Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 2-25-22

Feature
Congresswoman Kathy Castor’s Black History Month Celebration Is Friday
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Congresswoman Kathy Castor will host her 2022 Black History Month Celebra- tion on Friday, February 25, 2022. The 10 a. m. event will be held in the auditorium of Middleton High School Audi- torium, 4801 N. 22nd St., Tampa (33610).
The event will honor the lives and accomplishments of four citizens who call Tampa Bay home. The tributes to the legacies of these individuals will be entered into the Con- gressional Record in Washing- ton, D. C.
Those to be honored are:
Lillian C. Stringer, Rocky Ratliff, Howard Harris and Robert Scott, Jr.
Mrs. Stringer is currently the Director of Community Af- fairs for the Housing Authority of the City of Tampa and has served the agency in various capacities since 1990.
She earned a B. A. degree from the University of Mary- land, College Park Campus.
Mrs. Stringer has been married for 40 years to former Judge Thomas E. Stringer. She is the mother of one son, Roderick Eu- gene Cooper.
Rocky Ratliff is a retired
LILLIAN C. STRINGER
Major from the Tampa Police Department and served the community for 30 years. He had a reputation for building strong community relation- ships throughout the City of Tampa. As a retiree he is still involved in mentoring pro- grams for the youth through- out the City of Tampa and within Hillsborough County Schools.
HeisamemberofthePi Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. “Rocky,” as he is known, is the CEO of Strategic Community Engage- ment Consulting, LLC.
A Florida native, he at- tended Bethune-Cookman University as a member of the Marching Wildcats. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in
ROOSEVELT ‘ROCKY’ RATLIFF
Criminology from St. Leo Uni- versity.
Howard Harris, VP of the MLK Parade Foundation was born and raised in Tampa. He attended Jesuit High School and went on to gradu- ate from Howard University in 1980 with a degree in Electri- cal Engineering. He also holds an MBA from the University of Michigan. He’s worked in the defense and aerospace indus- tries, the automotive industry and has recently retired from IT Management with Hillsbor- ough County government.
He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Howard is the father of 5 young men ages 28 thru 39. community.
Harris says that he has al-
HOWARD HARRIS
ways admired Dr. King and his unwavering commitment to justice and equality for all, and his willingness to speak truth to power.
When the opportunity cameuptobeapartofthe MLK Parade and build an event the city could take pride in year after year, Howard jumped at the chance. Along with President Robert Scott and newest company director, Roosevelt “Rocky” Ratliff, the men continue to plan and direct what will soon become one of the largest MLK cele- brations in the Southeast.
Robert Scott, Jr. was born and raised in Tampa, and attended Hillsborough County Public Schools.
After graduating from Chamberlain Senior High School, Robert attended Bethune-Cookman University and graduated with a B. A. de-
gree. He also graduated from the University of South Florida / Institute of Government Ex- ecutive Fellows program.
Robert worked as a Divi- sion Manager for the City of Tampa Department of Solid Waste and retired after over 30 years of service.
He is owner of Scott Travel Agency.
Robert has been a mem- ber of First Union Missionary Baptist Church for 48 years.
He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and a 32nd degree Mason. Robert is a board member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Pa- rade and has served on other boards and committees.
He is married to Barbara Scott, and has four children, Michael, Pavonne, Robert III and Jason.
Learn more about these honorees on Friday.
ROBERT SCOTT, JR.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2022