Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame Governor Rick Scott , Carlos Lopez Cantera , Robert B . Hayling , James Weldon Johnson , Asa Philip Randolph Frank Powell , Marsha Phelts Tallahassee , Florida June 2014
Governor Rick Scott Selects Tiree Inductees for Rorida Civi Rights Hall of Fame
By Frank M Powell ID and Marsha Phelts
Tallahassee , Fla . - Today , Lt . Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera officially inducted RobertB . Hayling , James Weldon Johnson and Asa Philip Randolph into the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame for 2014 .
" Many individuals have made a positive impact on the civil rights movement in Florida , and it brings me great pride to once again recognize them by the induction to the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame ," said Florida Commission on Human Relations Executive Director Michelle Wilson . " As someone who has personally and professionally benefited from the works of these pioneers , I join Lt . Governor Lopez-Cantera in recognizing their contributions that improved our state and country for the better ," concluded Wilson .
Robert B . Hayling ( 1929- ), Dr . Robert B . Hay ling is a native of Tallahassee , born on November 20 , 1929 . He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1960 from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry and soon began his practice in St Augustine - becoming the first African-American dentist in Florida to be elected to the local , regional , state and national components of the American Dental Association . Dr . Hayling actively embraced the growing cause of civil rights , serving for nearly a year as the head of the St Augustine Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and as an adult advisor to the Youth Council of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People . Hayling ' s early and steadfast leadership in the cause of civil rights in St Augustine has been recognized in many ways , including the renaming of the street where he once lived to Dr . Robert B . Hayling Place ; the 2012 Recipient of the Florida A & M University Distinguished Alumni Award ; the Florida Memorial University ' s Nathan W . Collier Meritorious Service Award recognizing his " courage , vision , fortitude and service on behalf of mankind ;" and the namesake of the Dr . Robert B . Hayling Award of Valor , created by then Florida Senator Tony Hill in Hayling ' s honor .
James Weldon Johnson ( 1871-1938 ), James Weldon Johnson was an influential and notable novelist , poet , songwriter , lawyer and a United States consul in a foreign nation . He served an important role in combating racism through his position in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ( NAACP ). Born in Jacksonville , Florida on June 17 , 1871 , Johnson grew up in a middle-class home , where his mother encouraged him to pursue an interest in reading and music . After college , Johnson became the principal of Stanton School and expanded the school to include a high school . In 1898 , he was admitted to the Florida Bar . While balancing his dual career as principal and lawyer , Johnson found time to write poetry and songs , achieving success with the composition of around 200 songs for Broadway . Johnson also became involved in politics and was appointed by the Roosevelt Administration as the United States consul in Puerto Cabello , Venezuela and Corinto , Nicaragua . Johnson held several positions in the