HONORED POSTHUMOUSLY—JAMES HENRY JR., REX CRAWLEY
The annual “Spirit of King” awards recipients for 2024 were James F. Henry Jr. and Rex Crawley. The Spirit of King awards honors posthumously those who embodied the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the advancement of civil rights and service. The New Pittsburgh Courier is a sponsor of the annual awards, which are hosted by Pittsburgh Regional Transit, the Kingsley Association and the New Pittsburgh Courier. This year’s awards were held at the Kingsley Association in East Liberty, Jan. 11.
MEMBERS OF THE HENRY AND CRAWLEY FAMILIES, AT THE ANNUAL “SPIRIT OF KING” AWARDS, JAN. 11, AT THE KINGSLEY ASSOCIATION. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)
Henry was a director of the Kingsley Association, and later administered nearly 20 programs as director of the Hill House Association. He played football at the old Schenley High School and served five years in the Navy submarine service, according to an obituary in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2003. He was known as an “icon” in many circles for his tireless efforts to help youth via his programs at the Hill House.
MEMBERS OF THE CRAWLEY FAMILY
Crawley, known simply as Rex, founded the Black Male Leadership Development Institute and prior to that, the Uzuri Think Tank at Robert Morris University, where he was assistant dean of the School of Communication and Information Systems.
The accomplishments of both men (Crawley died in 2013) were recognized by the likes of PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman and Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey. In particular, the mayor said that he felt the crime rate for African Americans would “go down tremendously” if “we could multiply him as a person.”
– Rob Taylor Jr.
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