Ambassador Delano Lewis Is The Guest Speaker for the 25th Annual BEPD Awareness & Awards Banquet

Delano E. Lewis, Sr, a native Kansan, received a Bachelors Degree from the University of Kansas in 1960 and a Juris Doctorate Degree from Washburn University School of Law, Topeka Kansas, in 1963.

Mr. Lewis served ten years in the Federal Government from 1963 until 1973. He served as an attorney with the Dept. of Justice; as an attorney in the Office of Compliance in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Associate Director of the US Peace Corps in Nigeria and Country Director of US Peace Corps in Uganda; Legislative Assistant to US Senator Edward W. Brooke of Massachusetts and Chief of Staff for Delegate Walter Fauntroy of the District of Columbia.
From 1973 until 1984, Delano Lewis was an executive with the C& P Telephone Company in Washington DC, a subsidiary of AT&T. From 1984 until 1994, he was an Officer of Bell Atlantic (now Verizon) retiring in 1994 as President and CEO of the District of Columbia operations. In 1994, Mr. Lewis was named President and CEO of National Public Radio in Washington, DC.

In June 1999, President Clinton nominated Delano Lewis as US Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa. The United States Senate confirmed him on November 10th 1999. He assumed his Ambassadorship in Pretoria, South Africa on December 22, 1999 and served until his retirement from Diplomatic Service on July 13, 2001.

Mr. Lewis has been a recipient of many awards and honorary degrees, most notably, Washingtonian of the Year in 1978. He received a distinguished Alumni Citation from his alma mater, The University of Kansas, in 1994. There are numerous honorary degrees from such institutions as Barry University, Bowie State University, Washburn University, George Washington University, Kent State University, NOVA Southeastern University, Southern Illinois University and Lafayette College. Presently, he serves on the boards of Colgate Palmolive, Eastman Kodak, Pro-Chef Culinary Concepts, Inc. and Chalk Media Corp.

In September, 2007, he assumed the position of Senior Fellow at New Mexico State University, with the responsibility of establishing an Institute for International Relations on campus.
Delano Lewis and his wife Gayle reside in Las Cruces, NM. The Lewis’ have four adult sons and eleven grandchildren.

Black El Paso Democrats to host Candidates Night

February 11, 2008 will be an important day for local black voters. The Black El Paso Democrats will host a candidates night for the community to meet and the Democratic Candidates in the upcoming local election. All eyes will be on those candidates in attendance and possible even "bigger" eyes on those who are not in attendance. More information is coming soon so stay tuned in to http://www.bepd.org/ for official Democratic updates in El Paso.

It's not too late to register to vote. http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/index.shtml

History of the BEPD

History of the Black El Paso Democrats (BEPD)

The Black El Paso Democrats was founded in 1982, by the late R.E.L. Washington (The Colonel). The original leadership of the Black El Paso Democrats was initially part of a non-partisan organization named the “Black Coalition”. Recognizing a need for partisanship and advocacy for the interests of the Black community, Colonel Washington formed an organization whose members were “unapologetically” Black and “uncompromisingly” Democrat. He saw a “non-partisan” political organization as lacking purpose, focus, commitment and not responsive to the true political needs of the Black democratic community.

As the new BEPD was formed, Colonel Washington and his leaders carefully selected and personally invited members they thought would adhere to and advance the principles and ideals of the democratic party and, at the same time, insist that the Democratic Party be receptive to the needs of the Black community and become responsible for including Blacks as equal functioning partners in the democratic party and the democratic process.

Colonel Washington emphatically insisted that this organization would not be controlled or unduly influenced by any candidate, elected or appointed official, special interest group or any amount of money from any source. The organization was then and is now fiercely independent. Colonel Washington insisted that his officers’ character be beyond reproach and that their motives and actions be pure and not for personal gain. The organization has enjoyed a reputation of serving the best interests of the Black Community of El Paso and the community at large for nearly a quarter of a century. It has been effective in educating the public, serving the public, working with other democratic entities toward common goals and advocating for a better governmental response to public needs.

Colonel Washington died on April 17, 1996. He passed the torch to another carefully selected successor who he felt would carry the organization to new heights. The organization ratified that selection and Otis Hopkins became the second person to carry the mantle of leadership. Under his leadership, the BEPD continued the tradition of community effectiveness, relevance and soon became what many call the “premier” democratic club of El Paso.

As only the third Chair in the history of the BEPD, my future success lies in maintaining the solid foundation established by my predecessors and continuing to steer a vehicle that already has focus, direction and purpose. My intent is to open the organization to new people, ideas, techniques and technologies. As an original charter member, I appreciate the past, but I welcome diverse opinions, new issues, new techniques and methods in order to set new priorities for the future.

Membership is still by invitation. Character and independence is still highly valued. The organization is still fiercely independent; and, we continue to invite those who are “unapologetically” Black and “uncompromisingly” Democrat and their family members as regular members of the organization and others who believe in our ideals to support us as associate members.

There is still much work to be done.


Donald L. Williams
Chair,
Black El Paso Democrats