TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
In addition to Dickson’s work with the Alabama Republican Council, Gov. Guy Hunt appointed Dickson as Assistant for Minority Affairs in 1986. Dickson later served on the state personnel board for more than 25 years, including as chair- man. He was also a member of the state insurance board. As a child, Dickson delivered The Birmingham World, a Black newspaper founded in 1931. In 1987, he purchased the financially troubled newspaper and led the news- paper as publisher until it went defunct in 1998. Dickson continued with his real estate business, working on the State Personnel Board as Chairman, and consulting until he became ill and was no longer able to do so. Brother Joe N. Dickson is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Robert Dickson, II and Clarence Dickson; sister, Dora Dickson; daughter, Wanda McElroy and granddaughter Tiffany Dickson. He is survived by his wife of 48 years: Dr. Charlie Jones Dickson; sons, Johnny (Susan) Dickson, Jonathan (DeVarius) Dickson (Birmingham (AL) AL 1996); daughters, Sheila Dickson, Joann Dickson-Smith, Janet Essix, Chari Dickson and Jori Dickson Jordan; brother Dr. Luther (Rosario) Dickson; thirteen grandchildren, eight great grand-children, and a host of relatives, friends and colleagues.
After graduation, Ellis enlisted in the United States Army where he served his country from 1956 to 1958. He later earned a Master of Arts degree in Special Education from Northeastern Illinois University. He held two Doctors of Philosophy degrees from Southern Illinois University (SIU) and the Union Graduate School respectively. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Hu- mane letters from his alma mater. During his 38-year tenure in the Chi- cago Public School System, Ellis served in various teaching positions in middle and upper grades, including special edu- cation, corrections and adult education. He also served as the Assistant to the Sub-District Superintendent of Schools and was an administrator in the Depart- ment of Special Education and Pupil Support Services. He was the designer and director of the first comprehen- sive Education Diagnostic Center for students with or without disabilities in the public and private schools within the city of Chicago. After retiring from the Chicago Public School System, Ellis became a consul- tant/coordinator in the Graduate School of Education at DePaul University. At SIU-Carbondale, Ellis served as a gradu- ate instructor where he designed and taught the graduate courses. Also, he served as an Adjunct Professor at both National Louis University of Educa- tion at Evanston, IL and at Governors State University at Park Forest, IL. Ellis served on the committees of candidates for the doctorate degree at DePaul Uni- versity, Loyola University, and Roosevelt University respectively. As a social scientist, Ellis conducted many research projects, written and presented articles in the fields of Education, Cultural Anthropology, and Ethnography and was published nation- ally and internationally. A member of the Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi ® , Ellis was a member of the Greater Bethesda Mis- sionary Baptist Church. As a member, he served as a Trustee, Deacon, member of the Finance Committee and Council
of Servants and an Elder. His love of music and skill presented him with the opportunity to perform with Duke Ellington in the stage production of Duke Ellington's, “My People” at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago. While Brother Ellis was engaged in many social, civic, and career pursuits, his priority was always God and his family. Brother Herbert Ellis was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Lillie Mae, Margaret, Irene, Marvella, Rosa Lee, Helen, Wilma Jean, Ruth, and brother, John. He is survived by his wife Mary; his children, Katherine and John; sister, Almeda, and a host of relatives, friends, colleagues and former students. Steven E. Fitch 1970–2018 Father, Business Man, Sports Enthusiast one of five children to the late Seth E. Fitch Jr. and Dorothy J. Fitch. He grew up in the Maple Park area of Chicago. He graduated from Chicago Vocational High School in 1988 and attended Chicago State University. He earned a B.S. degree in Computer Science from Chicago State and later earned a M.B.A. degree from Keller Graduate School of Management. Professionally, Fitch worked at Ar- thur Andersen, the city of Chicago, Gofen & Glossburg and GTSAC. He founded Amateur Sports News Network (ASNN). Fitch and his brother, Seth, started a podcast called In Da Ken- nel “Where Sports News Information Meets the Barbershop and Everything in Between.” Fitch was a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Writers, Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Association, board of direc- Brother Steven E. Fitch (Theta Zeta 1989) entered the Chapter Invisible on November 19, 2018. Born on June 10, 1970 in Chicago, IL, Steven Enrique Fitch was
Herbert G. Ellis 1932–2018 Educator, U.S. Army
Brother Herbert G. Ellis (Alpha Mu 1954) entered the Chapter Invisible on December 5, 2018 at the age of 86. He was born in St. Louis, MO on October 9, 1932 as the seventh child of
John Quincy Ellis Sr. and Lula Gibson. After graduating from Douglas High School in Webster Groves, MO, he at- tended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education.
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Publishing achievement for 105 years
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