June 29, 2022- The 2021 Decatur Hall of Fame inductees, Dr. Jeanelle Norman, former President of the Decatur branch NAACP, and Kevin Breheny, owner and president at J.L. Hubbard Insurance & Bonds, received their Hall of Fame plaques at the Decatur Civic Center where the Hall of Fame wall resides. Some of Decatur’s more recent inductees include Sheriff Roger Walker, Howard G. Buffet, and Dwayne Andreas
Dr. Norman, who was the first female educator to serve as president of the NAACP Decatur Branch, was inducted into the Hall of Fame due to her civil rights leadership. She was a member of Decatur’s 14, which was a group of teachers who went on strike, and she was fired for her participation. She helped create A.L.E.R.T (Area Leaders Educators Response Team) and the Decatur Drop-Out Task Force. In addition, she served on the Decatur Public School Board of Education.
“I didn’t realize how special this honor is, until a few days ago,” Dr. Norman said. “All of a sudden it is a big thing for me. So, I want to say to all of those, as our lives have passed each other, thank you for all the support you have given me throughout my entire career while being in Decatur. And know that I really appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you.”
Breheny was inducted into the Hall of Fame due to his commitment to community service in Decatur, through his leadership at St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Teresa High School, and the WSOY Community Food Drive. Breheny also hosts Soy City Buzz on First Mid Monday on WSOY 1340 AM/103.3 FM, and has been in that role for over a decade.
“I can’t imagine any bigger honor for me to get to be there, Breheny said.” How many times I have walked by here for all these events, and I look at that wall, and every one of those people I see up there there, I say wow they are deserving, those are good names, those are great people. And I never ever aspired or dreamt that I would get to be up there. So, it is probably about the biggest honor I have ever had.”
The moment was extra special for him because he got to receive the honor with Dr. Norman. Breheny and Norman worked on improving the African American male high school student drop out rate.
“We became very good friends, and God has his plan, and why things happen the way they did,” Breheny said. “That was getting to know her. I like to think we made a difference. So to be up there with Dr. Norman is really special for me.”
Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe had the pleasure of honoring the two inductees.
“These are two of my favorite people on Earth, and I can’t imagine two people more deserving joining the ranks of Decatur’s legends,” Moore-Wolfe said. “So they are forever in bronze.”
Check out the photos from the ceremony on the NowDecatur Facebook page.
