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JOSEPH E. BOONE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
The Reverend Joseph Everhart Boone "Civil Rights Legend" (September 19, 1922 - July 15, 2006)
EDUCATION Booker T. Washington High School, Atlanta, Georgia B.S., Houston Tillotson College (1950), Austin, Texas Bachelor of Divinity, Gammon Theological Seminary (1954), Atlanta, Georgia MINISTRY First Congregational Church, Anniston, Alabama (1955-1959) Rush Memorial Congregational Church, Atlanta University Center, Atlanta, Georgia (1959-1980) ATHLETICS Booker T. Washington Bulldogs Negro World's Football Champion New York Brown Bombers (1943-1947) Captain, Houston Tillotson College Football Team
Some of the major highlights of his career were: Pastor, First Congregational Church. Organized the first "Selective Buying Campaign" in Alabama. Pastor, Rush Memorial Church. Provided an organizational base for the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights, mobilizing students of the AU Center to conduct civil disobedience and demonstrations necessary to produce negotiated agreements desegregating 70 lunch counters, theatres and golf courses in Atlanta. This student movement groomed future generations of black leadership (such as Marian Wright Edelman, Julian Bond, Lonnie King, Carolyn Long Banks and others). Chief Negotiator for Operation Bread Basket, the economic arm of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Was responsible for coordinating with over 200 ministers in establishing the nationwide network of branches in over 30 cities. Director of the Metropolitan Atlanta Summit Leadership Congress, Inc. (composed of 70 organizations) Was responsible for negotiating with the Atlanta School Committee for the desegregation of Atlanta Public Schools. Was designated by Mrs. Coretta Scott King to coordinate the first leg of the "Poor People's Campaign", which included arranging accommodations for 10,000 demonstrators traveling through Atlanta to construct Resurrection City on the Capitol Mall in Washington, D.C.; Organized the Afro American Patrolmen's League and its brother firefighter group. Director, the P.J. Woods Center for the Blind and Elderly. Coordinated significant facility for the handicapped. Established a drug therapy community consisting of three 24 hour residential treatment facilities, including employment opportunities. Co-chairperson, Atlanta Against Unfairness in Broadcasting. Persuaded the FCC to condition license renewals for all major TV and radio companies (including NBC, CBS, and ABC) on providing credible programming which met the "public interest test", being relative to the needs of black people in Georgia.
Joseph is the son of the late John L. and Mattie Roberts Boone. During his marriage to Atlanta educator Alethea Williams Boone of Selma, Alabama, they became the parents of two daughters, Jolaunda and Andrea. Jolaunda, who has chosen real estate as a career, is presently married to Reginald Campbell and they are the proud parents of ReJoseph Bernard and MeLeah Joyea. Andrea is currently Director of Constituent Services for Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. Faithful to his memory and dedicated to his cause are many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, friends, and the Civil Rights community.
POLITICAL ACTIVISM (Included, but was not limited to):     Organizing the campaign for the impeachment of Gov. Lester Maddox     Organizing the campaign for the first black mayoral candidate of Atlanta, Dr. Horace Tate LABOR ACTIVISM     Labor activism included organizing the campaign for justice for 300 janitors in the Georgia Building Authority.     Other campaigns targeted discrimination involving students, staff, faculty, administrators at Georgia Institute of Technology, and over 150 protests and boycotts in Atlanta and Georgia. The achievements of those campaigns in which he participated are legendary. The impact was astounding-history making changes in the city of Atlanta, regionally, and nationally. The scope and span of his career as an activist for civil and economic rights are amazing. There are few sectors of the economy that have not been subject to his scrutiny.  It is almost impossible to recall the America and the Atlanta that existed for Black Americans before Joe Boone. Economic participation agreements affecting upward mobility for laborers, hiring in middle management, improved salary scales, banking deposits with black banks, contracts for suppliers and services (such as advertising) were negotiated with the following companies:
International World Headquarters of Coca-Cola Hyatt Regency (flagship of international Portman hotel chain) National Frito Lay Marriott Hotels Zales Eastern Budweiser Sheraton Hotels K Mart Greyhound A & P Food Stores Hilton Hotels Sears Trailways Associated Grocers Woolworth Delta Bell Telephone
Regional/Atlanta Colonial Bread American Hotel Pace Thompson Boland Lee Food Giant Lockheed IGA Bilo's Kroger 7-11 Franchises Georgia Power Champs Biltmore Hotel Butler Shoes Ford Motor Company Winn Dixie Cub Foods Sunshine's Atlanta Gas Light World Congress Center Atlanta Journal Constitution (89 week picket line)
Affiliations, Honors and Awards 1959   Anniston, Alabama "Civic Leader of the Year" - First Congregational Church 1964, The Young Man of the Year in Religion, Atlanta Chapter of the Y's Men, International 1967  The Excelsior Knights Citizenship Award 1971  Governor's Council on Human Relations (Appointed by Governor Jimmy Carter) 1971  WGUN Outstanding Citizen Radio Award, Atlanta 1973  National Labor Relations Award 1975  Bronner Brothers "Civil Rights Fighter of the Year" 1991  Clark Atlanta University "Civil Rights Award" 1999  Community Service and Civil Rights Award 2002  United Church of Christ Meritorious Award 2003  Civil Rights Legend Award 2005  Christianity, Civil Rights and Humanity Award 2006  Special Congressional Recognition 2006  International Civil Rights Walk of Fame Award          Gate City Day Care Nursery Board of Directors          Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
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