2002 Distinguished Alumni Gallery Induction Banquet
Friday, May 3, 2002

   You can find more pictures from the event here.

New Inductees

Evern D. Ford
Goldey-Beacom College, 1997

   In 1975, Evern was the youngest board member ever elected to the Mannington Township School Board. He later became President of the Board until l986. Seventeen years after receiving his Associate Degree from Goldey-Beacom College, he decided to pursue a BS Degree in Marketing Management, graduating in 1997. He has been employed with the E.I. DuPont Co. for 28 years and is currently a Human Resources Consultant at their Barley Mill Plaza location.

   An active and committed leader in the community, Evern has been a school board member for over 24 years on two different school boards. Currently, he is a member and Vice President of the Salem County Vocational Technical School Board and is Chair of the Audit Committee of the New Jersey School Board Association. Evern has served as Vice President of Finance (l998-2000) and Vice President of County Activities (1996-1998) of the New Jersey School Board Association. He has served as a Facilitator of the Race and Race Relations Workshops for the YWCA of Wilmington, Delaware.

   His other leadership roles include Director and Chairman of the Fund Distribution Committee of the United Way of Salem County, Director of the Educational Information and Resource Center (ERIC) and Director from the North East Region, Caucus of Black School Board Members, National School Board Association. He has been listed in Who’s Who Among Black Americans since 1982.

   Evern has “given-back” to the community in Salem County in many other ways. He’s involved with the Woodstown Pirates Football Inc. since 1979, serving as Head Coach, Trustee, and President. He is also a member of the Salem County Human Relations Advisory Committee. He was the recipient of the “Big Brother of the Year Award” in 1998 for his service to the Big Brother/Big Sister Program of Salem County. Evern is an active life-long member of the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church of Woodstown, New Jersey, serving as Pastor, Steward of the Steward Board, choir member, and Vice-Chair of the Finance/Budget Committee. Wed on December 29, 2001, Evern states that while on a business trip, the “storybook” meeting of his wife, Tasha, was providential.

Robert E. Taylor
Goldey-Beacom College, 1958

   It is only fitting that Bob should graduate in 1958 from Goldey-Beacom College. His mother, Lela P. Taylor, graduated from Beacom College in 1933 and his father, J. Edward Taylor, graduated from Goldey College in 1934, and also is a member of the Distinguished Alumni Gallery.

   During his college years, Bob was a member of the Delaware National Guard and went on active duty following graduation. During his 12 years of Guard duty, he received his commission in 1962, becoming Company Commander and Staff Officer. Upon returning from active duty, he rejoined the family business, Taylor’s Hardware Company in Harrington and purchased the company from his parents in 1984. He served on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania and Atlantic Seaboard Hardware Association (PASHA), as Chairman of the Board of the Eastern Hardware Association, and as advisor with the National Retail Hardware Association.

   A lifelong resident of Harrington, he is involved in many civic endeavors. In his 43 years with the Harrington Volunteer Fire Company, he has held every office but Treasurer, including 18 consecutive years as a Chief or Line Officer. He is a member of the Harrington Lions Club and has held every office in the Club. He will serve as the 2002-2003 President. Bob has served as President of the Harrington Chamber of Commerce, the Harrington Business Association, and the Board of Directors of the Delaware State Fair. He was the first President of the Delmarva FIFE Credit Union which was formed to service small business and low income families.

   A real joy to Bob is his service to the Asbury United Methodist Church where he has served as lay leader, Chairman of the Trustees, Sunday School Superintendent and makes a joyful noise in the Cathedral Choir.

   Bob’s family includes his wife, Betty, and three children, Teresa Taylor, twins Mary K. Phillips, and Robert A. Taylor (who attended Goldey-Beacom at the Milford Campus.) His brother-in-law also graduated from Goldey-Beacom College.

Rising Star Award 2002

Archie T. Payne III
Goldey-Beacom College, 1995 (BS), 2001 (MBA)

   Archie graduated from Goldey-Beacom College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting in 1995, but returned in 1999 to complete the MBA degree with concentrations in Finance and Human Resource Management, awarded in 2001.

   He joined Dean Witter, Discover and Company in 1991, holding multiple posts including Collection Representative and Security Fraud Investigator. With an appreciation for accounting, he moved to the post of Accounting Staff Assistant, and in less than a year was promoted to Senior Accounting Staff Assistant.

   In 1997, Archie took a post with Citibank as Implementation Manager, earning the Employee of the Month Award after only five months on the job. By 1999, he had been promoted to Senior Implementation Manager, managing multiple complex projects involving controlled disbursement and electronic banking. In March of 2000, Archie was promoted to Assistant Vice President at Citibank, a post he holds today. As one measure of his remarkable success in this post, he has built an average customer survey rating of 4.89 of a possible 5.0.

   A resident of Bear, Delaware, he is a volunteer coach for the Greater Newark Boys and Girls Club. He also finds time to coach the 9 to 12-year-old boys’ traveling basketball team, and the 13-and-under Amateur Athletic Union Team from Delaware. Archie is a member of the Union AME Zion Church in New Castle. He remains active in the Association for Financial Professionals and has received his Certification in Cash Management.

   Archie’s desire for life-long learning, his career accomplishments, and his commitment to community truly make him a Rising Star.