GREATER HARLEM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SALUTES
A HERO AND ICON: HON. PERCY E. SUTTON
On Saturday, February 23, 2008, family, friends and associates from all over the tri-state area faced the bitter cold to join the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) in giving a warm salute to “A Man of All Seasons” – Percy Ellis Sutton. Co-hosted by GHCC board member, Arthur Barnes, the special “Black History Month” salute to a living legend took place at the historic Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Chaired by Lloyd Williams, Hon. Inez Dickens, Hon. Basil A. Paterson; Hon. David Dinkins; Jack Rudin, Hon. Hazel N. Dukes, Jonathan M. Tische, and others, the celebratory evening included musical performances by classically trained youth group, JoSunJari and The Vy Higgenson Gospel for Teens. In addition to the performance, there was a 20 minute film presentation highlighting Mr. Sutton’s life which included salutes from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Businessman, Jonathan Tische; Columbia
U. President, Lee Bollinger and special shared memories from Keshia Sutton-James, Hon. Percy E. Sutton’s granddaughter.
“I would not be where I am today without the encouragement and support of Percy Sutton,” profess US Congressman, Charles B. Rangel. “He deserves al the accolades we can summon.” Other Luminaries such as Lieutenant Governor, David Paterson; House Speaker, Christina Quinn; City Comptroller, Bill Thompson; Tuskegee Airman, Roscoe Brown; NY State Assemblyman, Keith Wright joined in to personally salute the legendary renaissance man.
Former Manhattan Borough Presidents C Virginia Fields and Andrew Stein were also present and later joined Scott Stringer in presenting their former mentor and predecessor with a citation proclaiming Saturday, February 23rd, Percy E. Sutton Day. Other honored guests included Vaughn Harper, Gerrie Warren-Merrick; and others.
The evening’s culminating moments included a hart warming speech by “The Chairman” himself– Hon. Percy E. Sutton – who thanked his distinguished guests and warmly acknowledged his lovely wife of 64 years Leatrice Sutton, for her loving support. “I would be nothing without you.” confirmed Mr. Sutton. “You are truly the wind beneath my wings.”
The last of 15 children, Percy E. Sutton was born in San Antonio Texas on November 24, 1920. A skilled pilot during World War II, Mr. Sutton served with the prestigious Tuskegee Airmen and won combat stars as an intelligence officer. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, Percy Sutton became one of America’s best known lawyers representing such iconic figures as Malcolm X. A longstanding and respected politician, Mr. Sutton led the Harlem Clubhouse which has dominated the Democratic politics landscape in Harlem since the 1960’s. Mr. Sutton served as Manhattan Borough President in 1966 until 1977, when he ran for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of New York City. In 1971, Sutton co-founded the Inner City Broadcasting Corporation, (WBLS-FM/WLIB), which became the 1st black-owned radio stations in the City. In 1980, with the vision that Harlem was on the cusp of a revival, Sutton bought the 1500- seat Harlem Landmark the Apollo Theatre and also produced the successful “It’s Showtime at the Apollo. Mr. Sutton continues as a pioneer by running a high tech software/hardware company that he created.
A HERO AND ICON: HON. PERCY E. SUTTON
On Saturday, February 23, 2008, family, friends and associates from all over the tri-state area faced the bitter cold to join the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) in giving a warm salute to “A Man of All Seasons” – Percy Ellis Sutton. Co-hosted by GHCC board member, Arthur Barnes, the special “Black History Month” salute to a living legend took place at the historic Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Chaired by Lloyd Williams, Hon. Inez Dickens, Hon. Basil A. Paterson; Hon. David Dinkins; Jack Rudin, Hon. Hazel N. Dukes, Jonathan M. Tische, and others, the celebratory evening included musical performances by classically trained youth group, JoSunJari and The Vy Higgenson Gospel for Teens. In addition to the performance, there was a 20 minute film presentation highlighting Mr. Sutton’s life which included salutes from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Businessman, Jonathan Tische; Columbia
U. President, Lee Bollinger and special shared memories from Keshia Sutton-James, Hon. Percy E. Sutton’s granddaughter.“I would not be where I am today without the encouragement and support of Percy Sutton,” profess US Congressman, Charles B. Rangel. “He deserves al the accolades we can summon.” Other Luminaries such as Lieutenant Governor, David Paterson; House Speaker, Christina Quinn; City Comptroller, Bill Thompson; Tuskegee Airman, Roscoe Brown; NY State Assemblyman, Keith Wright joined in to personally salute the legendary renaissance man.
Former Manhattan Borough Presidents C Virginia Fields and Andrew Stein were also present and later joined Scott Stringer in presenting their former mentor and predecessor with a citation proclaiming Saturday, February 23rd, Percy E. Sutton Day. Other honored guests included Vaughn Harper, Gerrie Warren-Merrick; and others.
The evening’s culminating moments included a hart warming speech by “The Chairman” himself– Hon. Percy E. Sutton – who thanked his distinguished guests and warmly acknowledged his lovely wife of 64 years Leatrice Sutton, for her loving support. “I would be nothing without you.” confirmed Mr. Sutton. “You are truly the wind beneath my wings.”
The last of 15 children, Percy E. Sutton was born in San Antonio Texas on November 24, 1920. A skilled pilot during World War II, Mr. Sutton served with the prestigious Tuskegee Airmen and won combat stars as an intelligence officer. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, Percy Sutton became one of America’s best known lawyers representing such iconic figures as Malcolm X. A longstanding and respected politician, Mr. Sutton led the Harlem Clubhouse which has dominated the Democratic politics landscape in Harlem since the 1960’s. Mr. Sutton served as Manhattan Borough President in 1966 until 1977, when he ran for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of New York City. In 1971, Sutton co-founded the Inner City Broadcasting Corporation, (WBLS-FM/WLIB), which became the 1st black-owned radio stations in the City. In 1980, with the vision that Harlem was on the cusp of a revival, Sutton bought the 1500- seat Harlem Landmark the Apollo Theatre and also produced the successful “It’s Showtime at the Apollo. Mr. Sutton continues as a pioneer by running a high tech software/hardware company that he created.
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