Willie B. McLendon Annual Memorial Scholarship Luncheon

Willie Braxton McLendon was a quiet, reflective and committed humanitarian of great proportion. He was a Navy veteran, retired postal official, novice investor, civic leader, Prince Hall Mason (Thirty-third Degree), Past Master of Excelsior Lodge #3, Hartford, Ct. Honorary Past Master of Composite Lodge #22 of Bloomfield, Ct., Past Potentate, Makalia Temple # 172, Hartford, Prince Hall Shriners, Honorary Past Grand Master, Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Connecticut, Free and Accepted Masons, founding member of the Cape Diem Fraternity of Hartford and Philanthropist. Willie B. McLendon had a passion for education and the success that it potentially assured everyone who obtained a post secondary education degree or certification. 

He strongly felt that it was imperative that young men of color needed an education to enhance their “life chances” for future success. Many of his life-long charitable endeavors were geared towards fulfilling his desire to assist young people in acquiring better educational opportunities. At every level of involvement, “Willie B.” always considered the long term progress and welfare of young people of color in particular.

McLendon’s vision which has been passed along to Composite Lodge #22 was to establish an endowed scholarship which would assist promising young men of color annually who elected to attend a Connecticut State University (Central, Eastern, Southern, Western) or a Historically Black College or University. Upon his passing, he began to make real our vision when he bequeathed a modest sum to Composite Lodge to carry out his vision and legacy.

On March 29, 2015, Composite Lodge launched the first annual Willie Braxton McLendon Scholarship Brunch and Student of Color Education Progress Report Experience which was held at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel in Rocky Hill, Connecticut.

Sustaining support is sought from the Metro Hartford Community to grow the noble vision and legacy of Willie Braxton McLendon with financial contributions in the form of attending the annual brunch or purchasing advertisement space in the program journal.

2019

   June 2019 ~ Updated forthcoming ...

2018      

   Saturday ~ April 21, 2018

   Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church

   1154 Blue Hills Avenue

   Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002

Master of Ceremony ~ Brother Steve Brown

Keynote Speaker: Walter Luckett

Special Topic: Status of Education in Bloomfield ~ Dr. James Thompson

Honorees:  

   Dr. David Carter, Sr (posthumously),

   Walter Luckett

   Clifford Stamm

   Dwight Bachman

   Rufus Jones

Co-Chairpersons: Past Grand Master Floyd E. Bagwell Jr. and Honorary Past Grand Master James Hodge

2017

   Saturday ~ April 22, 2017

   Sheraton Hartford South Hotel, 

   100 Capital Blvd, Rocky Hill, CT 06067

Master of Ceremony ~ William R. Smith, Past Grand Master

Keynote Speaker: Congressman Charles Rangel

Honorees:

     Ebony Horsewomen ~  Patricia Kelly 

     Keney Park Sustainability Project ~  Herb Virgo

     Pretty Brown Girl  ~   Donna Reed Mims and Regina Lester-Harriet

     Derrick Seldon, II ~ Western Connecticut State University

Honorary Co-chair Persons ~ Honorable Brandon McGee, Alyce Littmon-Teal, and Scot Esdaile

2016

   Saturday ~ March 5, 2016 

   Sheraton Hartford South Hotel, 

   100 Capital Blvd, Rocky Hill, CT 06067

Master of Ceremony ~ William R. Smith, Past Grand Master

Keynote Speaker: Reverend Dr. Alvan N. Johnson, Jr.

2015

   Saturday ~ March 29, 2015 

   Sheraton Hartford South Hotel, 

   100 Capital Blvd, Rocky Hill, CT 06067

 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Adrian Ricardo Wood