OUS to host event; Former MLB player to speak in Gallipolis

Local and regional events honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have been announced for the coming weeks.

At Ohio University Southern, 2017 will mark the 25th anniversary of the campus’ annual MLK celebration.

The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19 in the Bowman Auditorium, located in the Collins Center.

“This community celebration will include individual stories and words of encouragement that will begin the conversation to help us breakdown the fears, stereotypes, and misinformation that cause divisions and open the doors of communication and mutual respect,” OUS Diversity and Inclusion coordinator Robert Pleasant said in a statement. “This is a conversation that we will continue throughout 2017.”

The event will feature performances by local artists, refreshments and remarks by speakers, including Isaac Adams, the deacon of the New Jerusalem Christian Center, Malak M. Khader, a public administration graduate student at Marshall University, Jeremy Sherrill, the senior pastor of Greater Faith Church, OUS student Davin Marcum and Ironton police chief Dan Johnson.

In Gallipolis, on Monday, Jan. 16, the Southeastern Ohio NAACP branch, which serves, Lawrence, Gallia and Jackson counties, will host Al “Scoop” Oliver, a former Major League Baseball player, as the keynote speaker for their annual King Day celebration.

The NAACP will be partnering with the University of Rio Grande’s MLK Committee and the RSVP of the Ohio Valley for the event.

Oliver played 18 years in both the American and National Leagues, including the 1971 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. A few of his accomplishments include 1969 All Rookie Team, and 1982 National League Batting Champion.

In 1985 Oliver passed Lou Gehrig on the All Time Hit List and passed Willie Mays on the all time Doubles List.  Al Oliver retired February 1986 with a lifetime average of .303; 2,743 career hits and 1,326 RBI’s.

The event is open to the public and free of charge and will take place at Paint Creek Regular Missionary Baptist Church, located at 833 Third Avenue in Gallipolis, at 1 p.m.