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(Georgia)
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Southeast Regional Office
730 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Phone: 526-3194
NEWS for immediate release
‘OEO ANNOUNCES URBAN SERVICE AWARDS
Twelve community leaders,four newspapers, a television station and the
Atlanta Chamber of Commerce were among the first to receive the recently
established Urban Service Award of the Office of Economic Cedoreanber,
Sargent Shriver, Director of OEO, has announced.
This honor is for those individuals and organizations fiytious dedicated
efforts to alleviate the problems of the poor in America's cities have helped
create a better life for our citizens," according to the award.
The individuals included: in Atlanta, Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr.,
Boisfeuillet Jones, Dr. Vivian Henderson, William W. Allison, Dr. William Holmes Bord
Dan Sweat, Mrs Earl Metzger, Jr., Mrs Mattie Ansley and the late Charles 0. Emmerich;
in Athens, Judge James Barrow; in Augusta, the Reverend E. 0. Waldron; and in
Columbus, Virginia Barfield.
In addition to the above individuals, citations also were made to the Atlanta
Constitution, the Atlanta Journal, television station WSB and the Atlanta Chamber
of Commerce; and the Athens Banner-Herald and Daily News in Athens.
Mayor Allen was cited for his dynamic leadership of a progressive city during
trying times, while Bill Allison and Dan Sweat were both cited for their service
to Economic Opportunity Atlanta and to the city government and the citizens of
the Atlanta area.
Mr. Jones, who has served as Chairman of the Board of Economic Opportunity
Atlanta, Inc., was cited for his numerous civic contributions and for his
particular support of the War on Poverty.
Mrs. Metzger was named for her service with the special task force assisting
EQOA in. its programs around Atlanta, particularly in the Head Start Programs.
Dr. Henderson was cited for his service to the community at large and the
involvement of Clark College in poverty programs.
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Dr. Borders was named for his long leadership in Atlanta and especially
for the self-help projects which he has headed in poverty communities.
Mrs. Ansley has worked diligently in creating interest in resident
participation since the beginning of the War on Poverty in her neighborhood; her
most recent activity has been to spearhead the target area elections for low
_income area representation to the Neighborhood Advisory Committee.
Mr. Emmerich launched, was the first Director of Economic Opportunity Atlanta.
He worked tirelessly from the time OEO programs were first started in Atlanta until
his untimely death; in a very real sense, he gave his life in the War on Poverty.
Judge Barrow has been active in the operation of the Athens Community High
School and adult education program financed through grants made from OKO.
Reverend Waldron has been extremely active in the development of the Community
Action Agency in Augusta, Georgia. He worked diligently in uniting the community,
as well as interpreting the concept of Community Action to the point that the total
oomminkty became concerned over the need to activate a program for the impoverished
of Richmond County and Augusta, Georgia.
irs. Barfield should be commended for her outstanding work in accomplishing
the coordination of local resources in the establishment of the MIND Center at
Columbus, Georgia, which is an adult education vehicle designed to take low-income
persons with less than an eighth’ grade education and upgrade them educationally
two to four grade levels in eight to ten weeks.
In presenting these Urban Service Awards, Sargent Shriver said, "America's
most difficult challenge is in the city, and you met it by working in the city to
help improve the quality of urban life. Awards can never repay you for this unselfish
dedication to the welfare of your fellow man, but they do affirm our deep apprecia-
tion for your work in behalf of the poor."
Dr. Ralph A. Phelps, Jr., Southeast Regional Director of OEO in Atlanta, said
that all of the honorees were nominated by OEO's Regional Office on the basis of
their efforts to help the poor in their own communities. Awards went to War on
Poverty Agencies, workers, volunteers and supporters in over 300 American cities.