2019 Man of The Year

Cecil King, an agricultural environmental bio-engineering science analyst, corporate, civic, and
community advocate.

Selected 2019 Man Of The Year

by Al Jordon, (909) 644-8590

Cecil King, a Gibson County community native, and historical Trenton Rosenwald’s School Alumnus
and a non-traditional bio-science achiever / trail blazer, has been selected the winner of the School
Association Meritorious Covet Prestigious Man of The Year Award.

He has been honored, recognized, and paid special tribute for his lifetime career spanning over 4
decades for notable outstanding achievements and contributions to his respective profession, to family,
his community, and society.

Cecil’s life experiences and his life’s story began when he was born the third child of 5 children to the
late John Henry King and Elizabeth King of Trenton, Tennessee, where he attended Gibson County
Historical Trenton African American unequal segregated Rosenwald Schools and graduated in 1956.
After high school, he continued his education at Tennessee State University, majoring in Civil
Engineering with emphasis in bio-engineering and chemistry.

After college, he returned to his hometown city of Trenton, marrying his late wife, Betty Jean Bailey,
his high school sweetheart. They were blessed with 3 children. To better the family and improve their
quality of life, education advantages, living environment, and opportunities, the King family, relocated
to Cleveland, Ohio. In Ohio, the children graduated from elementary and high school and furthered
their education through college. During the children’s schooling, the wife, Betty, continued and
pursued her education at Ohio University, majoring in Behavioral Science and Social Studies, and
obtained her Bachelor’s degree. In the meantime, the father and husband, Cecil, the major family
financial supporter, was employed over a decade at Hanna Pavilion, an innovative psychiatry
establishment. Later he was recruited and employed by Diamond Shamrock Corporation, a
Environmental Chemical Industry Company in a position with high level responsibilities. During the
interview process Cecil wrote on his application “ If I am hired here, I will prove myself worthy and be
an asset to the company”. This position afforded Cecil considerable financial rewards for his family.

Throughout the years, Cecil was regularly appraised, evaluated, and promoted to a position that he held
as a corporate bio-engineering science analyst until retirement in 2004. The position entailed
analyzing, measuring and testing agricultural products for suspected toxic and deleterious effects that
could have potential risk implications. Cecil continued for over 3 decades at the corporate division.
The senior executive management acknowledged and recognized him as having an excellent high
standard of work, ethics, and dependability with professional responsibility and reliability as a valuable
employee and a team asset by presenting him with Human Asset Performance Achievement Award.
The corporation spokesperson, upon presenting the honor award said, “He has served the corporate
interests admirably, helpfully, intelligently, and at all times in a very dignified manner, with
consistency, integrity, responsibility, and professionalism”. Further, the spokesman credited Cecil with
having an impressive personality, high level of business enthusiasm and leadership skills that draws
people to him”.

He continues to be a civil and community advocate.

To alleviate and dissipate anxiety, and stress, Cecil has regularly exercised at Heisley Health Club for
the past 50 years. He is an avid golfer and tennis player at Quail Hollow Golf Club, where he also
works part time as the “lone ranger” on the golf range. Cecil also sets aside quality time dancing,
relaxing, attending a local church and living life to the fullest.

For Cecil’s civic and community engagement he continued his commitment and interests as an activist
for several decades committing proactive sustainable environments and personal efforts, promoting
equity, social, cultural, and justice to the community marginalized and voiceless population.

His mantra “Do It All...Now”. “And he has been doing just that and then some, living his life to the
fullest”.

He expounds the meaning of life with associates, collegues, and friends, on how to define life
meanings, arguably exchanging, debating, and sometimes philosophizing in order to obtain others’
opinions and views in a cheerful manner. Upon the announcement that he has been recommended and
selected by the Association’s Achievement Award Committee he was elated. He has been for several
decades an active Association Member and was their honoree recipient, and he would be presented at
the Achiever's dinner ceremony, hosted by the Trenton Martin Tabernacle CME Church, with presiding
pastor, Reverend Paul W. Lacy and the first lady, Betty Day-Lacy and sponsored by the Historical
Trenton Alumni Association at the Church.

The Association Achievement Committee based their selection upon Cecil’s accumulative long term
beneficial notable contributions and his exceptional civic and community advocacy, as well as personal
non-traditional bio-science achievements and accomplishments to the betterment of his family, church,
community, and society.

He expressed his appreciation to the Association and regrets that his recent health issues and restricted
traveling limitations, he will not be present personally to accept the award.