and others in 2005. Breaking box office records at the Roundabout Theatre in New York City and Los Angeles and Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., his play "Blue", starred Phylicia Rashad. It was based on his life growing up in York. He directed the "Guys and Dolls" revival, in honor of the musicals 50 year anniversary in 2003. He has appeared in "Dreamgirls" on Broadway, and "Hill Street Blues" and "Melrose Place". He serves on the board of directors of the Roundabout, the artistic board of Duke University and is an associate artist at Arena Stage. Founding member of the Wright Family Foundation. Was awarded the Medal of Honor in the Arts by Winthrop University and the Creative Spirit Award from the New Professional Theatre. |
Dori Sanders She wrote the award winning book "Clover", which was released in 1990. It was made into a movie for the USA network. She was a peach farmer from Filbert, near Clover. Has published "Her Own Place", a story of an old woman's struggle to hold on to her heritage, her stories "Promise Land: A Farmer Remembers", and a cookbook. She has won the Governor's Award in the Humanities from the S. C. Humanities Council and named a Keeper of the Culture by the York County Culture and Heritage Museums. |
Cynthia P. Roddey She began at Winthrop University in 1964, as a 24 year old graduate student and was the first black student to enroll and graduate. She has earned two bachelor degrees from Johnson C. Smith University, has taught at Emmett Scott High School in Rock Hill. Is library director at Clinton Junior College and went on to earn a doctorate in ministry. |
Gerald Dixon Was a defensive player and second team All American as a senior while playing football at the University of South Carolina. Drafted by the NFL's Cleveland Browns in 1992 and played four years. Two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, four with the San Diego Chargers and finished in 2002 with Oakland Raiders. He is a member of the York County Sports Hall of Fame. |
Shawn Crawford Won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. He is from Van Wyck and graduated from Indian Land High School. He has been dubbed the "Cheetah Man" and also won a silver medal in 4 x 100 meter relay. |
Allison Feaster A native of Chester, she is a player for the Charlotte Sting in the WNBA and started 21 games. |
Sam Foster Former state representative and served as principal of Emmett Scott High School from 1968 to 1970. He was the school's last principal and served as the first principal of Northwestern High School from 1971 to1977. Later, he was assistant superintedent for the Rock Hill school district. Elected to the state House of Representatives in 1979 and served as a Democrat from 1980 to 1992. Retired in 2002 from the S. C. Employment Security Commission. |
Wade Witherspoon Served as principal of Emmett Scott High School. Retired in 1974 while assistant director of the Career Development Center. He died in 1996 at the age of 87. Served as principal of Edgewood, Fairfield, and Castle Heights elementary schools in Rock Hill and Paradise School in Great Falls and was a teacher and principle in York and Chester counties during his 44 years. |
Bertha Maxwell Roddey Is adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina-Lancaster and Clinton Junior College. Is the founder of the Afro-American Cultural Center in Charlotte, the Theodore and Bertha M. Roddey Foundation in Catawba. She was a principal and teacher for 17 years with Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools and had a long tenure at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. |