Dr. Thomas Hayswood McPhatter
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RALEIGH — During the Divine-9 Legislative Day at the North Carolina General Assembly, Rep. James Roberson, D-Dist. 39 (Wake County), and Douglas McMillan of Lumberton will take a few moments with the families and friends of Dr. William Rogers Jr. and Dr. Thomas McPhatter to celebrate their lives and their many contributions to their communities and the world. The public is invited for the event at noon on Wednesday at the Legislative Building Auditorium, 16 W, Jones St., Raleigh.
Dr. Thomas Hayswood McPhatter
Dr. Thomas Hayswood McPhatter, born in 1923 in Lumberton, was a trailblazer whose contributions to both the military and the religious community left a lasting legacy. McPhatter was a graduate of Redstone Academy in Lumberton, and he received his Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Divinity degree from Johnson C. Smith University of Charlotte and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. He was an ordained Presbyterian minister.
He went on to receive a Doctor of Divinity degree from the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. McPhatter made history as one of the first Black chaplains in the United States Navy. He was an Iwo Jima veteran and also was active with the Montford Point Marines. His efforts played a major role in the congressional recognition of the Montford Point Marine Association.
Throughout his career, he was active in various organizations, including serving as the 12th District representative for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, covering multiple states across the West.
McPhatter was not only a military man but also a writer and philanthropist. He authored the historical autobiography “Caught in the Middle,” reflecting on his life’s experiences. In 2009, he helped establish the alumni center at Johnson C. Smith University, where a reception was held in his honor. After retiring from the military, McPhatter settled in San Diego, California, where he continued his community work until his death. McPhatter was a close associate to the late Superior Court Judge Henry McKinnon in Lumberton and the late Dr. J.P. Green and he was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He is buried in the historic Bethany Presbyterian Church Cemetery in downtown Lumberton, where his life and legacy will forever be remembered. “McPhatter’s contributions to his faith, his country and his community remain an inspiration for generations to come,” said Douglas McMillan Jr.
Dr. William F. Rogers Jr.
Rogers, born in 1938, in Lumberton was educated in the public schools of Lumberton, graduating as valedictorian of his class at J. H. Hayswood High School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and the prestigious C.G. O’Kelly Award for Excellence in Piano from North Carolina Central University in Durham. He returned to teach public school music at his alma mater. Later, he taught at both Lumberton High School and South Lumberton Junior School, where his mixed choruses received superior ratings at various state and local festivals. His choruses performed on television as well as produced recordings. Rogers was among the first to integrate Lumberton City Schools. He also served as Minister of Music at Mt. Olive United Methodist Church and taught at Rogers Piano Studio. Rogers received a scholarship to attend Columbia University in New York City, where he earned three more degrees: a Master of Arts, a Master of Education, and a Doctor of Education.
During his graduate studies, he worked as a Supervisor and Teacher of Group Piano Instruction at the Harlem School of the Arts, an Associate Program Director at the University, a Recreational Therapist at the New York Institute of Rehabilitation, and a Consultant for the International Piano Foundation. After his time in New York City, Rogers joined Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, as an Assistant Professor of Music. He received the E. L. Hamm Distinguished Teaching Award for his innovative teaching methods. He was later promoted to full professor and elected to the Board of Trustees, serving two terms. Rogers also served as the official organist for the University’s Memorial Church services and managed numerous scholarship awards and research grants, including the Andrew Mellon Humanities Grant and the Eli Lily Post Doctoral Fellowship. He was recognized as a Steinway Piano Scholar. Rogers was not only a distinguished educator and musician but also an avid world traveler. His favorite and most memorable trip was to the Holy City of Jerusalem.
As a prolific author, Rogers wrote several works, including the only biography of Dorothy Maynor, founder of the Harlem School of the Arts, titled “Dorothy Maynor and the Harlem School of the Arts: The Diva and the Dream,” published by Edwin Mellen Press in 1993. He also authored “Piano Keyboard: A Discovery in Performance and Practice,” used by college students and published by Hampton University Press, along with many poem collections and scholarly articles. Rogers was a faithful member of Mt. Olive United Methodist Church and Hampton University Memorial Church. He also belonged to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Other organizations he was involved with include Phi Delta Kappa Honorary Fraternity, the Music Educators National Conference, and Black National Music Caucus.
