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2023 Black History Month Honorees


Robert Crooks joined the City of Clemson Police department in 1985

where he served six years within the patrol unit, achieving the rank of Sergeant, then becoming a criminal investigator then the Investigations Lieutenant, overseeing all investigations activity. Robert departed the Police Department in 2020 after 35 years, but is still a prominent member of the community. Every year, he sponsors a July 4th fun day event with food and games for all members of the community at no cost to anyone. Robert is said to be calm and caring in all situations, which gains the respect of those he encounters, even teenagers who may otherwise be less apt to listen, and he is always willing to help anyone who asks, even for a request as simple as help getting into or out of an ambulance or home.


During #BlackHistoryMonth, Clemson City Council is recognizing African American community members with a proclamation celebrating their contributions in the City’s efforts to #SeeHistoryHere and #SeeDiversityHere.

 

Rosa Grayden’s contributions to the community are difficult to

overstate. She currently serves as the President of the George and Roszena Shaw Center for Housing and Economic Growth, an organization dedicated to helping members of low income communities in the Clemson area to stay in their homes through improvements and repairs. She is also a founding member of the African American Parent Coalition assisting historically undeserved families working with the local school systems, a founding member of Black Lives Collective, a member of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing, and involved with the Save the Alley initiative, working towards providing an affordable housing development within the town of Central. She worked for 31 years at Clemson University until her retirement last year and was well known at the university for her work with the student NAACP and helping push for educational assistance for staff at the university. In short, Rosa is dedicated to improving the lives of underrepresented communities and inspiring all of us to be more thoughtful of the challenges facing our minority communities.


During #BlackHistoryMonth, Clemson City Council is recognizing African American community members with a proclamation celebrating their contributions in the City’s efforts to #SeeHistoryHere and #SeeDiversityHere.

 

Karry Walker joined the City of Clemson Police Department in

Dispatch in October 1989 and only the second female African American officer in the City. When she began working patrol, she was assigned to the Abel community and was promoted to detective in early 2000 and would eventually become the City’s first African American Captain and Major before her departure in 2013. Karry received the Police Community Service Award in 1997 and was named the Pickens County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2009. During her tenure with the department, she solved burglaries and other criminal activities, but she also tried to take a proactive approach within the community to prevent this activity from occurring initially. Karry’s outreach efforts were extensive and she was instrumental in breaking down barriers between the police and certain neighborhoods in the area.


During #BlackHistoryMonth, Clemson City Council is recognizing African American community members with a proclamation celebrating their contributions in the City’s efforts to #SeeHistoryHere and #SeeDiversityHere

 

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