BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
POSTHUMOUS RECOGNITION RESOLUTION FOR
BISHOP ROY C. NICHOLS
March 19, 1918-October 9, 2002
October 30, 2002
WHEREAS, Bishop Roy C. Nichols was born in Hurlock, Maryland, March 19, 1918.
WHEREAS, Bishop Roy C. Nichols was President of the Berkeley Board of Education four years before the District became the first in the nation to voluntarily integrate its schools; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Roy C. Nichols was a champion of justice for more than 50 years; and
WHEREAS, in 1968, he became the first African American elected Bishop in the United Methodist Church. During the 40’s Bishop Nichols organized and co-pastored the South Berkeley Community Church—the first intentionally interracial church in the area. He helped evoke change in equality and justice in the Christian community through work in his own denomination. He was a member of the Executive & Central committees of the World Council of Churches of Geneva, Switzerland; President of Christian Associates in Western Pennsylvania; President of the Council of Bishops for the United Methodist Church; President of the New York City Council of Church Executives and Host for CBS’s “Protestant Hour.” He was also President of the Africa University’s Development Committee; and
WHEREAS, in the 50’s and 60’s, he joined with national leaders to advocate for civic, economic, educational and social justice in the Bay Area. His efforts led to changes in the human conditions for minorities. He was chair of Berkeley’s NAACP Education Committee; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Nichols’ public service included numerous civil right causes, such as Chairman of Oakland’s Human Relations Commission and President of Sequoyah Heights Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Roy C. Nichols, a “drum-major” for social, economic and educational justice, once stated, “education is critical in achieving national goals. Most people forget that the United States’ Constitution was written as a mission statement to establish justice…and public schools must foster a sense of justice under which people of diverse economic, social and racial backgrounds can become great;” and
WHEREAS, Bishop Nichols’ and his wife, Dr. Ruth Nichols, were married for 58 years and raised three successful children. 1.1-C
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Berkeley Unified School Board of Education, do hereby acknowledge and commemorate the life and contributions of Bishop Roy C. Nichols, who was a soldier for education, justice and equality and even though we mourn his death, his legacy will live on among us.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 30th day of October 2002.
______________________________
Shirley Issel, President
Board of Education