TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
The Honorable Dalton A. Roberson, Sr. J.D. 1937-2020 Circuit Court Judge, U.S. Air Force Longtime
He worked for the Michigan De- partment of Social Services before entering law school where he earned a J.D. degree from the Detroit Col- lege of Law in 1967. After law school, Roberson served as an assistant Wayne County prosecutor and assistant U.S. attorney before founding a law firm with Robert Harrison and Bernard Friedman. Former Michigan Lt. Gov. James Brickley named him to head the state Civil Rights Commission in 1972 and Roberson was also a member of the Sentencing Community Alternative Commission. In 1974, Michigan Governor William Milliken appointed Roberson to the Detroit Recorder’s Court which later merged with Wayne County Circuit Court. In 1987, Wayne County voters elected Roberson as chief judge of the court. During his tenure as chief judge, the court decided high profile cases such as the Malice Green murder case. After Roberson retired in 1999, he and his wife moved to Diamondhead, MS, where he indulged his passion for golf. In recent years, Roberson served as a visiting judge on the circuit court bench. In 1992, the National Confer- ence of Black Lawyers named him its Judge of the Year. Roberson held mem- berships in the Detroit (MI) Alumni and Gulfport (MS) Alumni Chapters. Brother Dalton A. Roberson, Sr. was preceded in death by wife, the former Pearl Janet Stephens who passed in 2018. He survived by daughter Portia Roberson, son Dalton (Jakeema) Jr.; and two grandchildren, Avery and Harper. On January 25, 2021, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission presented resolution honoring the life of the Hon- orable Dalton A. Roberson.
the Chapter Invisible on December 26, 2020, at 70. A native of South Caro- lina, Roberts earned his high school diploma from Phenix High School in Hampton, VA, where he played football and basketball. Roberts attended nearby Hampton University (HU), where he graduated with a B.S. degree in business management. He later completed the Northwest- ern (IL) University Public Safety Man- agement School; the National Sheriffs Institute (NSI) program in Colorado, the Virginia Sheriffs Institute's Chief Execu- tive Training program, and the Civic Leadership Institute. In 1971, Roberts began his law en- forcement career as a patrolman on the Newport News (VA) Police Force. He later joined the campus police force of his alma mater, where he served for 19 years and rose to lead as the Director of HU Police and Public Safety. In 1992, Hampton, VA citizens elected Roberts as the first African American constitutional officer and Sheriff for the city, where he served six terms. He was also elected or appointed to numerous corrections and criminal justice advisory boards. The National Sheriffs Association (NSA) sworn Roberts in as its 69th president and first African-American president. He also was the 43rd presi- dent of the Virginia Sheriffs Association. He also served as the president of the Virginia Campus Police Association, the chairman of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail Authority, and the Virginia College Campus Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Association president. Roberts was a member of Queen Street Baptist Church in Hampton, Vir- ginia. He was also a lifetime member of the Hampton Branch of the N.A.A.C.P., the Wythe Exchange Club of America, the Salvation Army (Peninsula Com- mand), Kenneth Wallace Neighborhood Resource Center, and the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Boys and Girls Club of America, and Alternatives, Inc. He worked with area youth via the City of Hampton's Athletic Association. He received recognition for his time and efforts, including the City of Hampton's
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Dalton A. Roberson Sr. (Delta Pi 1959) entered the Chap-
ter Invisible on Tuesday,
November 10, 2020 at 83. Michi- gan state Attorney General on Judge Roberson, “I had the great pleasure and honor to argue a number of cas- es before Judge Roberson — both as a prosecutor early in my career, and later as a defense attorney. He was not only an outstanding judge, but he was a deeply kind, thoughtful and compassionate man who was beloved and respected by all. I have admired Judge Roberson throughout my entire career. His death is a loss to his family, to his friends and to all of us who have looked up to him.” Defense Attorney Gerald K. Ev- elyn remembering Judge Roberson, "If you had a case that didn't go the way you wanted, he'd call you up to the bench afterward and say, 'Here's what you may want to do differently next time. He was old-school. He mentored lawyers, both prosecutors and defense lawyers. He gave you a chance to understand how you were going to learn to do your job. He holds a special place in the hearts of African-American lawyers of my generation. He was a hero in the Black community. He earned his hero status." Dalton A. Roberson was born in Mount Vernon, AL on May 11, 1937. After graduating from Mobile Training School in Mobile, AL, he moved to Detroit, MI. After an hon- orable discharge from the United States Air Force, Roberson entered Michigan State University where he earned a B.A. degree.
Sheriff Billy J. Roberts
1950-2020 Law Enforcement Billy Joe (B.J.) Roberts (Hamp- ton-Newport News (VA) Alumni 1989) entered
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VIRTUAL 85 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING
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