Author: Sudeepto Chakraborty

On the walls of the Fillmore’s Ella Hill Hutch Community Center, stands a mural of one of the neighborhood’s foremost youth advocates, Reuben ‘Smitty’ Smith. Smith was born in 1933 and was raised on the Upper West Side of New York City. After graduating from Saint Augustine’s College in North Carolina in 1957, Smith served in the U.S. Army. Continue reading “REUBEN SMITH”

Rudy Smith from legendary American Football running back at San Francisco State University to Chief Probation Officer of Juvenile Services in San Francisco, has long cemented his legacy as a changemaker. Smith’s perseverance, hard work, and passion, allowed him to make a significant impact in San Francisco. Continue reading “RUDY SMITH”

James E. Stratten was born in Cedartown, Georgia, on November 20, 1913. He later attended Talladega College in Alabama where he earned his bachelor’s degree before moving to New York to attend Columbia University to receive a master’s degree in physical education (SFGate). Continue reading “JAMES E. STRATTEN”

James Thigpen, one of the many notable community leaders depicted upon the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center Wall, was a man who thrived against the odds to become a well known and successful entrepreneur, restaurateur, and local San Francisco philanthropist. Born in Chicago on March 8, 1940, James Thigpen found himself in an era wrought with racism and prejudice. Continue reading “JAMES THIGPEN”

Dr. Shirley A. Thornton, a woman dedicated to the pursuit of equal education and opportunity, lives by this life motto: “Let us use the knowledge we have, to gain the knowledge we need, to do the job we must for all children” (Thornton). A determined advocate for “excellence in education for all children,” Thornton is originally from New Orleans (YWCA). Continue reading “DR. SHIRLEY A. THORNTON”

“Burl Toler was the best. He had everything an athlete should have: he loved the game, he was fast and he was the best tackler I’ve ever seen. He would have been a hell of an NFL linebacker,” said Gino Marchetti, defensive end for the Baltimore Colts and former teammate of Toler. Continue reading “BURL A. TOLER”

Rev. Arelious Walker, born in small-town Atlanta, Texas, in 1931, moved to San Francisco in 1956 in search of work opportunities. The legendary community pastor opened his True Hope Church of God in Christ in the Bayview District on May 12, 1968, with the help of his wife, Hazel Walker. And although Walker has always demonstrated an immense ability to help others and be proactive in aiding impoverished communities, his church is the defining keystone of his career. Continue reading “REV. ARELIOUS WALKER”

Doris Margaret Ward was born in Chicago on January 27, 1932, to Robbie Floyd and Jesse Keys. She was raised by her grandparents Joseph and Julia Floyd, who lived in Gary, Indiana, and managed a family owned grocery store. From kindergarten through 12th grade, Ward attended Frable School where she was an active member of the debate team. Continue reading “DORIS WARD”