Welcome to the "NABCJ WALL OF FAME"
MR. EDWARD FOSTER TRIPP
Edward Foster Tripp was born in the rural county of Fitzhugh, Arkansas on May 22, 1926 and his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1932. He attended public schools and graduated from Vashon High School in 1946. In later years, he was named to Vashon’s Hall of Fame. His athleticism earned him a scholarship to Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri where he graduated in 1950. He later earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from St. Louis University. He married Rose Tripp in 1951 and had two sons.
Mr. Tripp was an active member of Washington Tabernacle Baptist Church where he served in many capacities and committees. He was also a contributing member of several organizations including Annie Malone Children’s Home; the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, Anniversary Club, the Royal Vagabonds, Carver House and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Mr. Tripp was employed by the St. Louis City Government in 1953 and served in many capacities until his retirement in 1997, including: Deputy Chief, St. Louis Juvenile Court; Chief Probation and Parole Officer, St. Louis Circuit Courts (he was the first black person to hold that position); Commissioner of Corrections, City of St. Louis; and Director of the Department of Public Safety, City of St. Louis. He also served as adjunct professor at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, Harris-Stowe University and Community Colleges. Mr. Tripp was also a field auditor for several prisons around the country for the Commission of Accreditation for Corrections.
Mr. Tripp was one of the founders of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice and “Father” of the Missouri Chapter. He was a National Board member and very active in NABCJ in many capacities. He received recognition and several national awards for his knowledge of the correctional and probation and parole systems. He was an active member of the American Correctional Association and was awarded their highest award – the E. R. Cass Correctional Achievement Award. From NABCJ, he was awarded the William L. Hastie Award for outstanding national leadership in the field of criminal justice, and the Medgar Evers Award for unselfish dedication to the ideals of fairness, equality and justice.
His commitment and dedication to the field of corrections was exemplary. He mentored many correctional professionals and encouraged them during their careers. Many persons around the country can attribute their success to their relationship with Mr. Tripp.
He was an active member of several organizations including Annie Malone Children's Home; the Heerbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, Anniversary Club, the Royal Vagabonds, Carver House and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
EDWARD FOSTER TRIPP IS THE FIRST INDUCTEE TO THE NABCJ WALL OF FAME.
MR. WILLIAM "BILL" HICKS
After graduating from Southampton County Training School, Mr. Hicks attended Virginia State University and obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1966. He then entered the Criminal Justice field as a Vocational Evaluator at Southampton Correctional Center in the Virginia Department of Correction. Mr. Hicks also served as the Supervisor of the Counseling Department and Regional Director of Work Release for the DOC.
In 1974, Mr. Hicks was appointed a United States Probation Officer in the U S District Court in Richmond, Virginia. While employed with the United States District Court's, he progressed through the ranks as Electronic Monitoring Specialist, Supervisor,and retired in 1999 as a Deputy Chief Probation Officer.
Since 2006 Mr. Hicks has been employed at the Richmond City Sheriff's Office in Re Entry,Community Relations, Triad Program and as Special Advisor to Sheriff C .T. Woody JR.
Mr. Hicks is a Charter Member of the Richmond VA. Chapter which was chartered in 1977 and has continued to be an active, contributing member. Mr. Hicks has served his local chapter as President, and on the National level as a Northeast Region Representative. He was the first Chapter President to represent Chapter Presidents on the National Board of Directors, which led to the formation of the Presidents Council.
Mr. Hicks has served on many Boards and Organizations in Richmond ,VA:
President, Living the Dream INC.
Board of Directors, National Kidney Foundation
Board of Directors,United way
A Founder, Blacks Mobilized Against Crime
Selection Board For Richmond Chief of Police
Advisory Board Richmond Social Services
Member, Richmond City School Board
In receiving the following awards, Mr. Hicks has said" I know for each award, I am standing on the shoulders of ten deserving persons."
Wall of Fame, President, NABCJ
William Haste Award ,NABCJ
Owens--Bell Award ,NABCJ
Line Officer of the Year ,Mid-Atlantic Region, Federal Probation officer Association
Jefferson Award, American Institute For Public Service
MR. WILLIAM "BILL" HICKS IS THE SECOND INDUCTEE TO THE NABCJ WALL OF FAME
MS. MARGARET L. HARDING
Ms. Harding began her federal career in April, 1963, at the Social Security Administration, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Department of Defense in Oahu, Hawaii. She transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1968 and held various positions: Secretary, Records Manager, Community Programs Manager, Chief, Affirmative Action Programs Manager, Programs Review Auditor, Associate Warden, and Warden, before retiring in October l999.
Ms. Harding first heard about NABCJ from co-workers Richard Lyles and J.D. Williams. She became a member of NABCJ in l974 and attended the National Conference in Dallas, Texas. After becoming aware of the Mission and Goals of this Organization, Ms. Harding decided to become an active member. She also recognized that this Organization was an excellent resource for identifying qualified individuals for employment within the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
She has been a member or Founding Member of the following chapters: Washington, District of Columbia, Chicago, Illinois, Kansas City, Missouri, Allenwood, Pennsylvania, Danbury, Connecticut, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Ms. Harding has been very generous in contributing her time, talents, energy and financial support to the organization. During the early years, she volunteered for various roles such as: Workshop Presenter and Moderator, Membership and Conference Registration Chairperson and Musician Extraordinaire. In the latter years, she served as the Federal Representative on the Board of Directors, National and Assistant Secretary, Advisor to the President, Mistress of Ceremonies for the Annual Banquet and other duties as assigned.
Ms. Harding is a kindhearted individual who maintains a positive attitude, listens to others' issues and concerns and makes every effort to resolve problems and differences of opinion.
In her commitment to NABCJ, she has sponsored the Students Reception, assisted others to attend the National Conference, and donated for various NABCJ programs.
Her NABCJ role models are Shirley Stutely Richie, Mamie Fains, Mary Leftridge-Byrd, Pat Quann, Vonzell Gowdy, and Janie Jeffers . "All of these ladies made great contributions to the organization and were instrumental in providing effective leadership toward the success of NABCJ". Ms. Harding thanks these ladies for mentoring her and demonstrating how to excel and be an asset to the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice.
Known as "Mother Marge" her commitment and dedication to NABCJ is second to none. In recognition of 35 years of loyal dedicated service to the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice-
MS. MARGARET L. HARDING IS THE THIRD INDUCTEE TO THE NABCJ WALL OF FAME.