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NAACP hosts annual Freedom Fund Banquet
The Rev. Paul F. Willis introduced retired Kanawha Circuit Judge Herman G. Canady Jr., who spoke to the local chapter of the NAACP during a banquet Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, at the Marshall Memorial Student Center.
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HUNTINGTON -- The Cabell-Huntington Branch of the NAACP had its annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Saturday with a special guest, retired Judge Herman G. Canady Jr., to raise money for their civil rights organization.
Canady spoke at the banquet in the Don Morris Room of Marshall's student center. Canady retired in 2002 after spending 20 years as a circuit judge in Kanawha County. He earned his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.
"Mr. Canady and I go way back," said the Rev. Paul F. Willis, chapter president of the NAACP. "I never thought that he would one day be a judge, but he probably didn't think that I would be a pastor either."
Canady not only became a judge, but was also selected president of the West Virginia Judicial Association by his peers in the state of West Virginia. He also served as a vice president, secretary and treasurer before he was nominated as president.
After introductions, dinner and musical entertainment for the crowd that gathered at the banquet, Canady approached the podium.
Huntington is just adjacent to Charleston and, "We overlap a lot," Canady said. "However, we don't seem to get in each other's way nearly often enough."
Canady told the crowd how he remembered coming to Huntington shortly after graduating in the 60s to participate in marches and protests.
"My sister warned me -- she told me to be careful down here," Canady said. "But there was this restaurant which didn't serve the entire student population, so a group of us came down. We began picketing out front, and the owner came out and shoved Herb Henderson."
Canady said he was strongly affected by Henderson's reserve and determination to successfully accomplish what they had come to do.
He also talked about presidential candidate Barack Obama. He suggested he was not satisfied with some accusations placed on the candidate.
"I've been hearing a lot lately about playing the race card," Canady said. "What the heck is the race card? I thought everyone in America played the race card."
He also addressed Obama's ties to the controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright. He read selections of Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope" to support his defense.
Willis said he was proud to have Canady as their special guest for the evening. He joked with the crowd, saying he never thought he would be proud to say "here comes the judge."
Sylvia C. Ridgeway, former chapter president, said the purpose of the banquet was to raise money for the group.
"Our goal at today's fundraiser is to hopefully gain some lifetime members and raise money for our scholarship program," Ridgeway said.
Lifetime membership costs $750 and can be made at once or in payments to the organization. Tickets to the event cost $30 each, and about 100 people attended.
The NAACP is the oldest civil rights organization in the United States. It was founded nearly 100 years ago to serve the civil rights concerns of ethnic minorities.
