Date: January 31, 2007

Subject: Black History Month Events

Dear University of Memphis Community,

The University of Memphis celebration of Black History Month will begin with the presentation of the 2007 Authur S. Holmon Lifetime Achievement Award to Judge Russell B. Sugarmon on Thursday, February 1, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in the Rose Theatre. The event, free and open to the public, will be immediately followed by the 2007 Black History Month Opening Reception.

The University community is invited to join the University's Black Student Association in recognizing this noted Memphian. Sugarmon was involved with the legal team that was instrumental in successfully gaining admission for the Memphis State Eight, the University's first African-American students. He was a founding partner in Ratner & Sugarmon, the first inter-racial law firm in the Southeast. He served as a member of the 85 th General Assembly in the House of Representatives and as Referee in Juvenile Court. He was appointed to the General Sessions bench in May 1987 and served until his retirement.

The Lifetime Achievement Award, first presented in 1991, was created by the BSA to recognize outstanding Memphians who stand as positive role models and inspirations for today's students. In 1996, the award was renamed in honor of longtime University of Memphis administrator Authur S. Holmon. Holmon's service for more than 20 years as the Associate Dean of Students for Minority Affairs exemplifies the ideals of the award.

Other 2007 Black History Month events include:

Wednesday, Feb. 7 – An Evening with Cicely Tyson, 7 p.m., Rose Theatre

Friday, Feb. 9 - NAACP Freedom Ball Gala and Mahogany Awards, 7 p.m., U of M Holiday Inn Ballroom

Wednesday, Feb. 14 – Black Scholars Unlimited's Igniting Excitement, 3 p.m., Rose Theatre

Friday, Feb. 16 – Gospel Explosion, 7 p.m., Rose Theatre

Tuesday, Feb. 20 – Play - "Many Thousand Gone," 7 p.m., Rose Theatre

Friday, Feb. 23 – Salute to Soul Music with Confunkshun, 7 p.m., Rose Theatre

Wednesday, Feb. 28 – Closing Ceremony with National Civil Rights Museum Executive Director – Beverly Robertson, 1 p.m., Rose Theatre

For a full schedule of events, please visit the Minority Affairs website at http://saweb.memphis.edu/minorityaffairs/ or call the Office of Minority Affairs at 678-2054 for more information.