The New Survey - Eau Claire Community Council

Page 16 • June 2011
The New Survey
The Eau Claire Community Council
recognized this community’s Movers
& Shakers on April 29. Awards were
presented to the Neighborhood
Volunteers, and community leaders who
have made significant impact on our
community. Students leaders who,
through their academic achievement and
community involvement, were also recognized.
Recognized with the Council’s highest
honor for community service, the
Dorcas Elledge Award, were Dr. &
Mrs. Milton Kimpson.
Residents of the Lincoln Park
neighborhood, the Kimpsons have
raised their three sons here; they
have enjoyed careers that
have taken them to the
heights of South
Carolina government and
leadership in this state’s
civil rights movement.
They are friends of education
having taught in
the public schools and
Milton serving as a principal
at two of the city’s
elementary schools
before being selected as
a State Supervisor of Elementary
Education at the South Carolina
State Department of Education. In
1979, Milton Kimpson was
appointed as the Executive Director
of Health, Education and Human
Services by Gov. Richard W. Riley,
where There he provided leadership and
assistance to the Governor in the passage
of the landmark Education Improvement
Act of 1984.
Serving in several capacities in State
government, Milton Kimpson has been
afforded many honors including the
Order of the Palmetto from the state of
South Carolina, as well as similar honors
from other states like Mississippi and
Arkansas.
As the first Executive Director of the
Community Relations Council of the
Greater Columbia Chamber of
Commerce, Kimpson brought his natural
talent for building bridges in race relations
front and center.
Together with his wife, Wilhelmina,
they remained true to their community
and forged a partnership that continues to
bridge gaps in services to urban communities,
to provide equal access to homeowners
and to continue to insure equity
in education to all citizens. They have
walked the walk together. As they have
at every King Day at the Dome event.
The Business Leader of the Year
Award for 2011 was presented to the
Rev. Dr. Richard
Dozier. One of the
founders and developers of
Harbison New Town and founder of
Northminster Presbyterian Church in
Greenview in 1969, Rev. Dozier has
brought his successes in business and
management into play in North
Columbia as a member of the North
Columbia Development Foundation and
the Eau Claire Development Corporation
where he now serves as chairman. A
strong supporter of business interests in
the area Rev. Dozier advocates an even
playing field for economic development
in North Columbia saying that our neighborhoods,
our businesses and our development
corporation must all work
together to create an environment beneficial
to economic growth in North
Columbia.
Receiving the Council’s 2011
Educator of the Year Award was Mrs.
Delores Gilliard, principal of
Greenview Elementary School. With a
belief that educational excellence produces
children who are creative thinkers,
responsible, and caring citizens, Mrs.
Gilliard encourages innovation. As with
her introduction of the challenging
‘Odyssey of the Mind” program,
Greenview student teams have won
statewide and national and international
titles. Guiding one of the best School
Improvement Councils in the state, Mrs.
Gilliard has been a strong advocate of
programs and initiatives connecting fam
ilies and the community to assure the
success of the school.
The Council also recognized neighborhood
volunteers for their efforts
throughout the year. They are:
James Murray, Burton Heights
Standish Acres Neighborhood. A longtime
resident of the neighborhood, Mr.
Murray assists on the beautification committee
and in selecting homes for the
community Yard of the Month program.
Mr. Murray has also been the person in
the neighborhood who acts as a
spokesperson for family members in
bereavement.
Margarette Campbell, Gable
Oaks Eau Claire. A community member
who spends her time checking on the
elderly and offering positive support for
young adults and children, Mrs.
Campbell assists the president in making
sure the community is safe. A strong
advocate for her community, Mrs.
Campbell speaks often with public officials
to discuss problems when they
arise.
Willie Gilmore, Forest Heights
Community. Mr. Gilmore is a caring
and generous man who looks
out for his elderly neighbors and
friends in the community. Even
when he, himself, is sick, he
makes daily visits to make sure
his neighbors are safe and well.
If they have a need, Mr. Gilmore
makes every effort to help them
with home repairs, yard care and
whatever they need. With his soft
voice and gentle smile, Mr. Gilmore
brings peace and joy to all he knows.
Pictured, 1st row, l-r: Student honorees
Tre Dent, Hakeem Hicks,
Lizbet Kloot and Rashard Brown.
2nd row, l-r: Neighborhood
Volunteer of the Year honorees Bob
& Mary Alice Williams, James
Murray, Willie Gilmore, Carolyn
Solomon and James Robert Walker.
3rd row, l-r: Elder Robert and Mrs.
Yvonne Scott, Margarette Campbell,
and Christie Savage.
4th row, l-r: Rev. & Mrs. Richard
Dozier, Milton and Wilhelmina
Kimpson, and Mrs. Delores Gillard.
Bob & Mary Alice Williams,
Denny Terrace Neighborhood. A very
active couple in our community, the
Williams have spent countless hours as
volunteers. Mary Alice plants flowers
and tends to our three neighborhood
signs while Bob’s computer skills have
resulted in our new membership
brochure. Together they walk regularly
and, while on those excursions, use the
opportunity to pick up roadside trash.
Neighbors in our community since 1988,
the Williams have six grown children
and seventeen grandchildren. Retirement
isn’t showing them down!
See MOVERS page 14