I. S. Leevy Johnson A Supreme Court justice, a lawyer, a teacher, and a military hero were inducted last Saturday night into the Richland One Hall of Fame. The Second Annual Induction Ceremony Gala honored I.S. Leevy Johnson, SC Chief Justice Jean Toal, Celia Phelps Martin, and the late Lt. Col. George “Marty” Martin III.

The main event was preceded by a silent auction and a reception in the Richland One Hall of Fame Room in the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Judi Gatson, WIS–TV anchor, served as mistress of ceremonies. Twila Jones Goodwine set the tears on notice with her rendition of the National Anthem.

Henri Etta Baskins, chair of the Partners in Education Board of Directors, and Ron Anderson, vice chair, announced the occasion. Kathy Garrick, Events Committee chair, gave the invocation. Throughout the evening, music was provided by the Sunrise Jazz Ensemble.

Baskins and Anderson presented the inductees as an introduction of each was projected on two large video screens. Following acceptance speeches by the inductees, a musical tribute based on the high school graduation years of each inductee pleased the 200 people in attendance. Richard Moore, Janet Campbell, Ken Cheeks, Erica Fields, Twila Jones Goodwine, and Dallas Webb–Burton sang and danced to the music of 1937 (Celia Phelps Martin, Booker T. Washington High), 1960 (I.S. Leevy Johnson, C.A. Johnson High), 1961 (Jean Toal, Dreher High), and 1979 (Marty Martin, Lower Richland High). The tribute was created and produced by Karen York and Twila Jones Goodwine with video by Chrystal Burgess.

Chief Justice Jean Toal The evening concluded with dancing to the music of the Sunrise Jazz Ensemble. The last number of the night saw Richland One School Board Chair Jasper Salmond and Crayton Middle School Principal Virginia Lacy leading a long line of the Electric Slide.

I.S. Leevy Johnson

A product of C.A. Johnson High School, I.S. Leevy Johnson received AS and BS degrees from the University of Minnesota, and a law degree from USC. He has served in the SC General Assembly and received the Order of the Palmetto. He has received many honors from the SC Bar, USC School of Law, Richland County Bar, and the Columbia Lawyers Association. Johnson is a partner in the law firm of Johnson, Toal & Battiste and owner of Leevy’s Funeral Home.

Celia Phelps Martin Upon receiving his Hall of Fame plaque, Johnson recognized his C.A. Johnson teacher and his C.A. Johnson classmates who were in attendance. He admitted copying off his classmates’ papers, but said Jean Toal copied off his paper in law school.

Chief Justice Jean Toal

Chief Justice Jean Toal is a national treasure. Prior to the Hall of Fame ceremony she joined the band on stage for a little jazz. She has achieved fame as top debater at Dreher High, a field hockey goalie at Agnes Scott College, and as managing editor of the Law Review at USC. Toal served in the SC House of Representatives for 13 years, practiced law for 20 years, then was elected to the SC Supreme Court where she became chief justice in 2000.

Her achievements include being a court administration technician, mediocre golfer, earnest gardener, and fanatic Gamecock.

Lt. Col. George D. “Marty” Martin III In her modest way, Toal humbly thanked her husband, Bill Toal, for supporting her and guiding their children. She denied copying off I.S. Leevy Johnson’s paper in law school.

Celia Phelps Martin

Celia Phelps Martin is the grand matriarch of Richland One schools. After graduating from B.T. Washington High School in 1937, she earned degrees from Benedict College and SC State College. In 1941, Martin began 41 years of dedicated service to students. She served as principal of Perrin–Thomas Elementary School, Waverley Kindergarten Center, and Sarah Nance Elementary School.

Martin’s civic achievements include organizing the Wheeler Hill Neighborhood Association and the Palmetto Cemetery Association and serving on numerous Columbia boards. She has been honored by the City of Columbia, Benedict College, the National Council of Negro Women, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Lexington/Richland Counties, the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and St. James AME Church.

The Late Lt. Col. George “Marty” Martin IIIwas represented by his father, George Martin, and his widow, Susan Hayes Martin. She told the audience the most important thing in education today, as yesterday, is to love the children and give them the tools to succeed in life.

Lt. Col. George D. “Marty” Martin III

Martin attended Rosewood Elementary School, Hopkins Junior High, and graduated from Lower Richland High School in 1979. Upon graduation from Presbyterian College in 1983, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army. Military service became his life’s commitment and he attended all the major Army schools, received scores of medals, and commanded troops at every level of tactical leadership. He served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Middle East, Operation Restore Democracy in Haiti, and Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia.

Henri Etta Baskins Martin died in a helicopter crash in Southeast Asia on April 7, 2001, while preparing to command a detachment responsible for locating the remains of missing American soldiers in Vietnam.

Henri Etta Baskins, chair of the Partners in Education (PIE) Board of Directors, presented the Richland One Hall of Fame inductees. PIE is made up of a 14–person board of directors. Ron Anderson is vice chair and Nate Barber is treasurer. Ex–officio members are Richland One School Board Chair Dr. Jasper Salmond, Superintendent Dr. Allen Coles, Teacher of the Year Susan Yelverton, and Communications Director Karen York. Nathalie Gregg is executive director.

Major initiatives of PIE are the Academic All–Stars Recognition Banquet, Classroom Innovation Teacher Grants Program, the Dr. John R. Stevenson Music Scholarship, and the Richland One Hall of Fame.