Livingstone, Hood seminary presidents to be honored Saturday

Published 12:00 am Friday, August 23, 2019

The leaders of two Salisbury education institutions are among four people who will be recognized by the N.C. Historically Black Colleges and Universities Living Legends organization Saturday during a scholarship gala in Durham.

The honorees include Vergel L. Lattimore, president and professor at Hood Theological Seminary; Jimmy Jenkins, president of Livingstone College; Ben Coates, a former NFL star of the New England Patriots and CIAA football coach; and Vilma Leake, a Mecklenburg County commissioner.

The organization honors alumni of North Carolina’s 11 historically black colleges and universities.

Lattimore is an alumni of Livingstone College, along with Coates and Leake. Jenkins is an alumni of Elizabeth City State University.

“The recipients have all transformed their educational experiences at their alma maters into personal milestones and gateways for others,” according to the Livingstone College newsletter Pebbles. “They are examples of when life’s purpose matches up with their passion.”