The Black Scholars Index

[HBCU Presidents] Dr. James E. Cheek (1932-2010) President Emeritus of Howard U

Posted on 12. Jan, 2010 by Leshell Hatley in History, Scholarly Celebrations, Sociology

Dr. James Edward Cheek, president emeritus of Howard University, was born in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, on December 4, 1932 and has unfortunately passed away recently.  We honor him and his accomplishments with this feature.

Education

Despite suffering from severe cataracts, Cheek was an honor student Washington Street Grammar School. He graduated from Immanuel Lutheran College with a secondary diploma in 1950 and served as a member of the United States Air Force in Korea in 1951, eventually earning a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and history from Shaw University. In 1955, Cheek received a Master of Divinity from Colgate Rochester University in 1958 and a PhD from Drew University in 1962.

During this period, Cheek was honored with a Colgate Rochester Fellowship, a Rockefeller Doctoral Fellowship and a Lily Foundation Fellowship. He was member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established by African Americans.

Career

Dr. Cheek was a professor of New Testament Theology at Virginia Union University when he was named president of Shaw University in 1963, at the age of 30. In 1968, he was appointed president of Howard University.  During Dr. Cheek’s twenty-year tenure at Howard, the student population increased by 3,500 and the number of schools, colleges, research programs, full-time faculty and Ph.D. programs increased dramatically. Howard’s budget increased from $43 million to $417 million as the federal appropriation went from $29 million to $178 million. He was named Washingtonian of the Year in 1980 and in 1983, while still serving as president of Howard, Cheek was awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Cheek retired from his position as president of Howard University in 1989.

In 1989, Lee Atwater was appointed as a new member of the Historically black Howard University Board of Trustees. Howard U. gained national attention when students rose up in protest against Atwater’s appointment. Student activists disrupted Howard’s 122nd anniversary celebrations, and eventually occupied the university’s Administration building. Within days, Atwater resigned. Dr. Cheek retired in 1989 after 20 years of devoted service to Howard University.  Read more information about this unfortunate but well-known turmoil here.

Awards

The recipient of hundreds of awards and nineteen honorary degrees, Cheek has served as a board member of several colleges and universities including the University of Miami, Drew University, Colgate Rochester University, New York Institute of Technology, Benedict College, Florida Memorial College, Fisk University and Howard University. His presidential appointments include the Board of Foreign Scholarships, National Advisory Council to the Peace Corps, UNESCO, Commission on Selection of White House Fellows, and the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

We send his family condolences from the BSI Family.

A Letter from Dr. Ribeau, Current President of Howard University

Dear Howard University Community:

I am saddened to inform you of the passing of an esteemed member of our family, President Emeritus Dr. James Edward Cheek, who died today in Greensboro, N.C.

For two decades under Dr. Cheek’s leadership (1969-1989), Howard University experienced immense growth and modernization – with our student population increasing and the number of schools, colleges, research programs and faculty expanding. Dr. Cheek’s vision and passion for the University and his view of Howard as a national treasure led to bold action, which eventually resulted in a dramatic boost in our budget with increased federal support. The University built upon its international reputation and its legacy of social justice.

During his tenure as president, in 1983 he was awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He served on the boards of several colleges and universities and was the recipient of hundreds of awards and nineteen honorary degrees for his contributions to higher education.

We honor his life and his contributions and we offer our sincere condolences to his wife Celestine, his two children – both Howard alums—James and Janet, and his entire family. His legacy will endure through this institution, as well as through the lives he has touched.

With warmest regards,

Sidney A. Ribeau
President

Travel Arrangements to Dr. Cheek’s funeral (for current members of Howard University community)

January 11, 2010

President Sidney A. Ribeau recognizes the significant contributions of President Emeritus James E. Cheek. To accommodate the interest of those who wish to travel to North Carolina, the Office of the President is sponsoring a bus to transport members of the University community (faculty, staff, retirees, and alumni) to the funeral service scheduled for Thursday, January 14 at noon.

The bus will depart promptly at 5 a.m., Thursday, January 14 from Cramton Auditorium and will return to Washington following the service. Seats for the bus are available on a first-come, first-served basis as the capacity of the bus is limited (maximum 55 passengers). Please R.S.V.P. as soon as possible, but no later than Wednesday, January 13 at noon. Please contact Kim Banks at (202) 806-7194 or email kebanks@howard.edu.

The family has also shared that persons traveling independently and have planned an overnight stay in Greensboro, N.C. can consider booking at the Downtown Marriott where a limited number of rooms are reserved for Howard-affiliated parties.

More Related posts:

1. [HBCU Presidents] Dr. Dorothy Yancy: 1st Female President of Shaw University
2. [ HBCU Presidents ] Dr. Frederick D. Patterson – 3rd President of Tuskegee & Founder of UNCF
3. [HBCU Presidents] Horace Mann Bond: 1st Black President of Fort Valley State College & Lincoln University
4. [ HBCU_Presidents ] Dr. Mordecai Wyatt Johnson: Howard's 1st Black President
5. Ruth Simmons: 1st Black President of an Ivy League School

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