Saturday, November 26, 2016

Funeral Services held for Lincoln Cathings

The Prairie View A&M University family is in mourning over the passing of Lincoln Maynard Catchings, Jr. on November 20, 2016 in Houston, Texas.

Funeral services for Catchings were held at the Johnson Philip All Faiths Chapel on Saturday, November 26, 2016 and conducted by the Reverend Kenneth Green. The burial is in the Prairie View A&M University Memorial Cemetery.

Lincoln Maynard Catchings, Jr. was born on June 17, 1945 in Greensboro, North Carolina and was the only child of Abraham Lincoln Maynard and Rose Mae Withers Catchings. He lived briefly in Washington, DC before the family moved to Montclair, new Jersey. He began his schooling in New Jersey before the family moved to Singapore when he was eleven years old. He completed his secondary education, graduating from the Singapore American School, in 1964.

He spent one year at Lewis & Clark University in Portland, Oregon before moving to Prairie View A&M College where he met and later married Mary Catherine Hill on July 3, 1968. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 1970 and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army Reserve. He received his pilot wings in January 1972 and was trained to fly the Huey UH1 Helicopter and the Cobra AH1G, a military combat helicopter. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, 158th Aviation Battalion at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He deployed to South Korea for one year and achieved the rank of Captain prior to his separation from the Army in 1975.

Lincoln served as Director of Personnel Services at Prairie View A&M University from 1975 to 1984. He worked at a series of other jobs before beginning his career as a Car Salesman. Being the ultimate people person with the gift of gab he truly enjoyed selling cars at several dealerships before retiring in 2018.

He had an extreme passion for politics and at one point sought public office. In his free time you would find him watching Sci-fi movies or rooting for all the Houston sports teams. He also had a love for music, spanning all genres from Elvis to Santana, just to name a few. In early 200's he served as a call-in sports commentator on KCOH's Sports Rap with Ralph Cooper where he became a local celebrity. He as initiated into the Theta Chi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in 1975.

Lincoln enjoyed his grandchildren and rarely missed their events including Boy Scouts, concerts and Little League games.

Lincoln was preceded in death by his parents and daughter-in-law Heather Michelle May Catchings. He is survived by his wife, Mary Catherine Hill Catchings of Prairie View; daughter, Phaedra M. Catchings Alcantar (Daniel) of Clear Lake; sons, Lincoln M. Cathcings III (Kristine) of Houston, and Kelby M. Catchings (Traci) of Spring; grandchildren, Dorian Alcantar of Clear Lake, Alexander and Adrew Catchings of Houston, Ian Cathcings of Pearland and Payton Catchings of Spring; sisters-in-law, Sonya Hill of Prarie View and Eleanor Hil of Grand Prairie; brothers-in-law, Larry Hill, Harold Hill and Stephen Hill of Prairie View; childhood friends who grew up as brothers, Robert Tignor of Washington, DC and Clarence Tignor of Silver Spring, Maryland and a host of other relatives and friends.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Prairie View Mayor Allen is Men's Breakfast Speaker on November 19

Prairie View Mayor David Allen is the featured speaker for the Men’s Prayer Breakfast on November 19, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall of the Church on 204 Dooley Street.

Allen was elected Mayor in May 2016. He holds the Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and the MBA from Prairie View A&M University. Allen was also commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army and received an honorable discharge after some twenty years of service.

In his first four months as mayor, he initiated efforts to clean up the city by actively enforcing city ordinances, met with Texas EDA and saved a $1 million grant for water/sewer infrastructure, appointed a new police chief, worked with property owner to clean up dilapidated house near H.T. Jones Elementary, brought the Miss Texas Super-Regional Pageant to PVAMU, discovered city can save almost $1 million in interest on current bond debt and is working to cut repair costs while improving services to residents.

He has 40 years of professional experience as a franchise consultant for the 7-Eleven Corporation, EEOC/Discrimination with civil rights law firm, Education Consultant, Legal Broker and Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist where he has done presentations in Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, Illinois, Maryland, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Georgia, New York, Florida, Nebraska, Virginia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Washington DC and countless cities in Texas.

Not-For-Profit service and commitment to African American youth and community led to fundraising efforts over 30 years that have generated several million dollars as NAACP Life Member and Los Angeles Freedom Fund Dinner Chair raising over $500,000.00, 1st & 4th Vice President, Youth Advisor, ACT-SO Chaperone, Labor & Industry Chair and Board Member.

Prairie View Alumni service includes PVAMU Foundation Board (President Becton), Los Angeles-PV Alumni Chapter President and Scholarship Chair where he founded the first Scholarship Endowment by a chapter raising $125,000.00 in 4 years and led the way in raising over $100,000.00 in a campaign to pay off PVAMU National Alumni House mortgage during Chicago Convention.

He volunteered and worked in Crenshaw and other inner-city high schools under contract with Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and founded King Solomon Black College Tour bringing over 100 students to PVAMU, SU, GSU, FAMU, Hampton, Morgan, NCA&T, Moorehouse, Spelman, CAU, VSU, Dillard, Tuskegee and Xavier for 16 years helping thousands go to college, mostly PVAMU. He has more than 40 years of service recruiting students to college and is the inaugural recipient of the PVAMU #1 Recruiter Award by Provost Dr. Joahanne Thomas-Smith's office, the recipient of the Prairie View A&M University National Alumni Associations Alumnus of the Year Award three times and received the key to the City of Prairie View from Mayor Carreathers.

Allen holds or has held membership in the Military Officers Association, Prairie View A&M University National Alumni Association, National Black MBA Association, NAACP, Wiesbaden (Germany) Community Spouses Club Board, MWPH Mason, AEAOMS Shriners, Past Masters Association and United Supreme Council 33rd degree Mason.

David is the fourth of seven children and was born to David Allen Sr. of Snow Hill, Maryland and Virginia Viola a native of Panama' City, Panama' where he and four of his six siblings were born. His favorite scripture is John 10:10: "He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

All concerned men of the community are invited to attend free breakfast and fellowship. PLEASE call 936-857-3272 or email: stfrancispv@sbcglobal.net to confirm attendance. We look forward to your joining us for this important activity.

We also invite you to participate in our Christian Education and Bible Study on Fridays at 7:00 p.m. Come learn the word and share in the fellowship.

Also, please know that St. Francis of Assisi will again host The Houston FoodBank Mobile Unit to distribute Fresh Fruits and Produce on November 14, 2016 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Patrons will also be able to apply/renew essential services: i.e. SNAP, Children’s Medicaid/CHIP and TANF. There are no requirements to receive the free product and patrons are asked to bring their own bags.

We will also need volunteers to assist with the sign-in and distribution. Please arrive by 9:15 a.m. Please share this information with your friends and other members of the community.

Saluting Dr. Ruth Simmons the 8th President of Prairie View A&M University

Today, December 4 marks two monumental achievement in the history of America, one the formal appointment of Dr. Ruth J. Simmons as the firs...