Belmont County NAACP is excited to present this year’s Freedom Fund Dinner held at Belmont Hills Country Club, October 1, 2022, at 6 PM (dinner) with a social hour starting at 5 PM (cash bar). This year we will be honoring three (3) people of the community of Belmont County that have been outstanding in their respective fields of leadership, dedication, service, and loyalty to the community.
This year we have a Power Couple as our guest speakers. They are hardworking and dedicated in their respective fields, world-renowned public speakers, teaching at the collegiate level here and abroad.
Dr. Clėment A. Akassi is a professor at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Monique L. Akassi is the DEI Director and Strategies Coordinator at West Liberty University.
All are welcome to join us and help celebrate with us. Tickets in advance $40.00. Tickets at the door $45.00. There will be 50/50 raffle and a Chinese Auction. Applications will on the premises for all wanting to become a member of the NAACP.
Dr. John Mattox
The late Dr. John Mattox served as the curator and founder of the Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing, Ohio. The museum was founded in 1993 by the late Dr. John Mattox and his late wife, Rosalind Mattox. Dr. Mattox passed away at the age of 84 on July 17, 2019. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
Dr. Mattox graduated from Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas. In 2008, he received an Honorary Doctor of Public Service Degree from Ohio University. In addition, Dr. Mattox served in the U.S. Air Force from 1959-1962. He was Commander of the American Legion Post 366, V.F.W. #7342 in Flushing, Ohio, for many years. Furthermore, he was a proud member of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio, Lodge #298, Flushing, Ohio. Dr. Mattox dedicated his time to the museum, as well as volunteered with various community organizations. He served on the following boards: Sargus Juvenile Center, Ohio University Eastern, Harrison Community Hospital, A Special Wish Foundation, and Belmont Correctional Institution Reentry Coalition. He also worked closely with the Ohio National Road Association, Friends of Freedom Society, Inc., Zion Retreat, Belmont County Tourism Office, and numerous others.
Dr. Mattox was eager to share his love of history with others. As curator of the Underground Railroad Museum, he was passionate about preserving the past for future generations. The museum was accepted to the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. Dr. Mattox was a dedicated leader, always willing to lend a helping hand to others. He is remembered for his work and community involvement in the Ohio Valley.
Dr. Monique L. Akassi
Touted as a “Thought Leader, Change Agent, Innovator, and one who will Transform the Impossible into the Possible with Results”— I am an award-winning, transformative, servant leader, entrepreneur, & manager in higher education with over a decade of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion, academic affairs, student affairs & fundraising.
Dr. Akassi is currently the Special Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Strategic Initiatives at West Liberty University. I am member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Girl Scouts Leader in Wheeling, West Virginia. I am Founding President of the Jacksonville, Florida Chapter Interest Group for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women; Founding President & CEO of Drs. Akassi & Akassi’s Global Languages and Leadership Academy; and Founding President and CEO of Drs. Akassi & Akassi’s Second Chance Program. I’m also a lifelong educator, administrator, author, editor, researcher, curriculum designer, digital literacy expert, assessment specialist, humanitarian, & public figure in higher education.
I earned my Post Doctorate Certificates in Management Development & Women in Education Leadership from Harvard University; a B.A in English & Comparative Literature from the University of Cincinnati; an M.A in English Composition & Rhetoric from Wright State University; & a Ph.D in English Composition & Rhetoric with minors in Literary Criticism Theory &African American Literature from Morgan State University. I am Full Professor Tenured. I am the founder & President of Africana Critical Composition & Rhetoric Association.
I am author/editor of over 23 publications, including 7 books & 2 journals, including the Journal of Africana Composition & Rhetoric & Undergraduate Journal of Research & Writing Across The Curriculum. Moreover, my book entitled, Research & Writing Across The Curriculum (2 ed), is a must have with Pearson Publishing. My Post-Colonial Composition Pedagogy: Using The Culture of Marginalized Students To Teach Writing, I coined Post-Colonial Composition Pedagogy, marking a major paradigm shift in the current methods of teaching instruction in writing courses today.
My first book, Neo Hybrid Pedagogy: An Investigation On Writing Portfolios For African American Students is the first study of its kind. My latest book, W.E.B. Du Bois and the Africana Rhetoric of Dealienation is the first book of scholarship in collaboration with a family member of W.E.B. Du Bois’, great grandson of Arthur McFarlane II.
Penelton “Tobay” Clark
Served as the Belmont County NAACP Vice President through the 1990s. He assisted in ensuring the citizens of Belmont County were treated fairly and strived for equality and social justice.
Tobay was raised in the Garfield section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by Dellamae and Penelton Clark and had 8 siblings. He attended Peabody High School. His father died when he was young. He was the oldest son, so he began to work to support his family. He served in the US Army and was a veteran of the Korean War. After returning from the Korean War, the Clark Family moved to Bridgeport, Ohio in the 1960s.
Tobay attended the police academy and became a police officer for the village. He protected and served the citizens of Bridgeport and was known to be tough but fair. He married his true love, Kathy. They had 3 sons, Penn, Mario, and Ryan. He worked two jobs to support his family. They later moved from Bridgeport to Bellaire.
Tobay was also a member of Children Services for the county and volunteered his time to promote a safe environment for underprivileged children.
Tobay spent most his life protecting and supporting the needs of others. He would be very proud of being recognized for all of his hard work. He would be even happier that the local chapter of the NAACP that he had help start and worked for all those years ago has been reestablished and supporting the community.
Dr. Clement A. Akassi
Dr. Clement A. Akassi is an international scholar, Associate Professor of Spanish, French, and Portugueses and Graduate Director for the World Languages Departent at Howard University in Washington DC. He is former President of the College Language Association. He earned a Ph.D. in Spanish w/concentration: in Afro-Caribbean/Afro-Hispanic Studies. Dissertation’s Title: “Conciencia de la condena y de la libertad en la obra poética del escritor afrocubano Gastón Baquero.” Option: Doctorado Europeo. Universidad de Alcalá/Madrid, Spain. 2004.
He is the author or editor of over 20 publications, including Discursos poscoloniales y renegociacones de las identidades negras. Áfricas, Américas, Caribes, Europa. Perpignan, France: Presses Universitaires de Perpignan, 2010.
Abbey Maroon: Lifetime Achievement Award – Belmont County chapter of the NAACP
With a natural spirit for entrepreneurship and a passion for helping his hometown thrive, Abbey Maroon is an Ohio Valley icon with over six decades of experience in business development, management and entertainment operations.
Born and raised in Bridgeport, Ohio, Abbey’s professional history started by hitchhiking from Bridgeport to the Wheeling Country Club to caddy for golfers. With his charm, people skills, leadership abilities and dashing good looks, Abbey quickly took an interest in management and working with people. He soon found himself running his first of many local businesses, Hickey’s Gift and Card Shop. He officially entered the nightlife business in his early twenties–and he hasn’t stopped since.
Over the years, Abbey has employed hundreds of Ohio Valley residents with his successful business ventures, including the Jolly Roger Night Club, the Roof Garden, the Alamo, the Merrymint Lounge, Tom’s Night Club, Abbey’s Lounge and his current business, Abbey’s Restaurant and Lounge on the Wheeling Island. He has a long list of regulars who’ve followed him from business to business, who still remember dancing into the early morning hours at the Merrymint or sipping cocktails with friends at Abbey’s Lounge in the Ohio Valley Mall.
Outside of his professional life, Abbey is an active philanthropist and frequently donates food from his restaurant to local organizations, clothing to families in need and monetary donations to organizations helping people all around the world. He served in the United States Coast Guard Reserves for eight years. Currently, he resides in St. Clairsville and is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Abbey enjoyed nearly 60 years of marriage with his wife, the late Kathy Maroon–he likes to think she enjoyed their time together, too. The two met while Abbey was working at Hickey’s Gift and Card Shop and were both alumni of St. John Central High School. While he misses her every day and wishes she could be here to celebrate this award with him, he knows she didn’t need another reason to be impressed with him anyways–and has the best view as she watches from above.
Abbey is deeply honored to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Belmont County chapter of the NAACP. He would like to give a special thank you to his family: his children Angie, Joey, Lenora and Vanessa; in-laws Bob, Dawn, Al and Dean; grandchildren Lauren, Abbey, Joey, Jake, Anna, Deea and Dino; and great-grandson Braxton. He loves you more than words can say.
