Points of Pride

Community

After teaching first grade at Lawhead Elementary School since 1946, Odelia Wesley transferred to Washington Elementary School in 1951, where she became the principal three years later. She earned many honors and awards for her work with children and seniors. The city of Champaign dedicated Wesley Park (915 N. Third Street) to her in 1970. She continued to give back to the community as a member on the Board of Directors of the Frances Nelson Health Center, as a member of the American Association of University Women, and a teacher of knitting and crocheting for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program at Helen Stevick Center.

Education

Barkstall Elementary School (2201 Hallbeck Dr., Champaign) is named for Vernon L. Barkstall, who served as Director of The Urban League of Champaign County for nearly 30 years, and as an active member of numerous civic organizations, including the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, Champaign-Urbana Convention and Visitors Bureau, and American Legion Post 559 of Champaign.

Education

The Dr. Preston L. Williams Jr. Elementary School (2102 E. Washington St., Urbana) is named after Dr. Preston Williams, a University of Illinois graduate who became a teacher, coach, and administrator in the Urbana School District 116. He went on to become the first African American Superintendent in the District. Formerly called Prairie Elementary, the school changed names in the 2015–2016 school year.

Education

The Museum of the Grand Prairie (950 N. Lombard, Mahomet), part of the Champaign County Forest Preserve District, strives to collect, preserve and interpret the natural and cultural history of Champaign County and East Central Illinois for all generations. It is noted for its collections—namely, the Doris K. Wylie Hoskins Archive and Chanute Air Force Base Collection—which are particularly important for African American history. Doris Hoskins was a dedicated historian, archivist, and preservationist of local African American history, while the Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul is where the famed Tuskegee Airmen began their training.

Education

Stratton Academy of the Arts, an arts-themed, K–5 magnet school in Champaign, is named after Kenneth O. Stratton. In 1961, Stratton was elected the first Black councilman in the City of Champaign in 1961—and one of the first elected at large in the United States.

Education

Located between Fourth and Fifth Streets (west to east), and Bradley and Beardsley Avenues (north to south), Taylor Thomas Lanes is named after the first Black teacher in the Urbana school system. He served as a teacher and administrator between 1956 and 1977. He was also a President of the local NAACP chapter and volunteered with many social service organizations.

Military

Doris "Dorie" Miller (1919–1943) was the first African American to receive the Navy Cross—the U.S. Navy's highest medal of valor. Miller served in the Navy as a cook aboard the battleship West Virginia and, during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, he acted heroically to save several soldiers and shoot down several enemy planes using an anti-aircraft machine gun, despite having no training using the weapon. Miller did not have direct ties to Champaign County, but his acts of courage earned him admiration from throughout the nation, and a street in northeastern Champaign was named in his honor.

Military

The columns at Memorial Stadium (1402 S. First Street, Champaign) are etched with the names of University of Illinois alumni who died in war. Among the names is that of William Frank Earnest (class of 1919), who was the first African American from the county to die in battle in World War I.

Military

Part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Subdivision in Champaign, Nelson Court is named after Cecil Dewey Nelson (1898-1971), a charter and lifetime member of the William F. Earnest American Legion Post 559 where he served as its Commander. He also served as a Legion officer at both the state and national levels. A decorated sergeant in the all-Black 370th Infantry Regiment in World War 1, Mr. Nelson was a recipient of the French Croix de Guerre for bravery in battle and a Purple Heart.

Government

Paul Lawrence Pope was born in Champaign, IL, the son of Cecil and Carrie Alice (Lee) Pope on November 30, 1935. He was the youngest of six children in a family with deep roots in Champaign County.

After graduating from Champaign High School, he entered the army. Following the military, he joined the Champaign County Sheriff’s Department and served in the department for nearly 30 years, reaching the rank of lieutenant. He died on June 22, 1996. Later that year, the Champaign County Board passed a resolution to name the new county jail after him. The building was dedicated on October 26, 1996.