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Andrew Foster Bust Projectby Lindsay Dunn, DCABDA member and Special Assistant to the President for Advocacy– Gallaudet UniversityOn Wednesday, May 12, 2004, from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, NBDA finally handed over the Andrew Foster bust to Gallaudet University after seven years of sweat and tears. It was a presentation event that made every NBDA member proud. The event took place at the historic Lyceum in College Hall at Gallaudet University. Berta Foster, wife of the late Dr. Andrew Foster, was invited but unable to attend the ceremony due to health problems. However, she sent greetings and expressed her heartfelt appreciation to NBDA and Gallaudet University for honoring her husband. I had the honor of presiding as Master of Ceremonies. Dr. Reginald Redding, NBDA President, kicked off the program with remarks about Dr. Andrew Foster. He talked about how Dr. Foster was not just a black deaf hero, but an American hero. Redding pointed out that Dr. Foster’s legacy continues to live on today through the fine scholars who continue to graduate from the schools that Foster established in Africa. A number of those graduates are currently attending Gallaudet University and National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID).
Both Redding and NBDA Vice President Claudia Gordon, Esq. took note of the instrumental role that Jordan played in ensuring that the Andrew Foster Bust project come to fruition with a major monetary gift. Other major contributions came from the Laurent Clerc Cultural Fund (LCCF) as well as individual fundraising efforts, most notably our most recent Andrew Foster Award recipient, Slemo Warigon. Gordon stepped up to the podium to acknowledge all the people who contributed to the completion of the project, some of whom are shown in the photo below. Claudia gave special recognition to Pamela Baldwin, whose vision and passion was the driving force behind the Andrew Foster Bust Project. Gordon then recognized Cox, who took on this project as a “labor of love.” She commented on the incredible sacrifices Cox has made in her efforts to make this project a success, sharing with the audience the fact that Cox practically lived with Foster’s bust for seven years in her tiny New York City apartment. NBDA is deeply indebted to this wonderful artist whose works are in the possession of some of our most distinguished and famous dignitaries, including Bill Cosby.
Kim Lucas, who replaced Baldwin as NBDA Historian/Archivist, did the
honors of formally handing over the bust to Gallaudet University. Dr.
Glenn Anderson, member of Little Rock Black Deaf Advocates, Chair of
the Gallaudet Board of Trustees as well as Faculty of the University of
Arkansas, made closing remarks on behalf of Gallaudet University and
its Board of Trustees. He praised NBDA for its efforts and noted that Gallaudet University hopes that Black alumni and interested friends
will make their presence felt at the unveiling ceremonies during
Homecoming. Foster is the second deaf person to have his bust on
Gallaudet’s 140 years old campus and the ONLY deaf alumni of Gallaudet
to be so honored. The only other deaf person who has a bust on
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Gallaudet University President, Dr. I. King Jordan (shown at left with his wife, Linda, and Virginia Cox), welcomed everyone
in attendance on behalf of the university, and promised that Gallaudet
would take care of this fine gift from the black deaf community. Jordan
gave heartfelt thanks to the sculptor, Virginia Cox. He told Cox
that the university was honored with her presence and is looking
forward to the unveiling ceremony of the bust during 2004 Homecoming
festivities.