Wright-Dunbar Business Village News

2007 Walk of Fame Inductees Announced

Dayton- Dr. Irwin M. Abrams, Charlotte Reeve Conover, James A. Parsons, Jr., Judge Walter H. Rice, and Sister Dorothy Stang have been announced as the newest class of inductees for the 2007 Miami Valley Walk of Fame. Since 1996, the Walk of Fame has recognized people from the Miami Valley who have made outstanding personal or professional contributions to the community, nation and world. Arts/Culture, Education, Invention/Innovation and Sports represent a few of the fifteen Walk of Fame categories.

A public induction ceremony will be held to honor the 2007 inductees at 10:00am on September 27th at the Center for Regional Cooperation (located at 1100 West Third Street) in the Wright-Dunbar Business Village. The ceremony is free and open to the general community. A luncheon honoring current and previous Walk of Fame inductees will follow at the David Ponitz Center at Sinclair Community College. For luncheon ticket information, please call 937-443-0249.

Since the first Walk of Fame induction in 1996 - over 110 individuals have been recognized and their commemorative granite pavers have been installed in the sidewalk on either side of West Third Street between Shannon and Broadway Streets, in the historic Wright-Dunbar Business Village. Previously, the Walk of Fame was installed near the baggage claim in the Dayton International Airport.

The 2007 inductees are:

- Dr. Irwin M. Abrams (1914 - ) - Scholar, Author, Historian, Humanitarian Distinguished university professor and world authority on the history of the Nobel Peace Prize. He authored several books and many articles on the Prize and the subject of world peace. Dr. Abrams brought scholarship and recognition to Antioch University as a professor, author and educator.

- Charlotte Reeve Conover (1855-1940) - Author, Historian, Newspaper Columnist As an historian with a flair for writing, she recorded the history of Dayton and the Miami Valley area in several enduring publications. Her books, articles and columns emphasize the special people, historical events and unique stories that protect and preserve our community's rich heritage for the future.

- James A. Parsons, Jr. (1900 -1989) - Engineer, Scientist, Inventor, Educator A pioneer in the fields of science, engineering and the education of African American engineers, he established the first curriculum in the subject of metallurgy in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities educational system. His work in the fields of engineering and science earned him numerous patents essential to the making of stainless steel.

- Judge Walter H. Rice (1937 - ) - Judge, Community Advocate His outstanding leadership in bringing prominence to Dayton's role in aviation history led to the formation of Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. Through his longstanding active participation in our area's legal and judicial community he made many lasting contributions.

- Sister Dorothy Stang (1931 - 2005) - Humanitarian, Environmentalist, Religious and Civil Rights Activist Her strong religious and social conviction, dedication and hard work helped her make a difference in lives of the peoples of the Brazilian communities of the earth's tropical rain forest. She established base Christian Communities with schools, agricultural and skills programs, health care, and leadership training to educate and help the poor farmers of the Amazon region. Sister Dorothy lost her life fighting and protecting the people, rights and ideals she held dear.

For more information about this exciting community heritage program, please call Wright Dunbar, Inc. at 937-443-0249.