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abannaj) tribune
May 2,2012- May 8,2012 • Vol. 41 No. 9 • 912-233-6128 • Fax: 912-233-6140
The Savannah
Tribune Pays
Tribute to
Otis J. Brock, III
By Tina A. Brown
The Savannah Tribune
Memories of Otis J.
Brock, III brought about
quiet tears, smiles and laugh
ter as nearly 1,000 people,
including local dignitaries,
public officials and everyday
folks, paid tribute to a
beloved son of the city and
friend of its children who
suddenly passed away on
April 24.
There were no seats left
in the ballroom at his memo
rial service Saturday morn
ing at his alma mater
Savannah State University.
Many people stretched along
the walls and spilled into the
hallway just to hear the acco
lades, the musical selections
and the eulogy.
The word pillar comes
to mind when describing
Brock, who humbly accepted
his role as a star balancing
his career as a public servant
with his family and commu
nity.
Brock’s life should be a
wakeup call said, The Rev.
Hosea Waters of Magnolia
Baptist Church in
Montezuma, who delivered
the eulogy and read from the
Book of Job, which reminded
those in attendance about
"The Brevity of Life.”
The 41-year-old hus
band of Nailah, father of
young daughters Zuri, 4, and
Zoe, 2, and a baby on the
way; the son of Annette
Kennedy Brock and Otis J.
Brock Jr., and brother of
Donna L. Brock, graduated
from Johnson High School.
He had dreams like
most young men of becom
ing a basketball player. Life
had another playbook for
young Brock, which
required him to aptly juggle
delicate assignments as
chief operating officer for
the Savannah-Chatham
County public schools.
Many in the communi
ty knew him as the highest
ranking African-American
official in the school district
calmly sorting out the dis
trict’s finances, challenging
transportation plans and
school building projects at
the microphone during
school board meetings.
They trusted him with
multi-million dollar deals
and he did so with humility
even in the backdrop of
angry parents.
Superintendent Dr.
Thomas B. Lockamy Jr.,
who said he loved Brock
like a son, spoke of his abil
ity to bridge communities.
“Otis could walk into a
room to make a presentation
in front of angry people and
at the end they’d all be leav
ing the meeting hugging
each other.”
He was a man of char
acter whose demeanor was
consistently described the
same way. “He’s always
been a nice guy,” said
Dionne Hoskins, the board
representative for District 2.
“The damage to the heart of
this community was caused
because he was an extreme
ly kind person who was suc
ceeding; and he wasn’t
Continued on pg. 11
The Obamas Visit Fort Stewart
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama address the troops
O n Friday April 27,
2012 President
Barack Obama and
First Lady Michelle Obama,
introduced by Sergeant
Marshall, visited Fort
Stewart to address educa
tional institutions (for profit)
that deceive and hurt mili
tary personnel, veterans and
their families. “One of the
worst examples, is a college
recruiter who had the nerve
to visit a barracks at Camp
Lejeune and enroll Marines
with brain injuries —just for
the money,” President
Obama said. “These Marines
had injuries so severe some
of them couldn’t recall what
courses the recruiter had
signed them up for. That’s
appalling. That’s disgraceful.
It should never happen in
America.”
The president discussed
deceptive practices by
schools hungry for a share of
the billions of dollars in fed
eral educational subsidies for
such people. During
President Obama’s visit to
Fort Stewart he signed an
executive order to thwart
these deceptive practices.
The order requires schools to
provide more precise and
transparent information
about their qualifications and
financial aid programs, pro
vide more counseling on
these matters, strengthen
regulations that dictate who
can come on post and talk to
service members. The execu
tive order commands the
Department of Veterans
Continued on pg. 16
Thomas Announces Bid for Re-election for
8th District County Commission
On Monday, April 30,
2012, at 11:00 am, the Vice
Chairman and 8th District
representative of the
Chatham County
Commission, Priscilla D.
Thomas announced her bid
for re-election for a 6th term.
This historic re-election
announcement took place on
the steps of the Chatham
County Old Courthouse, 124
Bull Street, Savannah, GA
31401.
“As your elected offi
cial, I will remain focused
and continue to be engaged
and work in partnership with
others on a county-wide
basis. We will continue to
focus on economic develop
ment and job creation to
encourage investment in our
community. We will also
encourage the use of educa
tional assets that are very
critical to this county,”
Thomas said.
Thomas added.
“Personally, I am a strong
advocate for education,
maintaining a strong stan
dard of excellence. It is also
my desire to complete those
projects that we have already
started. I will continue to
provide the leadership in
getting this done. I appreci
ate your continued support.
Let us go forth and claim
victory, “One More Time.”
Commissioner
Thomas, is the Vice Chair of
the Chatham County
Commission and is currently
the longest serving Chatham
County Commissioner, now
in her 22nd year.
Commissioner Thomas
is the recipient of honors and
awards, including, most
recently, the National
Association of Counties
County Courthouse Award
(the $5,000 award was used
to create the Priscilla D.
Thomas Scholarship at
Savannah State University),
the Church Women United’s
Human Rights Award; the
National Forum For Black
Public Administrators 2009
Marks of Excellence Award
and the prestigious honor of
having the former Wheathill
Road in Garden City desig
nated and re-named as
Priscilla D. Thomas Way.
Commissioner Thomas
is internationally known as a
advocate for young people.
She is the founder of the
Summer Bonanza
Partnership, Inc., which
annually serves over 250
Chatham County youth, ages
8-14. In 1992, Dr. Thomas
founded, the Chatham
County Youth Commission,
which now boasts over 400
graduates and duplicated
programs across the country.
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