JBHE: Latest News for 7/14/11

In Memoriam

Hershel K. Swinger (1939-2011)

Hershel K. Swinger, a clinical psychologist, children’s advocate, and longtime educator, died recently at his home in Baldwin Hills, California, from congestive heart failure. He was 72 years old.

Dr. Swinger was the founder and director of Project Fatherhood, which provided support and training for more than 7,000 low-income, urban fathers over the past 15 years. In 2006 he received a $7.5 million grant to institute Project Fatherhood in 50 locations throughout Los Angeles County.

Swinger was a native of Parsons, Kansas. After graduating from high school, he moved to California and enrolled at Los Angeles City College. After two years, he transferred to California State University at Los Angeles where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He later received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Southern California.

He was on the faculty at CalState Los Angeles for 30 years. He was also senior vice president of the Children’s Institute in Los Angeles.

Billy Lewis (1938-2011)

Billy Lewis, the first African-American basketball player at the University of Colorado, who later served as general counsel at Howard University, died at his home in Atlanta after suffering cardiac arrest. He was 72 years old.

Lewis was born in Kansas City but went to high school in Denver. In 1957 Lewis was the first black varsity basketball player to see action for the University of Colorado. He was also the first African American to be elected student body president at the university.

Lewis went on to work for U.S. senator Peter Dominic while earning his law degree at Howard University. In 1964 he was the first black corporate attorney at IBM’s headquarters in Armonk, New York. He later served as general counsel for Howard University.