Frank Coleman
Encyclopedia
Frank "Tick" Coleman was an educator and community volunteer. Born in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

, Coleman grew up in its Point Breeze
Point Breeze, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Point Breeze is a neighborhood in the South Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is generally bound by 25th Street to the west, Washington Avenue to the north, Broad Street to the east, and Mifflin Street to the south, although the sections between 18th Street and...

 neighborhood. He was one of the first black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...

 Eagle Scouts
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...

. Coleman is noted for supporting those institutions that helped him succeed and mentoring many youth in the city of Philadelphia.

Early years

While at Logan Elementary School, he acquired the nickname "Tick" because his classmates said he could do things in a "few ticks of the clock." Because of segregation when Coleman was growing up in the 1920s, blacks were not allowed in at most city-run swimming pools. At that time the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...

 was also segregated, so Coleman and his friends swam at the Christian Street YMCA, founded in the 1880s by African Americans in South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...

. Coleman would then go on to serve the YMCA for more than 80 years.

Coleman first joined the Scouts in Troop 181 at a neighborhood Episcopal Church. This was in accordance with the wishes of his mother, who wanted him to have something to do after school.

Coleman persevered in Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....

 despite the societal prejudices of the day. In a ceremony at the Union League
Union League
A Union League is one of a number of organizations established starting in 1862, during the American Civil War to promote loyalty to the Union and the policies of Abraham Lincoln. They were also known as Loyal Leagues. They comprised upper middle class men who supported efforts such as the United...

, Coleman earned his Eagle rank in October 1926 at age 15 (one of the first three known black Eagle Scouts). At that time he was a freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...

 at Central High School
Central High School (Philadelphia)
Central High School is a public secondary school in the Logan section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Central, the second-oldest continuously public high school in the United States , was founded in 1836 and is a four-year university preparatory magnet school...

.

He was the first African American to quarterback Central High School's football team, leading his team to the Public League
Philadelphia Public League
The Philadelphia Public League traces its origin back to 1901, with the formation of the Philadelphia Interscholastic League, a conference encompassing all the city's high schools, public and private. Prior to this date, the public and private schools in the area had been competing among...

 championships in 1929 and 1930. He also was the first African American member of the All Scholastic High School Football Team in 1928. His football helmet and shoes are on annual display at the African American Museum in Philadelphia
African American Museum in Philadelphia
The African American Museum in Philadelphia is notable as the first museum funded and built by a municipality to help preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage of African Americans...

.

Graduating from Central in 1931, he attended Lincoln University
Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Lincoln University is the United States' first degree-granting historically black university. It is located near the town of Oxford in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The university also hosts a Center for Graduate Studies in the City of Philadelphia. Lincoln University provides...

. While at Lincoln, he served as class president three times and as varsity football quarterback. He was a member of the wrestling team, manager of the varsity basketball team and sat on the Intramural Council He was also a member of Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...

.

He graduated from Lincoln University
Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Lincoln University is the United States' first degree-granting historically black university. It is located near the town of Oxford in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The university also hosts a Center for Graduate Studies in the City of Philadelphia. Lincoln University provides...

 in 1935.

Professional life

He started counseling and working with youth shortly after his graduation from Lincoln. Coleman worked for the School District of Philadelphia
School District of Philadelphia
The School District of Philadelphia is a school district based in the School District of Philadelphia Education Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that includes all public schools in the city of Philadelphia. Established in 1818, it is the eighth largest school district in the nation.The School...

 as a youth counselor for 32 year, retiring in 1981. He earned a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...

 in 1959 from the Penn School of Social Work. He was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in 1984 by Lincoln University.

Community work

As a guidance counselor, and through Lincoln University, Colman mentored hundreds of young people in the black community. He helped finance their education through scholarships that he funded.

He has been an active alumnus of Lincoln, and its football team. At Lincoln he served as Director of Alumni Relations from 1981 to 1988 and as an alumni representative on the Board of Trustees for 10 years.

His involvement in the community has included the Philadelphia Christian Street YMCA, Wharton Settlement, Wissahickon Boys Club, Department of Public Assistance, Department of Recreation, Peace Corps, Salvation Army: Neighborhood Centre South, Wilmont Boys Club, Curtain Community Center, Southside Camp, and the Lansdowne Board of Education, the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity alumni, the South Philadelphia Hebrew Center, and Commissioner of the National Old Timers Basketball League.

Coleman dedicated many years to bringing Scouting to underprivileged youth. To honor his years of service the BSA created the Dr. Frank "Tick" Coleman National Service Award to honor paraprofessional Scouters. These Scouters serve underprivileged youth. In 2007 it was estimated that he was the oldest living black Eagle Scout.

Honors

  • Dr. Frank "Tick" Coleman Service Award, an award named in Coleman's honor.
  • Omega Psi Phi
    Omega Psi Phi
    Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...

     Man of the Year
  • Central High School
    Central High School (Philadelphia)
    Central High School is a public secondary school in the Logan section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Central, the second-oldest continuously public high school in the United States , was founded in 1836 and is a four-year university preparatory magnet school...

      William Butler Award for outstanding student athletes
  • 2004 John Wanamaker Humanitarian Award, for 80 years of service to the Christian Street YMCA
    YMCA Philadelphia
    The YMCA of Philadelphia was founded on June 15, 1854 by George H. Stuart, a prominent Philadelphia businessman.-Philadelphia:*Northeast*Columbia North*Christian Street*West Philadelphia*Adult Education Center*Roxborough-History:...

     in South Philadelphia
    South Philadelphia
    South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...

  • Ph.D.
    Doctor of Philosophy
    Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...

     (Honorary
    Honorary degree
    An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...

    ), Lincoln University
    Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
    Lincoln University is the United States' first degree-granting historically black university. It is located near the town of Oxford in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The university also hosts a Center for Graduate Studies in the City of Philadelphia. Lincoln University provides...


Quotes

See also

  • Historically black colleges and universities
    Historically Black Colleges and Universities
    Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....

  • Scoutreach
    Scoutreach
    The Scoutreach Division of the Boy Scouts of America emphasizes service to rural and urban areas and to minority populations. The African American Focus works with African American populations in partnerships with the NAACP, various the African American churches and other groups...


External links

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