A priceless collection of Black art collected over the past 40 years and displayed within the Frank W. Hale Black Cultural Center will forever be known as the Lawrence K. Williamson Jr. Black Fine Art Collection.
That was the show-stopping proclamation from Interim Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion Yolanda Zepeda capping an emotional tribute to Williamson's three decades as Hale Center director at ODI's Homecoming party Saturday. In front of a packed house of alumni, friends, students, and ODI staff, a handful of speakers gave glowing tributes to the man who they said made a huge difference in their lives.
Williamson's childhood friend Lewis Mason told the crowd about the retired director's days as a “quick stepper” in the Crispus Attacks Drill Team in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania as well as playing the organ and singing back-up vocals in a local band, LB and the Groovemakers. “You haven't lived until you've heard Larry sing,” he said as Williamson belly-laughed from his front-row seat. Said Mason: “I call him unapologetic in his commitment to Black excellence and other people's children.”
Keith Key, a 1980s graduate of The Ohio State University who is now a successful real estate entrepreneur, said Williamson inspired students to do their best just as Dr. Frank W. Hale—an ODI icon who hired Williamson as a young graduate student—had done for years before him. “It was a relay race run like none I've ever seen before. I admire Larry for holding up the mantle that Dr. Hale started,” Key said. “We want this university to know that we loved you. I don't think words can speak for the impact you've had on people's lives.”
Milena Albright said Williamson had a profound influence on her as a young Hale Center worker by exposing her to important artists and their artwork while caring about her growth as a person. “He really set the blueprint for how I try to mentor young people today,” said the 1990s era graduate as she announced a $10,000 contribution to an ODI scholarship fund named for Williamson: the Lawrence (Larry) Williamson, Jr. Scholarship.
Along with the tribute to Williamson, Saturday's homecoming events included the unveiling of a new National Pan-Hellenic Council plaza situated just a few yards north of Hale Hall. Hundreds of alumni of the nine greek NPHC organizations—known as the Divine Nine—appeared at the kickoff festivities on a crisp fall morning.
Among those in the crowd at the ODI homecoming event were LaQuita Henry and John Evans, two members of the so-called “OSU 34” who took over the main administrative building in 1968 protesting a lack of Black students, professors, and coursework reflecting the Black experience. Their protest planted the seeds for the creation of the Office of Minority Affairs–now known as ODI—just two years later. “We sincerely thank you for all you did to lay the groundwork for us,” Zepeda said.
A striking portrait of Williamson was also given to him Saturday afternoon by Aris Cohen, a recent Young Scholars Program graduate whose budding art career has been helped by Williamson. “Let this be a token of your living legacy and what you have done for us,” Cohen said. ODI leader Zepeda also gave Williamson a painter's smock and gift certificates to take his own painting classes with the Columbus Cultural Arts Center. “We hope that you will have the time in your retirement to create your own masterpieces,” Zepeda said.
After being honored with the proclamation and gifts, Williamson did his best Soul Train shimmy on stage to a standing ovation from the audience as the Dwight Bailey and Friends band thumped out a bass line. “When Dr. Hale retired he said, ‘I'm so glad we're here celebrating my victories instead of my defeats,'” said Williamson. “Because this means a lot. I love this place.”