Canton / Hall of Fame /
Tom Joyner
AHAN ENSHRINEMENT
5
14 a Memorable OneTSU
Dr. Marla Fielder, College of Pharmacy
and Health Sciences Graduate and First
African American, Director of Pharmacy
Merchandising for the Kroger Company;
Mr. Jesse SiFuentes, College of Liberal Arts
& Behavioral Sciences Graduate and TSU
Instructor; Mr. Bertrand Simmons, College of
Liberal Arts & Behavioral Science Graduate
and owner of State Farm Insurance Agency;
and Musiliu Obanikoro, a Barbara Jordan/
Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs
Graduate, who received the International
Alumni Award. In 2014, “Koro” was
appointed and sworn in as Minister of State
Federal Ministry of Defense by Nigerian
President.
4) In the next
photo are golfers
who participated in the
alumni annual Tiger Paw
Classic took time to pose
for the camera. Always
a fun event, the golf
tournament raises money
for alumni and university
support initiatives for
students. 5) Dr. Crystal
Cooper served as Miss
Homecoming 2014.
In August 2014, Texas Southern
University’s Michael Strahan into the
Pro Football Hall of Fame. Joining him
in Canton, OH was TSU’s famed Ocean
of Soul Marching Band. To get the band
to Canton, Eva Pickens, TSU’s Office
of Marketing, Communications and
Community Relations vice president,
launched the Road to Canton fundraising
campaign in hopes of raising $150,000.
Partnering with nationally syndicated radio
host Tom Joyner, who had recognized
Texas Southern as the Tom Joyner School
of the Month for July, the Road to Canton
campaign caught the attention of comedian
actor Kevin Hart who donated $50,000. In
addition, Joyner brought his “Party with
a Purpose” to Grooves of Houston and
broadcast his nationally syndicated morning
talk show along with Sybil Wilkes and J.
Anthony Brown live from the Breakfast Klub
restaurant. Joyner was given an honorary
membership into the Ocean of Soul
band.
Not to be outdone by Hart, Michael
Strahan announced on his morning
talk show Live! with Kelly and Michael
that he would donate $100,000, TSU
National Alumni Association chapters,
TSU faculty, staff, students and friends
of the university all made donations to
make the trip possible.
The TSU Band performances included
appearances at the NFL statue unveiling
themed, the “Birth of the NFL”, the
TimkenSteel Grand Hall of Fame parade,
on the iconic steps of the Hall of Fame
museum, and during the fan tailgating
experience.
Partnerships were created with Cantons
Mayor William Healey, Jr.; and ArtsinStarks
President Robb Hankins. While there, TSU
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