Friends of the Broward County African American Research Library and Cultural Center honor distinguished achievers

Friends of the Broward County African American Research Library and Cultural Center honor distinguished achievers

Gibbons, Johnson, McKinley, Dr. Merritt, Dr. Miller and Scruggs

The Friends of the Broward County African American Research Library and Cultural Center’s (Friends of AARLCC’s) 2014 Annual Luncheon will be held at noon on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Hotel, located at 400 Corporate Dr., Fort Lauderdale.

AARLCC President Janice Henry reports, “The Friends of AARLCC will pay tribute to six distinguished honorees that embody the theme, ‘Ordinary People doing Extraordinary Things.’”

Esteemed honorees include Dr. Gordon Merritt, who is a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Other honorees of distinction include Delores McKinley, CPA; Dr. Dorsey Miller and Representative Joseph A. Gibbons, who are Community Service and Distinguished Achievement Award recipients. In addition, Minister and author Vikki Kennedy Johnson and Frank Scruggs, Esq., are Heritage and Community Service Award recipients.

Dr. Gordon Merritt, a dedicated dentist, whose office is located on Sistrunk Boulevard, has faithfully served inner-city clients for almost half a century. His wife, Rose Merritt, and daughter, Dr. Pamela Merritt, are ardent supporters of the Friends of AARLCC.

Delores Y. McKinley, a certified public accountant, is a recent retiree of the Broward County School Board. She is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High and Clark University. In July 2014, she completed a second term as International Treasurer of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She was recently honored as one of Broward County’s “Most Influential and Prominent Black Women in Business and Leadership” for 2014 by Legacy Magazine.

Dr. Dorsey Miller served as an educator and district administrator in the Broward County school system for more than 35 years and is a prominent business man. He served as national president of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and continues to be active locally and at the national level. Dr. Miller is a graduate of Morehouse University and therefore is a “More-house Man.”

Rep. Joseph Gibbons serves

in the Florida State Legislature and works diligently to assure South Florida receives its fair share of state funds. He was instrumental in securing in-creased funding for our county libraries.

Vikki Kennedy Johnson, daughter of Art and Joyce Kennedy, is an executive with BET, an author and a minister. Vikki grew up in Fort Lauder-dale and played on two national basketball championship teams at Dillard High School.

Frank Scruggs, Esq., son of Frank and Frances Scruggs, is a partner in the Florida business law firm of Berger Singerman, PA.

He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Trend’s Florida Legal Elite and Florida Super Lawyers. Frank is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High, where he served as co-captain of the football team.

Friends of AARLCC proudly continue this tradition of honoring Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things. Since 2003, 78 distinguished achievers have been a part of this legacy.