TRAILBLAZERS
Why We Remember
For more than a decade, The Kansas African American Museum (TKAAM) has honored pioneers who helped shape the Kansas African American experience through an exhibit titled Trailblazers. Now, TKAAM recognizes the perseverance and achievements of these leaders at its dazzling annual fundraiser, A Tribute to Trailblazers. Each year this event proudly honors a new class of inductees into an esteemed, established “Hall of Fame.”
What is a Trailblazer?
A Trailblazer is a leader, a pacesetter, a pioneer, and each year we have four honorary categories for individuals who have made a significant impact in their respective arena. A Posthumous Trailblazer is awarded to those who have walked the path before us and given us hope as we move into the future.
Previous Honorees
2000
Melina Banks
Riley Banks, Jr.
Jo Gardenhire
Harold Cary
Spencer Tolbert
Cleo Littleton
Terrence McDonald, M.D.
Melvin Parks
Josephine Brown
Jessie Foust
Val Brown Sr., M.D.
Dennis Shaw
Samuel Adams
Judge Greg Waller
Floyd Powell
Vashti Lewis, Ph.D.
Rev Kenneth L. Davis
Curtis McClinton
Bishop J.C. Gilkey, Sr.
E. Ceasus Tyree
2002
George Johnson
Rudy Love
John Allen
Anderson Eugene Jackson
Abner Val Jean Jackson
Bernice Hutcherson
Johnathan Wells
Mildred Ingram
Dr. William Burney
Billy Randle, Sr.
Jennifer Jones
Chief Norman Williams
Zenobia Washington
Julius McLaurian
Billy Q. McCray
Rev. Jettie P. Dennis, Jr.
Charles Doughty
Dr. Donald Jackson
2009
Xavia Hightower-Howard
Shon Gables
Cheryl Brown Henderson
Rev Oliver L. Brown
2010
Ralph Reid
Rosie Hughes
Barry Sanders
2011
Angela Bates
Lynette Woodard
Linwood Sexton
2012
Ed Dwight
Cheryl McAfee-Mitchell
Charyl McAfee Duncan
U.L. “Rip” Gooch
2013
James Reeb
Dockum Sit-in Group
Veryl Switzer
2014
James Hysten
Fern Merrifield Van Giesen
LaFayette Norwood
Dwight Eisenhower
2015
Robert Brogden
Judith Wencel
Willie Jeffries
Donald Hollowell
2016
Kevin Wilmott
Kim Thomas
Godwin Opara
Father Mark Carroll
2017
Kevin Merida
Connie Franklin
Ron Walters
2018
Dr. Alicia Thompson
Karla Burns
Elisha Scott, Sr
2019
Ms. Deltha Q. Colvin
Greg “Hitman” Williams
Gordon Parks
Ebony Clemons-Ajibolade
2020
Carla Eckels