TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
Leon Daggs, Jr. 1941-2021 Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, U.S. Navy Reserve Leon Daggs, Jr., (Jackson (MS) Alumni 1960)
ing slow market periods, economic downturns, recessions, and numerous fi- nancial challenges, he stayed the course and achieved full ownership in 1994. Armed with keen business acumen, Daggs owned multiple successful dealer- ships in Florida and Georgia, real estate holdings, and other investments. His commitment and impact on the auto- mobile industry earned him awards from Chrysler and Ford Motor Company, the Minority Dealers Association, and many others, including ranking as one of Black Enterprise Magazine's Top 100 Auto- mobile Dealers for more than 25 years, reaching as high as number nine on the list. Prior to Ford, Daggs worked at Proc- tor & Gamble and McDonnell Douglas Electronics. Daggs was a Life Member of both the N.A.A.C.P. and Kappa Alpha Psi. He also held memberships with the Ford Lincoln-Mercury Minority Dealer Association (Board of Directors and Southeast Regional Manager), 100 Black Men of Pensacola, Sigma Pi Phi (Boulé) Delta Pi Charter Member and National Association of Guardsmen- Florida Chapter. He served as chairman of the Board of Directors for the CCB Community Bank and a board member for Community Enterprise Investment Inc. (CEII) of Pensacola. During the university's May 2017 commencement, Daggs was one of the first two people to receive the inaugural Harriet Beecher Stowe Award – the university president's highest honor bestowed on alumni who have made outstanding contributions to the school, along with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. He established the Leon Daggs, Jr. Endowed Scholarship to assist his alma mater with providing op- portunities for underrepresented youths in under-resourced communities. Brother Leon Daggs, Jr. is survived by his loving wife of nearly 56 years, the former Saundra Stills; son Christopher (Beta Upsilon 1992); grandchildren, C'Kristen, Chandler, Christopher Jr., and Jenna (step-granddaughter); siblings Brenda Daggs James, Marcella Daggs Woodson (Jerome), and Eric "Tony" (Holly); and a host of nieces, nephews,
cousins, and friends.
Aaron L. English 1969-2022 HR Professional, U.S. Army
Aaron L. English (San Diego (CA) AL 2010) entered Chapter Invisible on February 13, 2022. Brother English served as Polemarch of
peacefully entered the Chapter Invis- ible in his sleep at 80 on early Friday morning, March 26, 2021, from brain cancer. He
was born in St. Louis, MO, on Febru- ary 12, 1941, to the late Leon Sr. and Dorothy Daggs, the oldest of four chil- dren. He was educated at Star School in Crystal City, MO, and L'Ouverture Elementary School. He was the first of two African-American students to integrate Cleveland High School in 1955. He excelled academically and athletically, played tuba in the band and bass fiddle in the orchestra, and was the first Black student voted to the Student Council in his senior year. He gradu- ated in the top ten percent of his class. He attended Harris Teacher's College (now Harris-Stowe State University), where he lettered in track & field and earned in 1963 a B.A. in education. Daggs joined the United States Navy Reserve after his senior year in high school. After college and teaching middle school for one year, he reported to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL, for flight training as one of the first Blacks to become a Naval Aviation Of- ficer Candidate. Upon graduation, he earned the rank of Lieutenant (junior grade) and served for nearly five years, including a tour aboard the USS Calca- terra. Daggs joined Ford Motor Company in 1971 in Indianapolis, IN where he rose to an administrative manager before being promoted and relocating to Dear- born, MI. After nearly 15 years with the company, he began thinking about entering the Ford Dealer Development Program. He left Ford in December 1985 and, by January of the next year, became the proud dealer of Hub City Ford-Mercury in Crestview, FL. Surviv-
the San Diego (CA) Alumni Chapter for two years. He also served in many leadership positions as Chairman of the Founders Day, Scholarship and San Di- ego NPHC committees. He also served several years as the Western Province Meeting Planner. Brother English was extremely active in his community and worked as the Human Resource Direc- tor and Members Services Director for the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians in Valley Center for nearly 16 years. He was born in Los Angeles Califor- nia and educated in the Los Angles pub- lic school system. He attended Leuz- inger High school where he excelled in football, basketball and volleyball and graduated in 1987. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army, attending Infantry Basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia and later served as an Intelligence Analyst assigned to the 1 st Battalion, 9 th Infantry Regiment “Manchus” stationed at Fort Ord, California. After his service, he returned to Southern California and married his high school sweetheart. He earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Long Beach City College, a Bachelor’s De- gree in Organizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University, and a Master’s Degree in Industrial Organizational Psy- chology from Kansas State University. Brother English leaves behind his loving wife Lisa English, son Bryce, daughter Olivia, and many extended family and close friends.
THE JOURNAL ♦ SUMMER 2022 | 61
PUBLISHING ACHIEVEMENT IN EVERY FIELD OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs