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Celebration at Wyndham Philadelphia at Franklin Plaza Will Highlight Lincoln's Legacy; Philadelphia Music Icon Kenny Gamble Among University’s Honorees.
Lincoln University, PA (www.lincoln.edu)— Lincoln University—America’s first Historically Black University---will celebrate 150 years of milestones, accomplishments and distinguished history in higher education at its Philadelphia Gala on Friday, October 24, from 6 p.m.-11 p.m., at the Wyndham Philadelphia at Franklin Plaza, 17th and Race Streets, in Philadelphia.
The Gala will feature noted speakers and the showing of a short video paying tribute to Lincoln on the occasion of its 150th anniversary. More than 500 guests— including local and regional dignitaries as well as Lincoln alumni—are expected to attend the gala. Most notable among the highlights of the Philadelphia Gala will be Lincoln’s award presentations to four individuals for their distinguished achievements.
The following honorees exemplify Lincoln’s ideals of community and alumni service as well as leadership and business excellence:
Leadership Excellence Award —Lozelle J. DeLuz, Ph.D.
Lozelle J. DeLuz, Ph.D., is a woman of extraordinary talents and energy that has allowed her to achieve success in three distinct careers: education, publishing and as an entrepreneur. She is president and CEO of DeLuz Management Consulting, Inc. and the former owner of three Wilmington-area McDonald’s franchises along with her late husband, Anthony. Employing nearly 300 people, Dr. DeLuz is not just a business woman, but a community leader, volunteer, philanthropist and mentor. By providing nurturing, family-friendly work environments, Dr. DuLuz has greatly contributed to the Wilmington economy and enriched the quality of life for many disadvantaged individuals. Dr. DeLuz, whose civic, social, educational and business activities in Delaware have earned her national recognition, earned her B.S. degree in elementary education from Winston-Salem State University and has a master’s degree from George Washington University, and Ph.D. in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware.
Community Service Award—Kenneth Gamble
Kenneth (Kenny) Gamble, one of Philadelphia’s favorite sons, currently serves as CEO and chairman of the board of Philadelphia International Records and is credited for being the musical pioneer in the development of soul/rhythm and blues music in America.
He has written, produced, recorded and published more than 3,000 songs performed by numerous artists, including The Jackson Five, The Intruders, Teddy Pendergrass, Billy Paul, Nancy Wilson, Lou Rawls and Phyllis Hyman. For writing the songs “Me and Mrs. Jones” and “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” Gamble received the coveted Grammy Award in 1974 and 1989, respectively. However, Gamble’s other calling was from the community in which grew up. Gamble assisted, developed and founded numerous community organizations, including African American Foundation, Universal Institute, The Universal Community of Truth, and the South Philadelphia Ministries. In founding Universal Community Homes in 1993, Gamble began one of largest community revitalization projects in Philadelphia history. In 1992, he and his wife, Faatimah, left the Philadelphia suburb of Gladwyne and returned to 15th and Christian Streets to have a more active and “hands on” approach to this rebuilding effort.
Business Excellence Award—Walter P. Lomax, Jr., M.D.
Walter P. Lomax, M.D. began his medical career as a solo practitioner in the South Philadelphia neighborhood in which he grew up and went on to establish Lomax Health Systems, Inc. (LHS), a management company concentrating exclusively on health care. In 1984, LHS won a medical services contract to recruit physicians and physician assistants to supplement Philadelphia’s staff prison system staff. In 1990, Correctional Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (CHS) was incorporated to specialize in the management and delivery of health services to correctional facilities. CHS emerged as a major participant in the industry. When the company was sold in 2000, CHS was providing health care in 60 correctional facilities in 16 states. Today, Dr. Lomax serves as chairman of The Lomax Companies, which includes two international food companies, a residential development and a communications company. Dr. Lomax is a graduate of LaSalle University and Hahnemann Medical College and was affiliated with Graduate Hospitals.
Distinguished Alumni Award—Dr. H. Alfred F. Farrell ’34
Dr. H. Alfred Farrell, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Lincoln University in 1934 and was salutatorian of his class. In 1939, Dr. Farrell received his master’s in English from Ohio State University while serving as a graduate assistant at the university. Dr. Farrell went onto receive his Ph.D. from Ohio State in 1948 before returning to his alma mater in 1953 as an assistant to Dr. Horace Mann Bond, Lincoln’s first black president. While at Lincoln, Dr. Farrell served in a variety of capacities, including as director of Public Relations, Alumni Relations, freshman studies and the Thirteen-College Curriculum Development Program. For 16 years, Dr. Farrell was chairman of Lincoln’s Department of English and served as executive secretary of the University’s Alumni Association for 30 years. Dr. Farrell was also the editorial consultant for Dr. Bond’s book, Education For Freedom: A History of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania.
Tickets for the black tie affair are $250 per person. For ticket information, please contact Lincoln's Office of Special Events and Community Relations.
Located in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, Lincoln University is nationally recognized as a major producer of African Americans with undergraduate degrees in the physical sciences (biology, chemistry and physics); computer and informational sciences; biological and life sciences. Lincoln has the unprecedented distinction among all colleges and universities of having two of its alumni -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and poet Langston Hughes -- honored with first-class commemorative postage stamps in February 2003, and January 2002, respectively.