Legacy of Excellence Awards - A Lifetime of Achievement
At City Council's meeting last night and also during Black History Month, we presented two long-time influential Sumterites with Legacy of Excellence Awards for their lifetimes of achievement, dedication, and service.
Mr. Willie Singleton, Jr. was a member of Leroy Green and the Kings of Rhythm R&B Band for a number of years, performing throughout South Carolina. Mr. Singleton actively participated during the Civil Rights Era as treasurer for the Sumter “Sit-In Movement” of 1960-63.
Along with Rev. Dr. William S. Randolph and Hattie Scarborough, he was one of the first African-American representatives elected to Sumter City Council after the move to single-member districts. He served on Council, representing Ward 1, from 1987 to 2002.
Rev. Dr. William S. Randolph became involved in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s as leader of a local sit-in with 25 other people in downtown Sumter. He was arrested a total of 11 times as a leader of the Sumter Movement, efforts that were supported by CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) and the NAACP. Randolph’s initial role was to recruit participants in the effort.
William Randolph was elected to Sumter City Council in 1987 and served with distinction until his retirement in 2008, with 19 of those years as Mayor Pro Tempore.
