Two duos were honored for their service to the Manhattan community at Saturday’s virtual celebration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Manhattan’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration was presented in an online format for the second year. The long-running community observance is organized by the Manhattan Martin Luther Jr. Memorial Committee and this year featured music, talk, recognition for winners of the annual art and writing contest, and the presentation of the Spirit of Martin Luther King Community Service Award.
Opening prayers were spoken by Rev. Dennis Ackerman of College Avenue United Methodist Church before a performance of ‘Lift Every Voice And Sing’ by the Manhattan High School Chamber Orchestra. Cara Bruce and Brenda Heard of the Kappa Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at K-State recited a litany from Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.
Debbie Nuss and Dr. Brad Fenwick as well as Marjorie D. Johnson and Linnetta Hill were recognized as the 2021 recipients of the Spirit of Martin Luther King Community Service Award. The award has been presented since 2006 as a way to recognize those who further the goals and dreams of Dr. King.
Those chosen as recipients of the award must live in or be active in the community, show service or a long-term commitment to unite the diversity of the community for the greater good and have a track record of bringing people together in a non-polarizing manner. The four constitute the 29th, 30th, 31st and 32nd recipients of the award.
“Brad Fenwick and Debbie Nuss: The power of their love and works — not just for family, but for all of us — has and will continue to impact Manhattan, Kansas and our surrounding communities,” says Sonya Baker, 2019 Spirit Award recipient and nominator of Fenwick and Nuss.
Fenwick died July 22, 2021, a lifelong scientist with a commitment to scholarly pursuits. His career included stops at Kansas State University from 1987 to 2003, including as associate dean of education, as well as with the U.S. Department of State Office of Economic Policy, East Asian and Pacific Affairs in 2011 and science and technology journal publisher Elsevier, Inc. in 2012.
“He believed that science is what moved our country forward in positive ways,” says Baker. “He believed there is an urgent need to strengthen our nation’s commitment to science in order to fully realize science’s immense potential to do good.”
Nuss survives Fenwick, who were together through 44 years of marriage. She currently serves as the Flint Hills Wellness Coalition Chair. Her decades of community-focused work includes service on the USD 383 Board of Education, the League of Women Voters of Manhattan/Riley County, the Flint Hills Human Rights Project board, the Manhattan MLK, Jr. Committee and the Manhattan Juneteenth planning committee.
“Debbie is a fierce force as a woman, daughter, wife, mother, friend, and activist for all of us,” says Baker. “Debbie stands strong and is committed to those in need and where injustice prevails.”
Nuss received the award, saying she has no words to express the honor. She says the work she and Dr. Fenwick did were made possible by those who came before them, and that she hopes their efforts to lead by example will inspire others to do the same.
“There are any number of worthy causes that deserve support, so I and he would urge you to choose the one or ones that speak to your heart and do what you can to make a difference.
It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture or something that consumes you, but doing something does make a difference — it does matter. It’s what spirit of community is all about.”
Award recipients Johnson and Hill are mother and daughter, both teachers who combined to a collective 70 years of service to students in the Manhattan Community. The two were nominated by Committee Co-Chair Kevin Bryant, who called them ‘Manhattan royalty’ exemplifying Dr. King’s teaching through dedication to and love of the Manhattan community.
“They are queens that required no crown because they wore them always,” says Bryant. “Their crowns have many points to them — love of family, belief in god, and their community.”
Johnson died in 1987, a teacher at the Douglass School prior to the end of segregation and the first Black teacher integrated into the Manhattan school system. She retired from Woodrow Wilson Elementary in 1982.
“Loving mother, inspiring educator, active church member and color barrier-breaking teacher who in her alone time loved to knit,” says Bryant. “I repeated the word inspiring because she was an educator and she inspired her daughter to a public life and community service.”
Mrs. Hill died in November of 2021, a graduate of Manhattan High as well as Kansas State before working for 30 years as instrumental strings instructor with USD 383. Friend and former colleague Nate McClendon says Mrs. Hill was a supportive figure in his life and the only person he’d call to substitute his classes when he was absent.
“Probably her strongest attribute is her ability to love,” says McClendon. “And you can feel that when you’re with her. I know that everyone has their story of the times that Linnetta was there for them and the things she did for them because that’s the kind of person she was.”
She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Billy D. Hill, who accepted the award on her behalf.
“I am absolutely grateful for this opportunity to be a part of this nomination of both of these wonderful ladies who taught, gave their lives in support to the children and the community,” Hill says. “I graciously accept these awards on behalf of Linnetta Johnson Hill and Marjorie D. Johnson.”
The celebration closed with a prayer by Rev. Sterling Hudgins of Agape Family Church, but not before Art and Writing Contest Coordinator Suzanne Glymour announced the 2021 winners. She says the contest is a way for the community to participate and “actively engage with the ideas of nonviolent social change and equality and justice for all no matter age, positions, education or anything else.” Every year a Dr. King quote is picked as a theme for the contest, this year’s being “we must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
Highlights of the contest were presented in a slideshow at the virtual event and can be found hosted at the MLK Committee’s website by clicking here. Hear Glymour announce the contest winners below:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day commemorations continue in Manhattan with the annual prayer breakfast. That’s scheduled for Monday, January 17 at Bethel AME Church.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is scheduled for Saturday, January 22. Organized by HandsOn Kansas State, the day features projects in numerous locations. Click here for more information.
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