TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
to none employment opportunities at hospitals. Dr. Platt was one of the first African American doctors in Akron to have an integrated practice of Cauca- sian and African American patients. Dr. Platt practiced medicine in Akron for 51 year and continued to patients well into 2017. He was a proud member of The Ameri- can Medical Association, The Ohio State Medical Association, The Sum- mit County Medical Association, The American Society of Internal Medicine, and The National Medical Association. He received many honors and acco- lades through the years. Most recently, Summa Health established the Russell Platt Clerkship, collecting over $10,000 for medical residents. He was selected for the prestigious Crain’s Magazine “Eight over Eighty.” He was also fea- tured in an article in the Akron Beacon Journal, “Pioneering Black Doctor Living his calling at 89.” Brother Platt is preceded in death by wife Barbara, two sisters, and brothers. He is survived by six children Michael, Pamela (Michael) Potts, Russell (Mar- trice) Platt Jr (Gamma Tau 1984), Deborah (Anthony) Watters, Renee and Kimberly; ten grandchildren; Brooks, Tyler, Russell, III, Brendon, Zak, Jered, Zoe, Jordan, Canaan, and Lauren and a host of relatives, friends, colleagues, and patients.
a brother, Hughie E. (Greta Tuck); five grandchildren, Jamie, Deidre, Marvin III, Paul and Mark; six great-grandchil- dren, Brittany and Michael, Nate and Kayla, Kate and Emmy; two great-great- grandchildren; and a host of relatives, former students and colleagues. The Marvin D. Mills Scholarship is named in honor to support minority freshmen and transfer students at Murray State University. Dr. Russell L. Platt, Sr. 1927–2018 Akron, OH Physician, U.S. Air Force
He attended parochial school in Philadelphia, graduating from Roman Catholic High School where he served as the schools second African American President. He continued his studies at Clarion University where he earned both his Bachelors and Master’s degrees. His career path included working admis- sions at Clarion University of Pennsyl- vania, where he became the director of admissions and eventually held the same position at the California University of Pennsylvania, assisting many students especially African American students, in getting acclimated to college life. He later transitioned from higher education to the pharmaceutical industry where he became a Sales Representative for mul- tiple fortune 500 companies. He would later marry Caitlin Prokay and father two beautiful girls, Portia Inez and Myla Grace. He leaves behind his father and mother Tyrone and Cynthia Talley, his oldest sis- ter Erica Johnson, brother Maurice, sis- ter Corrien Elmore-Stratton and brother Kendall, aunts and uncles Theresa Walker, Stevie Walker, Timothy Walker, Allison Walker, Ronald “Khalil” Walker, Gwendolyn Clark, Charles Talley, Albert Talley, Linda Daw-Reese, Terrence and Tyson (Corrien) and cousins. He was a loving son-in-law to Jerry and Becky Prokay and brother-in-law to Chelsea Prokay.
From humble beginnings, Dr. Russell L. Platt, Sr. (Alpha Lambda 1947) became the first African American physi- cian in Akron, OH and the first
African American resident to work in the Summa Health System, Akron City Hos- pital. Brother Russell L. Platt Sr. entered the Chapter Invisible on August 2, 2018 at the age of 91. He was born to Francis and Carlie Platt on July 10, 1927, in Latta, SC where he attended Dillon County Training School, an unaccredited school for Negroes. After attending Voorhees Preparatory School, he entered South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC in 1945. In 1949, he earned degrees in biology and secondary education and minoring in chemistry. Dr. Platt received his master’s degree in Education from The Ohio State Univer- sity and also served in the newly inte- grated United States Air Force (USAF). While serving in the USAF Medical Service, he studied aviation physiology and rose to the rank of second lieuten- ant in Aviation Medicine. In 1960, he graduated and received his Medical Degree from Meharry Medical. He moved to Akron, OH to train as a doctor because African-American physicians in the 1960s South had slim
Tyrone N. Talley, Jr. 1956–2019 Community Leader, Real Estate Professional
Tyrone Nathaniel Talley, Jr. (Mu Phi 1996) was born
to Tyrone and Cynthia Talley
on September 8, 1973. While he was a junior he was never called that, he was “Dinker.” He departed from this earth on June 12, 2019.
Publishing achievement for 105 years
THE JOURNAL 84 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING ISSUE | 189
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