ABC24 & CW30 Celebrate Black History Month by Highlighting
African American Leaders in Our Community

Lisa Akbari , also known as The Hair Doctor, a hair care pioneer; educator; has become a business pioneer and leader in our community. A graduate of Hamilton High School '77, Lisa found early success at the age of 21 by opening her first full service salon. Within two years, she expanded to the first Day Spa and Salon in the Mid-South, giving the young Akbari national recognition.

Phillip R. Bowden, M.D., has gained the respect of colleagues within his field as well as his patients, who appreciate his painless approach to dealing with a wide range of gastrointestinal problems, including ulcers, abdominal pain, indigestion, colon cancer screening, liver diseases and pancreatic problems. Dr. Bowden’s philosophy is that preventative medicine is the best kind of medicine.

Finch was born in Memphis, and played basketball for Melrose High School in the Orange Mound section of Memphis. He then entered Memphis State and played basketball under famed basketball coach Gene Bartow. As he led the Tigers to new heights of success, at least during basketball games, Memphians had a chance to see things less in black and white and more in Tiger blue and gray.

Art Gilliam was the first Africa-American to write for The Commercial Appeal. He was the first African-American to be an on-air reporter and anchor on Memphis television at WMC-TV. He was the first African-American to own a radio station in Memphis, and one of the first in the country – WLOK.

President Watson earned a Bachelors of Arts degree from LeMoyne-Owen College in 1960 and a Master’s Degree from Indiana University in 1966. In his early days at the College, he served as President of the Future Teachers of America and President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Charles L. Ewing, Sr., began Ewing Moving Service, Inc. in 1980 with a pickup truck, two movers and faith. For 13 years Mr. Ewing managed his company while holding down a full-time job as a manager in the printing department of Memphis’ daily newspaper, The Commercial Appeal.

When Fred Jones Jr. originally conceived the idea of two well-matched southern football teams squaring off in an annual grudge match, he knew it would be entertaining and would draw crowds of tens of thousands from across the region.

A staunch civil rights activist and defender of Democracy for all, Fred ran for and was elected to the first Memphis City Council, from a majority white district, when it was formed in 1968.

Maxine Atkins was born in 1929, the youngest of the three children of Joseph and Georgia Rounds Atkins. Maxine graduated from Booker T. Washington High School at age 15 in 1945. She went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in biology from Spelman College in 1949 and a Master's degree in French from Middlebury College in Vermont.

Ms. Walker is Senior Vice-President for Community Impact at United Way of the Mid-South in Memphis, TN. Working with a staff of 10 and hundreds of volunteers, Regina manages United Way’s process which identifies health and human services needs of residents in an eight county area (Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas).

Alton R. Williams has served as Senior Pastor of World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church in Memphis, Tennessee, since 1981. He has entered into a new dimension of ministry as one of the end-time Apostles that God is raising up around the world.