Join me in extending a happy 101st heavenly birthday to Reverend Robert L. Heflin, a veteran of the United States Coast Guard and my father in-law. He was born on November 11, 1924, in Randolph County, Alabama, 92 years after the county was founded. His four children attended RCTS and he served on the county Superintendent's parents advisory board.

After his birth in 1924, forty years would pass before he would be able to access, largely because of the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, full Alabama and U.S. citizenship rights - an Act which Donald Trump and his enablers think was a mistake.

In this photo, Tamara Terry Thomas is presenting him the Heflin-Clark-Terry Community Service Award. He worked with Wilkie Clark, and Jesse and Roy Terry to remove limitations on the Civil Rights of African Americans in Randolph County imposed by the 1901 revised Alabama constitution, which stripped African Americans of their due process and equal protection rights. Let's do justice to his legacy as we in these difficult times protect our fundamental constitutional rights and democracy. He would be proud of the scholarships, now at 110, annually awarded annually to RCTS descendant students in Randolph County, Alabama.

What better way to acknowledge, in these challenging times, the role that public education, especially Rosenwald Schools and the Randolph County Training School (RCTS), played in our development and the survival of our community, than celebrating the 107th birthday of our beloved RCTS teacher, Ms. Countess John Chapman.

Ms. Chapman is a national treasure and a living face for more than a century of what is possible when our nation commits itself to achieving the goals of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice for all.

Please note the community parade and celebration that will be held in her honor and support it in any way possible. Ms. Chapman graduated from RCTS in 1938 when it was housed in the original two-story wood building. After completing her undergraduate studies, she returned to teach at RCTS and the Wadley High School for more than 33 years.

A street in Roanoke, Alabama (Countess Place) is named in her honor and she shas received numerous service and leadership honors and awards, including two RCTS Life-time Achievement Awards, Roanoke and Randolph County proclamations, and a National Education Association (NEA) Resolution. As the U.S. Department of Education continues in existence, the building in which it is housed should be named in honor of Ms. Chapman.

Ms. Chapman was among those who conceived of the RCTS scholarship initiative, under which since 2005 one hundred and one scholarships have been awarded to RCTS descendant students. Ms. Chapman's three children (Linda, Ron and Countess) attended RCTS.

Behind These Silent Walls - Remember and Grow Stronger.

Dr. Clarence Lee and his wife are among the most consistent contributors to the RCTS scholarship Fund. They recently made another very generous contribution. The Fund is achieving its twin goal of supporting the educational aspirations of Randolph County, Alabama students, and institutionalizing the RCTS tradition and legacy.

RCTS was a Rosenwald descendant School that served the educational needs of African Americans students for 51 years (1919-1970). We are thankful for Dr. Lee generosity as a son of Alabama, Tuskegee University, and distinguished Howard University professor and Dean.

We are encouraged by the recognition that the RCTS Fund has received from Randolph County’s four high schools in Roanoke, Woodland, Wadley and Wedowee, Alabama. Terry O’Bryan and Kieauna Strickland are 2013 and 2015 RCTS scholarship recipients and Tuskegee University graduates.

Since 2005, we have annually awarded scholarships to students in Randolph County, Alabama to support their college aspirations. We have awarded 105 scholarships!

We hope RCTS alumni and friends will continue to support the RCTS Scholarship Fund and the educational aspirations of students in Randolph County, Alabama. Current updates about the RCTS Scholarship Fund are available at www.rctsfoundation.org. We also have an active Facebook Group (RCTS Legacy and Reunion) where scholarship information is posted. All donated funds continue to be awarded annually as scholarships. No funds are used for administrative or other purposes.