Page 32 - Florida Sentinel 2-4-22

Black History: The History Behind The Names
Wilbert Davis Boys & Girls Club
A Tampa native, Wilbert Davis was raised in the Col- lege Hill Housing Complex and attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. As a youngster, Davis was a pitcher for the Belmont Heights Little League. In 1975, Davis pitched for the team and led them to the World Series.
After graduating from Tampa Bay Technical High School, he worked for Tampa Electric Company.
Davis decided to serve his country and entered the U. S. Army on April 4, 1985.
U. S. ARMY STAFF SGT. WILBERT DAVIS November 29, 1962 --- April 3, 2003
He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor, 3rd Infantry Division.
On April 3, 2003, Davis and journalist Michael Kelly were riding in a Humvee when the vehicle overturned. Both were killed.
Davis became the first casualty from Tampa to die in the War in Iraq. He was 40-years-old. He is buried at Arlington National Ceme- tery.
The Wilbert Davis Boys & Girls Club, 3501 E. Sarah is named in his honor.
Mary Alice Dorsett Tax Collector’s Office
In 1962, Mrs. Mary Alice Dorsett founded the Faith Mis- sion to provide food, shelter, clothing, jobs, and spiritual guid- ance to the underprivileged. Three years later, she made local history in 1965, when she be- came the first African American to seek office in Hillsborough County. The only female in the race against 7 White men, Mrs. Dorsett was defeated for the post of State Legislator. How- ever, she had blazed a trail for others to follow.
Her other “firsts” includes the first African American woman to operate her own bail bond and general employment agency.
A native of Dade City, Mrs. Dorsett attended Paine College, in Augusta, Georgia and the Na- tional Trade and Professional School for Women and Girls in Washington, D. C.
MRS. MARY
ALICE DORSETT
She was also named in the Millennium Edition of “2,000 Notable American Women.”
In 2001, the Hillsborough County Tax Collector dedicated their branch office at 9309 N. Florida Avenue building in honor of Mrs. Dorsett. On Friday, Oc- tober 7, 2011, a rededication and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the office located at 3011 University Drive, Suite 150.
James T. Hargrett, Jr. Service Center
James T. Hargrett, Jr.,
was born and attended the public schools of Hillsbor- ough County. After graduat- ing from high school, he continued his education at Morehouse College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. Hargrett earned his MBA from Atlanta Univer- sity.
Hargrett returned to Tampa and became the CEO of Community Federal Sav- ings & Loan, where he re- mained for 13 years.
In 1982, he became the first African American from
JAMES T. HARGRETT, JR.
Hillsborough County to be elected to the Florida House
of Representatives, repre- senting District 63.
Ten years later, he became the first African American from Hillsborough County to be elected to the Florida State Senate. He served two terms in that position.
In 1998, the James T. Hargrett, Jr., Building was added to the Lee Davis Com- plex as a new service center. The building was the first specifically designed as a one- stop career center to provide services under the WAGES (Work and Gain Economic Self-Sufficiency) Program.
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