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Marie Christmon started as a student librarian at Morrisson-Reeves Library. She later worked as a flight attendant, studied fashion and attended law school. Her children’s book, Marissa’s Big Day, inspires creativity and ignites the imagination!

Marie Christmon

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Mary Davis taught at Vaile and had a passion for science. She joined a NASA program where she learned from scientists, educators and engineers about teaching aerospace–and she got her own NASA space suit!

Mary Davis

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Gloster Garrett’s life-long interest in automobiles culminated in his invention of the “resilient spring” wheel in 1912. This wheel used springs to handle bumpy roads. It was groundbreaking technology, and a similar design is used on the Mars rover!

Gloster Garrett

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When her blind and ailing sister needed help, Mary E. Hill became a pioneer in local nursing care by caring for Black Women. Her home facility operated for decades and later became part of the Wernle Center. Today, graduating RHS students with interest in health or medicine can apply for the Mary E. Hill scholarship.

Mary E. Hill

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Baby Huey was born James Thomas Ramey and lived in Richmond until moving to Chicago at 19 years old to pursue music. The frontman Baby Huey & The Babysitters, his music was influential in the development of hip hop music.

Baby Huey

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Marlene Lindsey is a Richmond native. Following the death of George Floyd in 2020, Lindsey was inspired to learn and share information about local African-American history. She founded the Black Legacy Project, a nonprofit dedicated to highlighting local Black excellence.

Marlene Lindsey

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Etta Lundy spent her life engaged in her community. As a citizen, volunteer and as a City Councilor she championed fair and affordable housing, built community through Neighborhood Association groups, promoted economic development and supported historic preservation.

Etta Lundy

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Lamar J. Lundy, Jr. was the first Black student to receive a football scholarship to Purdue University where was named MVP for football and basketball during his senior year. He played defensive end for the Rams for 13 seasons and was a member of the “Fearsome Foursome,” often considered one of the best defensive lines in NFL history.

Lamar Lundy

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Calvin Outland was born enslaved in 1811 and escaped to Indiana with the help of Quakers. He moved to Richmond around age 20, and owned the first Black barber shop. An active abolitionist, Outland worked with the Underground Railroad and housed 10-30 freedom seekers at a time.

Calvin Outland

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Photo courtesy of Wayne County Historical Museum

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C.R. Richardson graduated from Tuskegee Institute and Howard University before settling in Richmond to practice law. He served in WWI, helped found the American Legion in Indiana and Townsend Center. RCS honored him by naming an elementary school after him, now operating as the Excel Center and YMCA.

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CR Richardson

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Bobby Smith was a lifelong civil rights activist. Angry that African Americans were treated poorly, he sat at segregated lunch counters, fought for equal hiring and founded the local NAACP chapter. He is memorialized by Richmond Housing Authority’s Bobby Smith Apartments.

Bobby Smith

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As a nurse, Jewell Spears healed the injured in Richmond’s 1968 explosion before helping bring emergency 911 to Indiana. Spears was the first African American at Reid Health to serve as Vice President and was awarded Indiana’s highest award, the Sagamore of the Wabash.

Jewel Spears

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