By Felix Hoover

For YourNewsColumbus.com

 Posted 07-20-09

 

An Ohio State favorite who grew to fame on the gridiron received special recognition on Friday in the arena where basketball usually reigns.

 

Archie Griffin is featured on the cover of the Seventh edition of Who's Who in Black Columbus, which was unveiled on July 10 in Value City Arena at the Schottenstein Center.

 

Numerous dignitaries touted the accomplishments of the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner, who is president and chief executive officer of the OSU Alumni Association, and of C. Sunny Martin, founder of the publication. Columbus is one of 26 markets in the series, which profiles blacks achievers in their respective communities.

 

The local host community was well represented in the stands and on stage. Speakers from the university included President E. Gordon Gee; Joyce Beatty, senior vice pesident for outreach and engagement; and Ebony Seymour, a senior on the rise.

 

"It's our duty to stand in the vanguard of achievement, just as you have," said Seymour, a first-generation student at the university.

 

Besides detailing the success stories of many prominent blacks in the city, the book "allows African-American children to see who and what they can become," said Gale V. King, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Nationwide Insurance.

 

Wade Rakes, representing Gov. Ted Strickland; State Treasurer Kevin Boyce; and Mayor Michael B. Coleman were among government officials in attendance.

 

Holding this year's program at Ohio State was special for Martin, not because he attended there, but rather his brother Col. George T. Martin, M.D., who died about a year ago in a plane crash off the coast of Guam.

 

"He was a true Buckeye, that's all he talked about," Sunny said. "I'm just pleased that this university contributed so much to his life."

 

Paula Gray, who took over publication of the Columbus edition about four years ago, talked about some of the highlights in the latest one, including tributes to St. Stephen's Community House, as well as Griffin. The foreword is by Todd Corley, senior vice president, diversity & inclusion at Abercrombie & Fitch.

 

Editors from some of the books in other cities were on hand, as were representatives from Real Times Media, the new parent company of the black Who's Who series.

Griffin often speaks to large crowds about the Three Ds -- Desire, Dedication and Determination.

 

On Friday, however, he opted for the Five Bs -- "Be brief, brother, be brief."