The Rev. Terry V. Atwater, a native of Evansville, Indiana, will be the speaker for the University of Evansville’s William G. and Rose M. Mays Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lectureship on Monday, January 18. This lecture, which is part of UE’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, will be at 7:00 p.m., in Eykamp Hall, Room 251, Ridgway University Center.
Atwater earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1968 and a master’s degree in business administration in 1972 from the University of Evansville. He was a member of the Aces basketball team that won the NCAA Championship in 1965. Atwater worked at Mead Johnson, then known as Bristol Myers, before taking a position at Abbott Laboratories in North Chicago. In 1979, he started his own business, Midwest Engineering & Technical Services.
He became active in the Church of Christ, and started preaching in 1975. He has been the senior minister at North Shore Church of Christ for 40 years.
Atwater and his wife Sandra were awarded the Visionary Award Most Influential African American Award in Lake County, Illinois, in 2010. In 2015, he was honored by the city of Waukegan, Illinois, with an honorary street sign, “Brother Terry Atwater Boulevard.â€
The theme for UE’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration this year is “Rebuilding the Village through Courageous Conversations and the Initiation of Peace.†All events during the celebration are free and open to the public. A schedule of the events follows.
Monday, January 18
11:30 a.m.-Noon
Bernhardt Atrium, Schroeder School of Business Building
Rally before the annual symbolic Civil Rights March on Washington re-enactment.
Noon
Re-enactment of the symbolic Civil Rights March on Washington begins.
1:00 p.m.
Ridgway University Center
After the marchers return to campus, there will be a Peace Pledge signing with free hot chocolate and coffee. Any participant signing a Peace Pledge will receive a gift.
1:00 p.m.
Rademacher Lounge, Ridgway University Center
A showing of the “I Have a Dream,†speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
7:00 p.m.
Eykamp Hall Room 251, Ridgway University Center
The William G. and Rose M. Mays Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lectureship.
Tuesday, January 19
7:00 p.m.
Eykamp Hall Room 251, Ridgway University Center
Screening of the documentary 3 ½ Minutes: Ten Bullets (The Jordan Davis Story)
Wednesday, January 20
4:00 p.m.
Eykamp Hall Room 251, Ridgway University Center
Panel discussion on Indiana’s Stand Your Ground Law.
For more information on these events, please call 812-488-2413.
