The 24^th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Unity Walk Celebration in Russellville will be held on Friday, Jan. 15. The event walkers will begin at 8:15 a.m. from Bank Street AME Church, located at 564 East Fifth Street, and proceed to the Logan County Courthouse where the program will be
held upstairs. Students from Russellville and Logan County schools will be part of the
walk.
J. Michael Brown, the Secretary of the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, ill be guest speaker. Circuit Judge Tyler Gill will again be master of ceremonies. There will be a question and answer session on how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophies have impacted lives in this community. The public is invited "Community, leaders, elected officials, representatives of different organizations, schools, churches, businesses and groups are welcome to attend to support our youth," says Charles Neblett, president of Community Projects, Inc.
J Michael Brown is a former district court judge in Jefferson County, law director for the City of Louisville, an assistant commonwealth attorney, and a member of the board of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority for 12 years, six as the board’s chair. During that time he guided the authority through major construction and noise mitigation programs and the attraction and expansion of cargo and passenger carriers.
Brown, a native New Yorker, is the son of lieutenant colonel and battalion commander in new York’s famous, all-black 369^th National Guard. He followed in his father’s military footsteps, serving as a paratrooper and infantry officer with the 82^nd Airborne Division. He later attended flight school and piloted helicopters until concluding his military career as a captain with the l0lst Division at Ft. Campbell..
Once in Kentucky, Brown pursued another strong interest: the law. He enrolled at the University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law, where he earned his law degree in 1979. He has practiced in various areas including labor and employment, airport and aviation law, administrative law, entertainment and commercial litigation. He has served as a partner at the Louisville law firms of Stites and Harbison and Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs.
He is a former board member of Republic Bank and several Louisville-area civic groups and non-profit organizations, including Metro United Way and the Louisville chapter of the American Red Cross. He was elected the first African American president of the Louisville Bar Association, and chaired the Kentucky Bar Association’s Task Force on Minorities. He is a current member of KBA’s Ethic Committee, and has served as a member of the University of Louisville Board of Overseers and the board of directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Secretary Brown has received numerous awards for his civic contributions, including the Trailblazer Award, presented by the Louisville Bar Association for his commitment to diversity in the legal profession. Similarly, the Dupont Legal Network recognized him by creating the J. Michael Brown Service Award in his honor, which is awarded annually to an attorney who demonstrates support for diversity in the law. He was selected as the Brandeis School of Law Alumni Fellow in 2000. He and his wife Joan live in Louisville.
For more information about Friday's events, contact Charles or Marvinia Benton Neblett at 726-6687 or 571 East 7^th Street, Russellville 42276.