Notable Personalities
Born, Raised, or Became Famous in Lake, Porter Counties Indiana
and Surrounding Illinois Communities. |
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Quentin Smith
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Born July 30, 1918 in Weldon, Texas. |
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Mr. Smith moved to East Chicago when he was 8 years old and graduated from Washington High School, Indiana State University, Indiana University and the University of Chicago. He was teaching English at Roosevelt High School when he was drafted in 1942. He learned to fly from Willa Smith, a black woman who was a pioneer in transcontinental flight, at her school located on Chicago's Southwest Side. He was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942 to 1945, and instructed cadets at the famous Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. He endured racial discrimination during his time in the military, but his experiences led to the hiring of Thurgood Marshall who fought for equal rights and integration of all military services in 1948. Smith received the Congressional Gold Medal in May 2007.
Source: The Times, May 28, 2007 "Gary's Tuskegee Airman veteran to receive Congressional Gold Medal", by Bill Dolan, Page A9
Photo source: U.S. Congressman Pete Visclosky Website |
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| If you know of a notable personality that is not on this list, who was born or raised in Lake , Porter Counties Indiana or Surrounding Illinois Communities please feel free to e-mail your suggestions to: ljackson@lakeco.lib.in.us |
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