Naming Project: The Wayne Sadberry Project
The Late Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., receives 2023
Global Change Maker Award for creating and leading a
mission to honor Prof. O.W. Sadberry, Sr.
An Independent Committee Formed and Directed Under the Leadership of Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., for the Express Purpose of Naming the School in the Honor of His Father to Complete The Final Report
TEAM:
The Late Wayne Sadberry
Project Leader: George Vaults
Team Captain & Successor: Sunny Nash, Editorial Project Manager
PARTNERS:
Carl Bisor
Burl Garnett, Jr.
Johnnie Moten-
Cunningham
Joyce Ellis Newton
Oswell Person
AMBASSADORS:
Patricia Bradley
Karan Chavis
Adolph Johnson
Calvin Phillips
Dawn Lee Wakefield
Download PDF –
Testimonial
George Vaults
I was born in Leon County, Texas. My father, Richard Vaults, was a farmer, and my mother, Irene Vaults, was a housekeeper. They had nine children. I attended school in Leon and Madison counties through 7th grade. Then my family moved to Bryan in Brazos County, Texas, where I enrolled in 8th grade at E. A.
Kemp High School.
My siblings enrolled at Washington Elementary School, where Prof. O>W. Sadberry was Principal.
On my first day at Kemp, I got into a fight with a student making fun of my worn-out, ankle-high Brogan work shoes that had holes in them. Having to go to Principal Neal’s office because of the fight, I met Mrs. Sylvia Sadberry, school secretary, who was kind to me, and it was not long before Prof. Sadberry and I met each other. I tolerated school academics, but I really enjoyed playing basketball for the Kemp Bears.
Shortly after my graduation, Prof. Sadberry approached me and asked what my plans were. I told him I was uncertain. He took me to Prairie View A&M College the next day and introduced me to Charles Johnson, who was over the dining hall. Before we left, I was employed. Next, Prof. Sadberry got me a room assignment, and took me to the laundry/cleaners where I met Mr. Peterson, who gave me some
clothing. Upon enrollment, I received a scholarship to play basketball. Because of Prof. Sadberry, I was now a student at Prairie View A&M College. After my sophomore year, I was injured and lost the basketball scholarship, but I was soon hired as a student worker in the Office of the Assistant Dean of Men.
After graduating from Prairie View A&M College in 1959, I returned to Bryan where I was immediately hired to teach 4th grade at Carver Elementary School. In 1961, I married Doris M. King.
We had one child, Thelonious U. Vaults, who is now married to Lacrecia Vaults. Doris and I moved
to Houston where I taught for one year, and was later employed to teach in the North Forest Independent School District, where I taught for 20 years. During that time, I became an assistant Principal (1963-70), and then High School Principal (1970-73).
Prof. Sadberry encouraged me to venture out for an advanced degree. Following his advice, I earned
a Master’s Degree from North Texas University in 1968; in 1971, I earned a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Administration from the University of Houston. Between 1972 and 1994, I was an Assistant, a Deputy, and then Superintendent of Schools in Calvert, Texas. Region VI Education Service Center named me ‘Superintendent of the Year’ in 1994. From 1992 to 1995, I was the first African American to work on the University Interscholastic League Executive Committee, which provides rule interpretation for extracurricular competition in the State of Texas. From 1995 to 2012,
I worked for Texas Education Agency in Austin. Over time, I have received many honors, awards
and commendations. My life’s journeys are not so dissimilar from others; in order to be successful we may need advice and, sometimes, a little nudge to help us along the way. I am extremely proud and appreciative of Prof. O.W. Sadberry, Sr., for advising me and giving me that little nudge along the way.
George Vaults Educator, Administrator Texas Education Policymaker
The Final Mission of Wayne Sadberry:
Sunny Nash
School Naming Project Creative Rights Administrator & Editorial Project Manager
From 1970 until 2022, Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., dreamed of honoring his father after his father’s
school was destroyed by fire in September 1970, days before opening its doors to an integrated student
body. Over time, The son’s dream evolved into a vision, which he gradually sculpted into his final
mission. An intellectual approach to strategic problem-solving extended into a plan and an organized
committee to help him accomplish his mission. Before long, the mission was a movement, centered on a
public value creation inspired by his father.
Prior to completing his senior year in the Mathematics Department at Texas A&M University, Wayne
Sadberry was recruited by the school’s Oceanography Department chairman, Guy Franchini, to join a
National Science Foundation research voyage. On one of the earliest international research teams to sail
to the South Pole to research climate change, Wayne was the first African American to perform the
combined duties of documentarian, Russian language consultant and climate data manager, helping build
a body of scientific knowledge on the effects of 24-hour days and nights on the Antarctic environment.
That December, Wayne’s father, O.W. Sadberry, Sr., hospitalized following a stroke, told his son, “There
is nothing you can do for me here, Wayne, but there may be something you can do for humanity.
Opportunities like that come once in a lifetime. You have to go.” Wayne did not want to leave his father,
the one who understood him best and tried to provide him every opportunity this world would offer him.
Wayne was torn and already grieving. His father told him again, “Wayne, you have to go.” That was the
last time Wayne saw his father. The next morning he went to sea on the research vessel to the
southernmost tip of the world. As Wayne documented the Midnight Sun poised on the dark icy horizon,
he got a phone call. His father had died.
In 2019, when Wayne learned a new school was underway, he began recruiting a team. Wayne’s
education and vast career experience in critical problem solving, secret military mission strategy, climate
research, oceanic exploration, electronics, engineering, technology, retail sales, advertizing, public
service administration, politics and museum curatorial operations prepared him to lead his final mission.
He recruited George Vaults, experienced and credentialed at all levels of education—classroom to
administration to top leadership at Texas Education Agency.
Wayne recruited me—Sunny Nash—for my editorial, publishing, technology and creative rights administration skills. Wayne also selected Carl Bisor, Johnnie Mae Moten-Cunningham, Oswell Person and Joyce Newton, based on their experience and trustworthiness. Later to join were Patricia Bradley, Karan Chavis, Adolph Johnson, Calvin Phillips and Dawn Lee Wakefield. George Vaults gathered a petitioner database of community support that would translate into a committed block of votes for the name O.W. Sadberry, Sr., on the new school.
Wayne’s strategic planning skills were quite a phenomenon in a community unfamiliar with public value
movements and especially a movement not politically synchronized with locally structured systemic
norms. At this unlikely moment in history, when Wayne began propelling his movement, he inspired
community cohesion around his idea of a public value creation through the seemingly innocuous act of
naming a school. He convinced people who had never taken a personal role in such an unmistakably risky
political proposition as this movement. With no money, no connections and no clout, could the
movement accomplish this apparently impossible mission without imploding upon itself?
Decades of public service earned O.W. Sadberry, Sr., and his son, Wayne Sadberry, enormous
humanitarian capital, which ultimately translates into clout. Their humanitarian capital emerged from an
unpretentious philosophy on change—recognize the problem, plan to address the problem, take action to resolve the problem and thank those who helped! That unpretentious philosophy on change bestowed
global value upon The Final Mission of Wayne Sadberry for honoring his father with his name upon
O.W. Sadberry, Sr., Intermediate School.
O.W. Sadberry, Sr., Intermediate School The Wayne Sadberry Project Committee Wayne Sadberry Committee Team
My life is mission driven. My inspiration to name a school after my father, O.W. Sadberry, Sr., came
from him. His life was mission driven, too.
It took me a half century. I want to live to see Dad’s name on the new school, but if I do not, I know
this: I have made every strategic planning move within my power to see that it happens.
Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., Project Leader, Archivist & Curatorial Project Manager
I listened to Wayne’s plan to initiate a campaign to get the new school named in honor of his father,
O.W. Sadberry, Sr. I said, Wayne, I can think of no greater honor than to help you get the name of your father and my beloved mentor on that school.
George Vaults, Team Captain, Petition Coordinator & Database Project Manager Wayne succeeded! This tribute to his father reveals that death only marks the end of their physical presence among us, but the legacies they left behind will continue to live.
The ideals of Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., and his father, O.W. Sadberry, Sr., will live within us to
pass on to the coming generation, and generations yet to be born.
Sunny Nash, Creative Rights Administrator & Editorial Project Manager
Wayne Sadberry Committee Partners
Wayne Sadberry led his committee until he died to get his father’s name, O.W. Sadberry, Sr., on a
new school. Wayne had a plan, which he had given some really serious consideration and preparation. With key team and partners identified, Wayne asked me to join him as a partner in this effort.
Carl Bisor, Network Supervisor & Business Strategy Partner
“It is my hope that one day there will be a monumental gesture established in the honor of my
mentor, Prof. O.W. Sadberry, Sr.”
The Monumental gesture is: O.W. Sadberry, Sr., Intermediate School, an effort led by his son, Oliver
“Wayne” Sadberry, Jr.
Burl Garnett, Jr, Educational Expert Partner
Many years ago, I heard Wayne and my mother talk about his vision to name a school to honor his
dad. He got that idea after his dad’s school burned in 1970.
Mother encouraged Wayne and said, “Have a plan, avoid troublemakers and get the right people
behind you, and you won’t need to raise money to memorialize your father.”
Johnnie Moten-Cunningham, Educational Advisor & Partner
Wayne Sadberry Committee Partners (continued)
Wayne formed a committee of trusted people to help him get the school named after his father.
Wayne’s leadership and expertise in many areas motivated us. We can be happy in knowing Wayne is at peace with what we did alongside him and then in his absence.
Joyce Ellis Newton , Network Coordination Partner
Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., led the successful movement to name a school in the honor of Prof.
O.W. Sadberry, Sr., his father and my mentor.
I listened to Wayne’s plan. It was well thought out, logical and professionally presented, characteristic
of his quiet delivery, a similar quiet manner to his father, Prof. O.W. Sadberry, Sr.
Oswell Person, Ph.D., Author & History Partner
Wayne Sadberry Committee Ambassadors
Picture Unavailable: Patricia Bradley, Project Ambassador & Sadberry Family Outreach Officer
I am absolutely thrilled to be working on Wayne Sadberry’s committee helping to promote his
valiant efforts in getting a school named for his father, O.W. Sadberry, Sr.
Wayne had a warm and generous spirit for sharing his knowledge, enthusiasm and encouragement. I
am privileged to have been a beneficiary of his kind friendship throughout the years. It is my pleasure
to reciprocate for his influence on my life by being part of his committee.
Karan Chavis, Social Tactician & Industry Ambassador
Getting people educated was a key value of Prof. O.W. Sadberry, Sr., and his son, Wayne.
I admired them both and feel privileged to have been selected to be an ambassador for Wayne’s project
to get his father’s name on the new school.
Dr. Adolph Johnson, Media & Network Ambassador
I made a life-changing decision when I decided to integrate Bryan Public Schools in1964.
Prof. Sadberry encouraged me to be strong in my convictions and do my best work. Now, I am able to
say thank you to Prof. Sadberry by working on Wayne’s Committee to get a school named, O.W.
Sadberry, Sr., Intermediate School.
Dr. Calvin Phillips, Onsite Outreach Ambassador
I have known Wayne Sadberry and his public service work for almost half a century.
Wayne Sadberry enlisted the work of trusted friends and community to see that the new school would
be named in honor of his father, Prof. O. W. Sadberry, Sr. I am proud to have been on Wayne’s
committee.
Dr. Dawn Lee Wakefield,
Media Coordination Ambassador
Petitioners Collected By:
George Vaults, Team Captain, Database Project Manager & Petition Coordinator
- Abram, Darlene Shepperd
- Adams, Geraldine
- Albertson, Billy
- Albertson, James
- Allen, Willie
- Arrington, Raymond
- Asberry, Linda Smith
- Baber, Glenda
- Baber, John
- Bell, George
- Bell, William
- Benson, Shirley Birdsong Knox
- Beverly, James
- Billy Chambers
- Bisor, Carl
- Bivens, Melanie
- Bradley, Patricia
- Brisco, Mary Smith
- Brooks, Margaret Gibbs
- Brown, Carolyn
- Brown, Carolyn Sadberry
- Brown, Charles
- Brown, Chelsa
- Bruno, Bettye
- Bruno, Thomas
- Bruton, Nancy R.
- Bryan, Mary
- Butler, Issac
- Byrd, Andrew
- Calhoun, Mary
- Carter, Myrtle Harris
- Chambers, Billy
33.Chapel, Sherry
34.Chathman, Wayman
35.Chavis, Karan
36.Connor, Carolyn
37.Connor, Delores
38.Cooper, Barbara Mosley
39.Cunningham, Curtis
40.Davis, Leon
41.Davis, Mildred Ray
42.Delley, Robert
43.Devrow, Glenn
44.Dix, Curtis
45.Dix, Louise
46.Dixon, Freddie
47.Dove, Aquilla Sadberry
48.Dove, Nathaniel (Nat)
49.Draper, Jeraldine Vaults
50.Dunn, Ron
51.England, Sharan
52.Ellis, Johnny
53.Ellis, Ruby Green
54.Fergueson, Yolanda Knox
55.Fogle, Lonnie
56.Foley, Curtis “Butch”
57.Ford, Virginia Ross
58.Franklin, Evelyn Davenport
59.Gamble, Edgar
60.Gamble, Evelyn
61.Garner, Sid
62.Garnett, Burl, Jr.
63.Gibbs, Juanita
64.Gilbert, Alyce Tyler
65.Gilbert, Gayle
66.Gilbert, Scottie
67.Gooden, Wanda
68.Goff, Robert
69.Golden, Meta La Juan
70.Gray, Agnes
71.Green, Dorothy
72.Green, Elma Jackson
73.Green, Ennis
74.Green, Maurice Jr.
75.Green, Milton
76.Greer, Sarah
77.Gregg, Rose
78.Griggs, Iona Potts
79.Guyden, Dr. Jerry C.
80.Haynes, Dr. Jacquline Phillips
81.Haynes, Thameisha
82.Hines, William
83.Hogan, Cliflonett
84.Hollins, Walter
85.Hunter, Ernest
86.Hunter, Freddie
87.Hunter, Nese
88.Idlebird, Joe
89.Idlebird, Joe Calvin
90.Idlebird, Rev. Carl
91.Ingran, Maxine
92.Irvin, James
93.Jackson, Harvey
94.Jenkins, Cleo
95.Johnson, Bessie
96.Johnson, Bessie Hicks
97.Johnson, Candace
98.Johnson Jr., Dr. Adolph
99.Johnson, Harrell - Johnson, James Travis
- Johnson, Katie
- Johnson, LaShunda
- Johnson, Ona
- Johnson, Ruby
- Johnson, William B.
- Jones, Dr Secceter Phillip
- Jones, Clarence
- Jones, Fayeola
- Jones, Johnny
- Jones, Rose
- Kennedy, Karon
- Keys, DeAndres
- King, Ann
- Knox, Dedric
- Knox, Edward
- Knox, Gloria
- Knox, James
- Knox, Shirley
- Laws, Cornelia
- Lee, Garry
- Lee, Louise Dix
- Lightford, Anquinett
- Madison, Melba
- Marks, Shirley
- May, Shawn
- May, Tracie
- McDaniel, John
- MClain, Gwendolyn
- McQueen, Christine Harris
- Means, Kimberly
- Mitchell, Jacquiline Rose
- Moore, Barbara
- Moore, Beverly Williams
- Moore, Raymond
- Morris, Frankie
- Mosley, Jurline
- Moten, Edward
- Moten, Louise
- Moten-Cunningham, Johnnie
- Mulkey, Lonnie
- Murray, Vivian
- Myosha Milborn
- Nash, Sunny
- Neal, Anthony, Jr.
- Neal, Anthony, Sr.
- Nelson, Carrie B. Wyatt
- Newton, Joyce Ellis
- Nicks, Benjamin, Sr.
- Oldham, Rose
- Oldham, Vernell
- Paul, Robbie
- Perry, Bobby
- Perry, Effie
- Person, Dr. Oswell
- Peterson, Anthony
- Peterson, Bobbie J. Idlebird
- Peterson, Irvin
- Peterson, Wanda
- Peterson, Waymon
- Phillips, Dr. Calvin
- Phillips, Doris Robertson
- Polk, Ruby F.
- Polk, Velma
- Poole, Michon
- Pouncy, Sylvia Allen
- Pradia, Daphine Brown
- Pradia, William
- Pruitt, Willie
- Quarrels, Rozell
- Rawls, Vivian Vaults
- Rhodes, Kelly
- Richards, Pamelia
- Robbins, Ruby Dix
- Robertson, Jewell
- Robertson, Tommie
- Robinson, Brandon
- Robinson, Freddie Mae
- Robinson, Hailey
- Robinson, Jacquelyn
- Robinson, Javon
- Robinson, Tyron
- Robinson-Taylor, JoAnn
- Rooks, Irma
- Rucker, Barbara
- Russel, Shawntress
- Sadberry, Charlene
- Sadberry, Charles, Jr.
- Sadberry, Charles, Sr.
- Sadberry, Dwain
- Sadberry, Earl
- Sadberry, Edgar L.
- Sadberry, Heslip
- Sadberry, Rev. Marcia
- Sadberry, Oliver W., Jr.
- Sadberry, Reginel
- Sadberry, Rubye
- Sadberry, Steven
- Sams, Andrea
- Sams, Christopher
- Sanchez, Viviana
- Sandle, Arthur “Bo”
- Sandle, Jesse
- Sandle, Johnny
- Sandle, Leroy
- Sheppard, Carolyn Kennard
- Shirley, Bennie
- Simpson, Sidney
- Smith, Robert, Sr.
- Smith, Gladys Green
- Smith, Sam
- Stephney, Edward
- Stephney, James
- Stephney, Johnny
- Stephney, Perry J.
- Stewart, Wilma R.
- Taylor, Curtis
- Taylor, Doris Ford
- Taylor, Latasha
- Taylor, Lou Ella Gator
- Taylor, Mary
- Taylor, Pamela
- Taylor, Roy
- Taylor, Rachel
- Taylor-Foster, Billie Jean
- Terry, Deandrea Sadberry
- Thurman, Janice
- Tramble, Georgia
- Turnbough, Gladys
- Turner, Nolan
- Turner, Rogers
- Twitty, Jaden
- Vaults, George
- Vaults, Lawrence
- Vaults, Lucrea
- Vaults, Ruth
- Vaults, Theo
- Vaults-Shaw, Queen
- Vaults, Velma
- Wakefield, Dr. Dawn Lee
- Waller, Ruby Ellis
- Watkins, Dr. Halcyon
- Watkins, Shane
- Watson, Constance
- Webster, Dr. Bernice
- West, Tommie Dabney
- White, Gloria V.
- White, James Leon
- White, Jerusalem L.
- White, Tommie L. Jr.
- Wilborn, Thelma Benford
- Wilborn, Thomas
- Williams, Cloyd
- Williams, Dorelia Taylor
- Williams, Gloria
- Williams, Ivy
- Williams, John L.
- Williams, Lee
- Williams, Shannon
- Wilson, Robert
- Winston, Vernon Loray
- Workman, Floria Tiggs
- Wright, Barbara Wilson
Family, Former Students, Friends, Neighbors, Colleagues, Community Members & Others
O.W. Sadberry, Sr., Intermediate School
Naming Project: Created & Directed By
Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr.
Project Leader, Archivist & Curatorial Project Manager
Underpinned By
George Vaults
Team Captain, Petition Coordinator & Database Project Manager
Edited By
Sunny Nash
Creative Rights Administrator & Editorial Project Manager
PROJECT ALLIANCES & REPOSITORIES
E.A Kemp High School Alumni Association, Bryan, Texas
Carl Bisor, President
Developing Future Leaders, Los Angeles Country, California, USA
Keith Lilly, Chief Executive Officer
Port of Long Beach of the San Pedro Bay Port Complex, California
Mario Cordero, Executive Director
The Houston Informer (Houston Informer Foundation), Houston, Texas
Sir Jerold La Beaux, Archivist; Lorenza Butler, Publisher
Smithsonian Institution, Educational Technology, Washington DC
Sunny Nash, Smithsonian Scholar
PROJECT DESIGN MODELS
George H.W. Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University
John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Center on Philanthropy & Civil Society, School of Law, Stanford University
Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law, University of California, Berkeley
And Stanford University
Elsevier Publisher Inclusion Framework, London and Amsterdam
International Human Rights Law, United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
January 11, 2022, Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., died.
February 21, 2022, O.W. Sadberry, Sr., Intermediate School Was Named
February 21, 2023, George H.W. Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M
University, where Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr. Graduated in 1971,
Featured The Wayne Sadberry Project
March 15, 2023, 80th Birthday of Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr.
Developing Future Leaders Bestowed in his Honor
Global Change Maker Award
Honoring Community Leaders Worthy of Global Recognition
Adolph Johnson: To think that someone from my hometown and race is recognized internationally brings me to a place of hope for humanity. When I learned that Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., one of the most
humble and gracious men I have ever met, was nominated for a 2023 Global Changer Maker Award for creating this movement, I was overcome with an incredible, awe-inspired feeling to have known someone of his caliber. Wayne’s character and tenacious drive for excellence, and social, educational and economic equality were so much in the spirit of his father, O.W. Sadberry, Sr., in whose honor Wayne created the movement to name a new school in Bryan, Texas.
Because of the Lord’s providence, Wayne’s successful campaign earned O.W. Sadberry, Sr., Intermediate School in his father’s memory. Wayne was able to do that because of three critically important qualities: integrity, commitment to his ideals, and the willingness to stand apart from the crowd. Wayne Sadberry marched to the beat of a different drummer. His southern milieu could not force him into its mold nor could it label and box him in, as he was his own person. What a man!
I was born and raised in Bryan, Texas, and lived there until May 1966 when I graduated from E.A.
Kemp High School. My parents, Adolph and Velma Johnson, were born in Wheelock in Robertson
County just north of Bryan. My mother was a domestic worker; my father was a truck driver for
Kraft’s Furniture Co. My parents respected Prof. Sadberry for his high standing in the community
and willingness to help others. He was principal of Washington Elementary School on the Eastside. I
lived on the Westside and attended Carver Elementary. Our community stressed that education
would be our path to careers beyond those of our parents. Education was a consistent theme for us in
segregated Bryan, although the Carnegie Public Library forbade me from checking out a book when
I was a junior at Kemp. When Eastside and Westside students combined in high school, however, we
were prepared and formidable.
After high school graduation, I headed west, where I attended college and graduate school, and built
my career and life. At the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), and University of
Southern California (USC), I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, Master of Science in
International Education, Master of Public Administration, and PhD in Higher Education
Administration. I served as Assistant Professor at Pepperdine University, Los Angeles; Assistant
Dean and, then, Dean of Academic Affairs, Cerritos College.
Getting people educated was a key value of Prof. O.W. Sadberry, Sr., and his son, Wayne. I admired
them both and feel privileged to have been selected to be an ambassador for Wayne’s project to get
his father’s name on the new school. After Wayne was too ill to participate fully, he named my sixthgrade teacher, George Vaults, to succeed him as Team Captain. Mr. Vaults and my childhood friend,
Sunny Nash, said my name had come into earlier discussions, so they asked me to help with the
online nomination process. I thought the project’s possibility for success was slim to none, but I
knew I needed to be part of this historic movement, and lend whatever knowledge I had to the effort.
Sunny worked closely with me in training as many people as possible from my Kemp Class of 1966
network to navigate the school district’s digital election system.
I am honored and humble to have worked in the movement, created and led by Oliver “Wayne”
Sadberry, Jr., to memorialize his father and mentor to so many, Prof. O.W. Sadberry, Sr. The success
of this movement earned Wayne Sadberry my nomination and nominations from around the nation
for the 2023 Global Change Maker Award, presented posthumously by Developing Future Leaders,
Los Angeles County, California, USA. Congratulations to my friend, Wayne Sadberry.
Dr. Adolph Johnson, Jr.
(Huntington Beach, California)
Project Media & Network
Ambassador
PROJECT REVIEW, Wayne Cheney, Sr.
Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., deserves a 2023 Global Change
Maker Award, for his unwavering dedication to showing a
community how it could do the seemingly impossible at this
moment in our history.
This review is my statement of appreciation and great admiration for Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., for honoring the legacy of his father, Prof. O. W. Sadberry, Sr., educator, community leader, mentor and an honorable man of quiet dignity.
I read this project document carefully. I felt the love, commitment and skill that went into Wayne Sadberry’s effort to drive the project to its successful conclusion. I could see that he was doing more than honoring his father, O.W. Sadberry, Sr., who is as honorable a man as there can be. Wayne was honoring
all of our fathers and showing them to a community that had not been aware of them. Wayne’s project gives us a glimpse into who we are through his father, Prof. Sadberry, who dedicated his life to creating social relevance and generational economic and intellectual wealth for so many families in desperate situations. I salute Prof. Sadberry and his son, Wayne, as heroes.
This work of the Wayne Sadberry Project is a proud legacy and an inspiration to my personal life.
After reading the journey of Wayne’s father it made me look at the many ways I’m inspired to continue my work in the city of Long Beach and making systematic change in our unique culture.
I’m now energized in a direction to mirror Prof. Sadberry’s proven formula for success. It’s a right of
passage. Good mentors and past leaders leave their teachings behind for others to follow. Through
Wayne Sadberry’s eyes, I clearly see public good in a new way. I, too, want to share with others my
life success and that of my own father. Being engaged with my church, community and public
service is a roadmap to creating success that is worth sharing. Thank you, Prof. Sadberry and your
son, Wayne, for sharing your vision with me. Prof. Sadberry’s name and work will live on because
of his son’s love and appreciation for excellence. Wayne Sadberry’s preservation of his father’s
legacy is the greatest appreciation a son can bestow upon a father. Prof. O.W. Sadberry, Sr., lives on
in the lives of the next generation of Civic and Community Leaders. I learned that Wayne Sadberry
died two weeks before the school’s name was announced. The 2023 Global Change Maker Award
will allow future generations to learn about the legacy of Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., how he
showed a community how it could do the seemingly impossible at this moment in our history.
About the Project Reviewer
Wayne Cheney, Sr., is a lifelong resident of Long Beach, California. He attended Polytechnic (Poly) High
School, Long Beach City College, and California State University, Long Beach. U.S. Air Force veteran and
former Chairman of the Long Beach Airport Advisory Commission, Cheney has been a Firefighter with the Long
Beach Fire Department (LBFD) since 1990, serving in positions, including Public Information Officer,
Recruitment Officer, Director of LBFD Mentor Program and Court Liaison Rescue Program. Board Member of
the Long Beach Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 372, Cheney also served as Vice President, Liaison for the
Civil Service Commission, Campaign Director and named LBFD Employee of the Year. He served on the Long
Beach Police Chief’s Advisory Board, received the NAACP Community Award, Press Telegram Community
Hero Award, and Rotary Club Community Service Award. Cheney received State and Congressional
recognition for outstanding services to the community. Wayne Cheney is devoted to family and community and
honors service to others, mindful that honor has to be earned. Happily married to Debra, Cheney is father of
Pastor Wayne Cheney, Jr., Christopher, Joseph and Maya.
Wayne Cheney, Sr.
Project Reviewer
2023 GLOBAL CHANGE MAKER AWARD
It is with our great pleasure that Developing Future Leaders bestow upon Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., a 2023 Global Change Maker Award. He created the project that honors his father, Professor O.W. Sadberry, Sr.
The honor of this son to his father achieved getting his father’s name on a new state-of-the-art school. Wayne Sadberry’s project come at an ideal time to help Americans do their part to heal our nation’s troubled people By leading this project at this particular time, Wayne Sadberry demonstrated the humanity he learned from his father’s excellent example. Even those without fathers in their lives for one reason or another, now have a roadmap to follow. This father used his talent and training to educate people of all ages; to house the Tuskegee Airmen, and other enlisted African Americans and their families at a military base located in his segregated community in the 1950s; and to help the Board of Regents at Texas A&M University integrate the school in 1963.
After reviewing all the documents, the Award Committee makes this official posthumous gesture to Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., for his courageous and successful endeavor to recruit and engage like-minded team, partners and ambassadors to accomplish this feat of great importance.
When the award committee and I learned everything this man did and everything he gave to get his dad’s name on the school in Texas, it did matter to us where he was from—
California or Texas or any other state, we wanted to do something to honor his courage, persistence and brilliance to leave a succession plan, so that through illness and even death his mission would be accomplished. And then we learned that Wayne Sadberry as a small boy had spent his formative years in Southern California with his famous architect uncle, Roy Sealy, designer for the stars in Hollywood, and close associate of Paul Williams, internationally renowned architect in Los Angeles, we knew Wayne Sadberry belonged to us, too. And we are very proud to have such a man as Oliver “Wayne” Sadberry, Jr., among our heroes. He demonstrates exemplary strategic leadership skills as those of community leaders all over the world, those who have been deemed by their peers and other leaders as worthy of global recognition.
The 2022 DFL Global Change Maker Award honored Wilma Powell for global leadership as the first
female in the nation to earn the highest executive management rank at a U.S. Port. In 1999, Wilma
Powell was appointed Director of Trade and Maritime Services at the Port of Long Beach. Powell is
originally from Waco, Texas, attended Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas, and
graduated from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California.
Developing Future Leaders Los Angeles County, California USA, Nonprofit Devoted to the Needs of Aspiring Young Leaders Developing Future Leaders Award Committee
Lowell Anderson (Left); Connie Durr-Loggins (Right)
& Keity Lilly (Above)
Keith Lilly, CEO
Developing Future Leaders
Long Beach, California
The Final Mission of Wayne Sadb