We salute our dear friend and champion Wendell G. Freeland, Esq. at his passing. Wendell served as Chairman of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s Board of Directors from 1962-1967. Prior to becoming Board Chair, Wendell chaired the Board’s Education Committee and established the paradigm for dialogue between the African American community and the Pittsburgh Public School Board that laid the foundation not only for desegregation but also for the hiring of African American teachers. Mr. Freeland subsequently served on the Board of Trustees of the National Urban League, rising to the position of Senior Vice President during Whitney Young’s tenure and served on the search committee that brought Vernon Jordan to the National Urban League helm in the 1970s. On the occasion of the kick off of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s 95th Anniversary on February 9th, 2013, Wendell learned of the establishment of the Wendell G. Freeland Living Legacy Award by the Pittsburgh Urban League with he as the inaugural recipient. This award to be given at no pre-set time, but only on such occasion as the exemplary effort and contribution of the honoree’s work has been of such benefit as to entwine itself into the very fabric and foundation of the mission of the Urban League.
Please join us in lifting Mr. Freeland up in prayer, with prayers of support for his wife Jane, his daughter (and current Urban League Board member) Lisa, her brother Michael, and their entire family.
Complete obituary from January 25, 2014 Pittsburgh Post Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/obituaries/2014/01/25/Tuskegee-airman-lawyer-pioneering-civil-rights-leader.html