Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 11-10-15 Edition

Features
New Aviation Authority Board Picks Morehouse Grad As Its Attorney
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
After more than a year with- out in-house general counsel, the Hillsborough County Avia- tion Authority Board on Thurs- day named Tampa Attorney Michael Stephens to the po- sition.
Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano recom- mended Mr. Stephens – a graduate of Morehouse College and the Washington College of Law at American University – over more than 100 other ap- plicants.
Stephens replaces Gigi Rechel, who held the job for 15 years before resigning last October after allegations sur- faced that she was being inves- tigated for violating Florida’s Sunshine Laws.
The board has used external counsel since Ms. Rechel’s departure.
Stephens currently serves as the chief of business enter- prise and safety officer for the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, (HART) where he oversaw its human resources, IT, and legal serv- ices divisions. His work at the
ATTORNEY MICHAEL STEPHENS
airport begins Nov. 30.
Prior to joining HART,
Stephens was the director of human resources at the Uni- versity of South Florida. He also served on active duty as a captain and trial counsel in the U. S. Army Judge Advocate General Corp, where he was appointed as a Special Assis- tant U. S. Attorney.
Stephen received a degree in international relations at Morehouse, said he joined the Air Force with aspirations to be a pilot, but instead became an air traffic controller.
He said it’s “a blessing” that his selection as the airport board’s general counsel puts him back in familiar territory.
“You work for a long time to master your craft do what you do,” he said. “It’s always great when preparation meets op- portunity.”
A native of Daytona Beach, he also holds a master’s degree in international affairs from American University.
Atty. Stephens said he’s excited that in his new position he’ll be able to combine his knowledge in international af- fairs with his legal background as the airport’s current pursuit of growing its international routes will definitely involve agreements between it and carriers.
“It’s very, very helpful to have that international per- spective,” he said.
Retired Tampa attorney and fellow Morehouse alum, De- lano Stewart praised Mr. Stephens appointment, call- ing him a “marvelous gentle- man.”
“Nothing’s made me more hopeful for the future of this town,” said Mr. Stewart, who turns 80 this week. “I couldn’t have a better birthday present. I’m very proud of him.”
Atty. Stephens is married and has 2 children.
Progress Continues On Perry C. Harvey Park
This is what the entrance to Perry C. Harvey Park will look like when everything is completed.
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
With the Tampa Housing Authority aggressively moving forward with the Encore proj- ect, to the west, construction is going along on schedule for Perry C. Harvey Park.
City of Tampa Architect, James Jackson said, “Everything should be com- pleted by March 2016.
“We’re on schedule and everything will stay on course as planned, especially the his- toric elements of the park.”
Jackson whose uncle, Harold Jackson, was one of the first African American at- torneys in Tampa and had an office on Central Avenue, said homage will be paid to all of the people who were responsi-
ble for the history of that area. “Everyone is anticipating the park opening, and seeing all of the historic landmarks. Some of them will be an edu- cation to the young people who don’t know about Central Avenue, and for the older adults, it will be a look back into a time many of them still
cherish today.”
Jackson said the embat-
tled Skateboard rink is on schedule, and the group that wanted the “Bro Bowl” to re- ceive historic recognition are happy with the progress on the new rink, and have made sure some pieces of the original rink be included in the new design.
“Aside from the skateboard rink, there will also be an urban skating area.
Popular Tampa Clergyman To Be Installed As Bishop
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Friday, Dr. Thomas Scott will be named a Bishop after his Consecration Serv- ice. The installation cere- mony will take place at the Thirty-Fourth Street Church Of God, at 7 p.m.
Dr. Scott and his congre- gation have been making preparations for the mile- stone for several weeks.
Dr. Scott learned earlier this year that his name had been submitted for his uplift- ing to Bishop. He met with Presiding Bishop Timothy Clarke, Senior Pastor of the First Church Of God, in Columbus, Ohio, and it was at that time that he was in- formed.
Dr. Scott’s church is the only African American
REV. DR. THOMAS SCOTT Bishop-Designate
Church Of God in Hillsbor- ough County, he works closely with the pastors and congregations of the other 6 churches in his denomina- tion in the county. Addition- ally, there are 38 other churches in the Florida State
Association of the Church Of God under his leadership.
A native of Macon, Geor- gia, Dr. Scott graduated from the University of North Florida, where he earned a B. A. Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. He continued his education at Assembly of God Theological Seminary, where he earned an M. A. Degree in Biblical Studies.
He is also a recipient of a Doctor of Divinity degree conferred upon him by the Southern California School of Ministry in 1995, and a Doc- tor of Humane Letters con- ferred upon him from Florida Metropolitan University.
He initially relocated to Jacksonville, and in 1980, moved to Tampa to lead the congregation of the 22nd Street Church Of God.
PAGE 2 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015