The Goon Squad: Rev. Vernon Dobson Honored: Baltimore Civil Rights Icon : St. Mark's Institutional Baptist, Union Baptist
(BALTIMORE - May 20, 2012) - Dr. Homer Favor. Frank Conaway, Sr. Rev. A.C.D. Vaughn. Pat Scott. City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke. Rev. William Calhoun. Daki Napata. Rev. Willie Ray. These and dozens of others came out to St. Mark’s Institutional Baptist Church today to celebrate more than 50 years of service for Rev. Vernon Nathaniel Dobson, an original member of the Goon Squad.
Truly, I sat at the feet of greatness as these political giants gracefully followed suit – one after another – paying homage to one of the toughest men to ever help lead black Baltimore – particularly from a political perspective.
At 88 years of age, Rev. Dobson is still full of life and still knows how to make you smile and laugh. It’s part of his gift: To touch people - inspire them to action – and lead by example.
The Dobson family is one of the most important black leadership families in the city of Baltimore.
According to Stanton Wilson (who now lives in Detroit), "The Dobson family dedicated themselves to the citizens of Baltimore." He added, "They had one of the best leaders to follow, Pastor Spencer G. Dobson. I was baptized by Rev. Harold at St. Mark's. My grandmother lived just two doors away from the Dobson household. May God continue to bless Rev. Vernon Dobson. It's great news to hear he was honored today."
According to Wikipedia …
In 1963, Rev. Dobson was one of the many community activists who attempted to integrate Gwynn Oak Amusement Park.[7] Their demonstration against the park was organized by the Congress of Racial Equality.
Rev. Dobson was a member of the self-titled "Goon Squad," a group of Baltimore-based ministers and lawyers who advocated for civil rights. In 1967, they sought the reinstatement of Joseph C. Howard, a prosecutor, who exposed Baltimore's unequal treatment of rape victims based on their race.[8]
In 1968, he founded the Union Baptist Church Head Start program.[9]
In 1977, Rev. Dobson was one of the founders of Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD).[10]
Reverend Dobson worked with many of the legendary civil rights activists in Baltimore including Walter P. Carter, Parren J. Mitchell, Rev. Marion Bascom [11] of Douglass Memorial Community Church [3], Sampson "Sam" Green, Rev. Wendell H. Phillips of Heritage United Church of Christ,[12]Chester Wickwire, and Samuel T. Daniels, Sr.[13] of the Prince Hall Masons.
Rev. Harold Dobson (Rev. Vernon Dobson's Brother)was the first president of Baltimore's branch[14] of Opportunities Industrial Center, (OIC)[4]. OIC was founded in Philadelphia, PA by Rev. Leon Sullivan.
Rev. Vernon Dobson was the co-host of the community affairs television show on WBAL-TV in Baltimore called "Look at it This Way." Co-hosts included Samuel Thornton Daniels, Sr. and Homer Favor.[15]
