Distinguished Alumnus

Businessman and lawyer Ronald Davenport, Sr., Nu '55)  was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 21, 1936. After earning his B.S. degree in economics from Pennsylvania State University in 1958, Davenport went to law school; earning his LL.B. degree from Temple University in 1962, he went to Yale Law School for his LL.M. degree in 1963. 

Davenport started his career as a professor of law at Duquesne University in 1963, where he remained for twenty years. When he took over as dean of the law school in 1970, Davenport became the first black man to be dean of a predominantly white school. In 1982, Davenport became a partner at Buchanan Ingersoll Professional Corporation, and a fellow of the U.S. State Department, reviewing legal systems in South and East Asia. Davenport also served as a consultant to the Constitutional Convention Preparatory Committee of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention. Not content with simply the practice of law, in 1972, Davenport became chairman of Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation, a group he and his wife formed from the purchase of four radio stations. By 1976, Sheridan Broadcasting owned half of the Mutual Black Network, later completing the buyout. Sheridan Broadcasting was heard through more than three hundred radio affiliates across the country; he also served as the co-chairman of the American Urban Radio Networks. 

Beyond his endeavors in the practice of law and broadcasting, Davenport gave his time to a wide variety of other organizations. Davenport served on the board of Colgate University; was chairman of the Visiting Committee of African American Studies at Harvard; and served on the board of Aramark. Davenport was awarded numerous honorary degrees; the Man of the Year Award from the Masons; and participated in several conferences with U.S. presidents. 

Davenport and his wife, Judith Marylyn, raised three children. 

Lawyer Glenn R. Mahone was born on April 22, 1945 in Letcher County, Kentucky to Alec and Inez Mahone. Mahone received his B.S. degree from Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania in 1968; his J.D. degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Penn-sylvania in 1973; and, his L.L.M. degree from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut in 1975. Mahone also served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, achieving the rank of first lieutenant. 

While still attending Duquesne University, Mahone was hired at the Pittsburgh law firm of Reed Smith LLP as its first African American lawyer. Later, in 1982, Mahone was selected as president of the Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation, and appointed to the board of directors of the National Association of Broadcasters. After serving as president of Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation from 1982 to 1985, continuing after that to work as a consultant with the company for several years. Then, in 1991, Mahone was named a partner in the business and finance department of the law firm of Reed Smith LLP, becoming one of a few African American partners at the firm. Mahone was also appointed as founding chairperson of the board of directors for the Alleghany County Airport Authority in 1999, which oversaw the Pittsburgh International Airport and the Alleghany County Airport. From 2004 to 2009 Mahone served as outside counsel to the Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, which was created to oversee the City of Pittsburgh’s fiscal recovery.

Mahone has held board memberships and chair positions for numerous community organizations and institutions. In 2008, Mahone was appointed director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Pittsburgh Branch; and in 2012, he became the chairperson of the branch. Mahone also served as the vice president and board chair of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, and president of the Penn Hills branch of the NAACP. In 1984, Mahone received the Black Arts Festival Alumni Award from Pennsylvania State University in recognition of his professional achievements and contributions and his role in the recruitment and retention of African American students and faculty.

Mahone and his wife, Andrea Torres Mahone, have two children John and Glenn, Jr. 

Benjamin Carr Whitten was born on July 25, 1923, in Wilmington, Delaware. Both of his parents were teachers. His father died when he was just six years old, forcing his mother to teach school at night while working as a receptionist for a doctor during the day. In 1939, Whitten earned his diploma at the age of fifteen from Howard High School. While attending Howard he enjoyed playing tennis, roller-skating, reading and listening to the radio. 

Whitten earned his bachelor’s of science degree from Pennsylvania State University where he was active in the Industrial Arts Club and became the first African American member of the honor fraternity Iota Lambda Sigma. He was also a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, made the Dean’s list for six semesters and graduated with honors. After graduation he was drafted into the military and served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946. He furthered his education at Penn State, earning his master’s degree in 1948 and his Ed.D in 1960. 

In 1948, he joined the staff of the Baltimore City Schools as an industrial arts teacher. He would spend the next thirty years moving up the ranks of the school system serving as a vice principal, principal and assistant superintendent for vocational education. In 1976, he was a candidate for superintendent of Baltimore City Schools. He retired from the school system in 1979.

After his retirement, Whitten served as director of the Minority Contractors Technical and Assistance Program. In this position he operated a program designed to assist minority contractors to enter and succeed in the construction industry. He served in this post until 1983, when he accepted the position of Baltimore City Urban League President, a job he held until 1988. 

In 1987, Whitten received the Parren J. Mitchell Unity Award from the Baltimore NAACP. In 1989, the wing of a Baltimore vocational facility, the Westside Skill Center was dedicated in Dr. Whitten’s honor.

Benjamin Whitten passed away on September 21, 2012

Julian A. Cook Jr. former United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. President Jimmy Carter appointed him to the bench in 1978, and he served in this capacity until his retirement in 2014. He served as Chief Judge from 1989-1996. He was born in Washington, D.C. on June 22, 1930 to Julian Abele Cook, Sr. and Ruth McNeil Cook. He was their only child. He graduated from Dunbar High School (1948), Pennsylvania State University (1952), Georgetown University School of Law (1957), and the University of Virginia School of Law (LLM; 1988). He also served in the U.S. Army (1952-54).

Prior to his judicial appointment, Judge Cook had a successful private practice. During this period, he also served as Chairman of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan, and as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He was the recipient of numerous professional awards, such as the Champion of Justice Award, and honors, including the Julian Abele Cook, Jr.-Bernard A. Friedman FBA Civility Award. He was also awarded honorary degrees (LLD) from Georgetown University, University of Detroit Mercy, Wayne State University, and Michigan State University, and distinguished alumni awards from Penn State University and Georgetown University.
 

Matthew Thomas Robinson Jr. (January 1, 1937 – August 5, 2002) was an American actor, writer and television producer. Robinson was the first actor to portray the character of Gordon Robinson on the PBS children's TV program Sesame Street. When Sesame Street began in 1969, not only did Robinson play Gordon, but he also provided the voice of the puppet Roosevelt Franklin and also was one of the show's producers. He left the show in 1972. In later years, when producers needed a last name for the Gordon character, then played by Hal Miler and then Roscoe Orman, they used Matt's last name.

Born Matthew Thomas Robinson Jr., in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Matthew Robinson Sr. and Marie (née Henson) Robinson on January 1, 1937. His father worked as a postal worker and one of the first African American columnists for The Philadelphia Independent newspaper, while his mother worked as an elementary-school teacher.

Robinson attended West Philadelphia High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before going on to Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania, and graduating in 1958 with a degree from the College of the Liberal Arts and Sciences. While at Penn State, Robinson was elected president of the Penn State Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

In 1983, Robinson joined the crew of NBC's The Cosby Show as a producer and writer. The family sitcom, which aired from 1984 for eight seasons until 1992, revolved around the life of the Huxtable family – an affluent African-American family in Brooklyn, New York. Robinson transitioned among writer, executive story consultant, executive story editor and soundtrack writer for over 50 episodes of the show, eventually becoming a co-producer. 

Dr. Andrew Jackson was born November 4, 1950 Crozier Chester Medical Center, sixth of eleven boys and two girls to Lucius and Essie Jackson moved to Pennsylvania during the 1935 Great Migration from Lumber City, Georgia. 

Attended Lincoln Elementary School 1956-1962 in Chester, Pennsylvania, then attended Schowalter Junior High School 1962-1965. Attended Chester High School from 1965-1968 (the school was burned down senior year April 9, 1968 and the four Middle Schools split the Class of 1968 due to Federal Mandated Merger with all-white Integration with the Upland School District and Chester High School) before going to Penn State University (BS)(1970-1974), University of Northern Iowa (974-1976) MAEd in Educational Administration. Received  PhD in Multicultural Education at Penn State University (May 15, 2004) from the Penn State Graduate School in the InterDisciplinary Program. 

Recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award from the Forum on Black Affairs (2009) and the Penn State Diversity Award from the Alumni Council. Retired 2007 from the College of Education at Penn State after 20 years as an Academic Adviser and now serves as a guest substitute Teacher in all subjects at the State College Area High School.

Jack L. Burley retired as Vice President, Profit Planning H.J. Heinz, where he also served as Vice President, Heinz North America. President, Heinz service company and several VP roles at H. J. Heinz USA including Vice President-Logistics and Operations, Vice President-Finance. 

B.S. Business Administration, the Pennsylvania State University (He was honored in 1999 as a distinguished alumni). M.B.A. University of Pittsburgh. Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Sigma PI Phi Fraternity. 

Myron "Pete" Patterson now retired 1st Deputy Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department. His promotion to 1st Deputy in March 2017 elevated him from a two-star to three-star deputy. As 1st Deputy Commissioner of the nation’s 4th largest police department, he oversees Field Operations, which is comprised of the most visible members of the department –the department’s sworn officers and commanders, whose boots-on-the-ground work supports the Police Department’s public safety mission. Field Operations includes the Patrol, Homeland Security, Investigations, and Narcotics Bureaus. Each Bureau is commanded by a Chief Inspector. Each Chief Inspector reports to either the Deputy Commissioner of Patrol Operations or the Deputy Commissioner of Special Operations (both are two-star Deputies). These two-star Deputies, along with the Office of Forensic Science, Mayor’s Security Detail and the Command Inspection Bureau report to 1st Deputy Patterson.

1st Deputy Patterson’s nearly 32 years in law enforcement began when he graduated from the Police Academy in 1985,and was assigned to the 35th Police District. While rising through the ranks, Patterson commanded the 22nd District, Narcotics Field Unit–North, Domestic Preparedness and Response Division of Homeland Security, and Southwest Police Division. Upon promotion to the rank of Chief Inspector, Patterson was assigned to the Office of School Safety for the School District Philadelphia, Regional Operations Command-South, then Regional Operations Command-North. His appointment to Deputy Commissioner of Patrol Operations on January 6th, 2016 included oversight of the Regional Operations Commands, as well as various Special Patrol and Investigative Units within the Department.

1st Deputy Patterson holds a Bachelor of Science in Community Development from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science in Public Safety Management from Saint Joseph’s University. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy and the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Unit Commanders Academy.

The self-proclaimed “police lifer” loves his work and gains joy from helping the people of Philadelphia improve their quality of life.