HONORING OUR FATHERS
ANTHONY LOVE '92
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Anthony Love ‘92 is an assistant principal with Chicago Public Schools. Anthony holds a B.A in English from Morehouse College and two M.A degrees from Concordia University, one in Curriculum and another in educational Administration. Anthony is also a member of Xi Lambda, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc where in 1995 he created the chapter program Project Read which encourages black men to read to elementary students.
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TELL US ABOUT YOUR FATHER FIGURE GROWING UP
Anthony: My father was my father figure growing up. He provided the perfect example of what it meant to be a responsible person and a responsible father. He always stressed the importance of education and being educated through as many experiences as possible. He told us that "one possible way to measure a family is to make sure the next generation is better off than the previous generation."
HOW DID YOUR MOREHOUSE EXPERIENCE SHAPE YOUR VIEWS ON FATHERHOOD?
Anthony: Morehouse took the values that were already instilled in me and grew them to new heights. The idea of challenging each other to improve each other was a idea my father instilled in my siblings and me. To be responsible to your family and your community is another connection between my father and Morehouse.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY ACTIVITY?
Anthony: One of my favorite family activities is taking my daughter to Kids Science Lab. I enjoy watching her create her experiments and really enjoy her explaining to me what she created.
Anthony: My father was my father figure growing up. He provided the perfect example of what it meant to be a responsible person and a responsible father. He always stressed the importance of education and being educated through as many experiences as possible. He told us that "one possible way to measure a family is to make sure the next generation is better off than the previous generation."
HOW DID YOUR MOREHOUSE EXPERIENCE SHAPE YOUR VIEWS ON FATHERHOOD?
Anthony: Morehouse took the values that were already instilled in me and grew them to new heights. The idea of challenging each other to improve each other was a idea my father instilled in my siblings and me. To be responsible to your family and your community is another connection between my father and Morehouse.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY ACTIVITY?
Anthony: One of my favorite family activities is taking my daughter to Kids Science Lab. I enjoy watching her create her experiments and really enjoy her explaining to me what she created.
JOHN WATSON '87
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Born and raised on the Southeast Side of Chicago, John Watson, Jr ’87 is an award winning sales leader who graduated with honors from Morehouse College in 1987 with a degree in Economics. He spent 22 years in significant sales and sales management roles with such companies as Pillsbury, Rich Products and Grainger. For the past 10 years, John has served as Director of Economic Development for the Village of South Holland, helping to make a significant and visible financial impact on the community he has resided in for 26 years. John serves on the board of the Morehouse National Alumni Association as the Region 5 Vice President He has been married for 31 years to his college sweetheart Monica (Clark College ’86). They have two grown children - Amber, 31 (Spelman ’12) and Evan, 28 (Western Michigan ’14)
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TELL US ABOUT YOUR FATHER FIGURE GROWING UP
John: I had several father figures in my life growing up, but the most impactful were my father, who I am named for, and my uncle (his oldest brother). My father was a very successful, well known and well respected musician/actor and teacher who was a strict disciplinarian and had a tremendous work ethic. He practiced his instrument (trombone) every single day. When he wasn’t on the road, he would teach band in the daytime and play gigs at night. I NEVER saw him miss a day of work. EVER. He would also help his band students, sometimes buying their books, and even paying some of their college bills - even though he had five children of his own. My uncle, a former marine was also a workaholic, and by age 10 I would spend my summers working for him in his recycling business, something he began doing in the late 60s. He was well ahead of his time in this regard, and was also very philanthropic. Their examples of hard work with no excuses made me mentally tough and their giving spirit had a profound impact on me.
HOW DID YOUR MOREHOUSE EXPERIENCE SHAPE YOUR VIEWS ON FATHERHOOD?
John: I actually learned that I was going to be a father during my senior year at Morehouse, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. My Morehouse experience helped shaped my views on fatherhood by further building on what I learned at home: the importance of hard work/no excuses, a disciplined mind, and service to others. Like most youngsters, I had to hear it and see it from someone else for it to be valid. Fortunately my professors, particularly my mentor the late Richard E. Winstead and upperclassmen like Kelvin Walker ’84 and Rufus Rivers ’86 played that role for me. They were all living examples of what I had seen and heard from my father and uncle and were great examples to me. After the shock of learning that I was going to be a father at 21 years old, I slowly started to realize that I was more prepared than I thought because of those experiences.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY ACTIVITY?
John: My wedding anniversary is on Christmas Eve, and I have always loved celebrating the Christmas holidays with my wife and kids. Even though they are now grown, I still look forward to them rolling their eyes at how many times my wife and I play and dance to “Anniversary” by Tony, Toni, Tone during that day, and at night while we are wrapping gifts, cooking and baking. When they were growing up I really enjoyed our trips to my wife's hometown of Africatown, AL (outside of Mobile). It was great seeing them so excited! I was really glad that my kids were able to have a southern experience and thus the best of both worlds, north and south. My parents are from Ohio, and I had not experienced the South until I went to Morehouse. I also used to really enjoy watching the TV show “The Parenthood” with them, and going to all of their sporting events. Now I enjoy traveling to where they live (Brooklyn and Detroit) to visit them.
John: I had several father figures in my life growing up, but the most impactful were my father, who I am named for, and my uncle (his oldest brother). My father was a very successful, well known and well respected musician/actor and teacher who was a strict disciplinarian and had a tremendous work ethic. He practiced his instrument (trombone) every single day. When he wasn’t on the road, he would teach band in the daytime and play gigs at night. I NEVER saw him miss a day of work. EVER. He would also help his band students, sometimes buying their books, and even paying some of their college bills - even though he had five children of his own. My uncle, a former marine was also a workaholic, and by age 10 I would spend my summers working for him in his recycling business, something he began doing in the late 60s. He was well ahead of his time in this regard, and was also very philanthropic. Their examples of hard work with no excuses made me mentally tough and their giving spirit had a profound impact on me.
HOW DID YOUR MOREHOUSE EXPERIENCE SHAPE YOUR VIEWS ON FATHERHOOD?
John: I actually learned that I was going to be a father during my senior year at Morehouse, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. My Morehouse experience helped shaped my views on fatherhood by further building on what I learned at home: the importance of hard work/no excuses, a disciplined mind, and service to others. Like most youngsters, I had to hear it and see it from someone else for it to be valid. Fortunately my professors, particularly my mentor the late Richard E. Winstead and upperclassmen like Kelvin Walker ’84 and Rufus Rivers ’86 played that role for me. They were all living examples of what I had seen and heard from my father and uncle and were great examples to me. After the shock of learning that I was going to be a father at 21 years old, I slowly started to realize that I was more prepared than I thought because of those experiences.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY ACTIVITY?
John: My wedding anniversary is on Christmas Eve, and I have always loved celebrating the Christmas holidays with my wife and kids. Even though they are now grown, I still look forward to them rolling their eyes at how many times my wife and I play and dance to “Anniversary” by Tony, Toni, Tone during that day, and at night while we are wrapping gifts, cooking and baking. When they were growing up I really enjoyed our trips to my wife's hometown of Africatown, AL (outside of Mobile). It was great seeing them so excited! I was really glad that my kids were able to have a southern experience and thus the best of both worlds, north and south. My parents are from Ohio, and I had not experienced the South until I went to Morehouse. I also used to really enjoy watching the TV show “The Parenthood” with them, and going to all of their sporting events. Now I enjoy traveling to where they live (Brooklyn and Detroit) to visit them.
JASON KEENE '03
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Jason Keene ’03 is the Regional Director of Major Gifts, East Region for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Jason holds a B.A. in Political Science from Morehouse and an M.S. in Communications from Northwestern University. Jason serves as the Fellowship Chair for the Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and he is an active member of the Chicago Area Morehouse College Alumni Association where he co-leads the Fundraising Committee. When he is not at work, Jason enjoys spending time with his wife and two boys, working out, playing golf or listening to his favorite podcast.
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Tell us about your father figure growing up?
Jason: I was fortunate to grow up with a great father. The most important lesson he taught me was being present. My dad coached me in baseball and basketball, served as a Boy Scout Troop Leader, attended every band concert, and served on the chain gang for my football games. Whenever I looked out in the crowd or in the stands he was there. My dad also showed me how a father should love his family. My dad was not big on words, but his actions spoke volumes. He served as a Trustee for our church and he was an active member in a number of community organizations. Because my dad was always serving, I was also fortunate to grow up around and learn from his network of community minded black men. As a father of two boys, I try to take all that I learned from him and apply it to my family.
How did your Morehouse experience shape your views on fatherhood?
Jason: Attending Morehouse was a transformative experience for me. While on campus I learned that when a group of like-minded black men are gathered in one place, that they can tackle any task together. I also learned a lot about servant leadership. When you look back at most of our famous alumni, they all have displayed their leadership through serving others. Now that I am a father to two future Morehouse Men, I take them with me to as many fraternity service projects or activities with the alumni chapter as I can. I want my boys to see that they will not be remembered for what they have, but how they humbly served and impacted others.
What is your favorite family activity?
Jason: I enjoy exploring the city with my family. Whether it is taking a walk together to enjoy the nice weather, going to the zoo or checking out one of the city’s famous museums. As a father, I think it is important to show my children all of the wonderful things their city has to offer and that it is important to step outside of your immediate circle to experience new things.
Jason: I was fortunate to grow up with a great father. The most important lesson he taught me was being present. My dad coached me in baseball and basketball, served as a Boy Scout Troop Leader, attended every band concert, and served on the chain gang for my football games. Whenever I looked out in the crowd or in the stands he was there. My dad also showed me how a father should love his family. My dad was not big on words, but his actions spoke volumes. He served as a Trustee for our church and he was an active member in a number of community organizations. Because my dad was always serving, I was also fortunate to grow up around and learn from his network of community minded black men. As a father of two boys, I try to take all that I learned from him and apply it to my family.
How did your Morehouse experience shape your views on fatherhood?
Jason: Attending Morehouse was a transformative experience for me. While on campus I learned that when a group of like-minded black men are gathered in one place, that they can tackle any task together. I also learned a lot about servant leadership. When you look back at most of our famous alumni, they all have displayed their leadership through serving others. Now that I am a father to two future Morehouse Men, I take them with me to as many fraternity service projects or activities with the alumni chapter as I can. I want my boys to see that they will not be remembered for what they have, but how they humbly served and impacted others.
What is your favorite family activity?
Jason: I enjoy exploring the city with my family. Whether it is taking a walk together to enjoy the nice weather, going to the zoo or checking out one of the city’s famous museums. As a father, I think it is important to show my children all of the wonderful things their city has to offer and that it is important to step outside of your immediate circle to experience new things.
CARLTON GORDON, JR. '08
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Carlton Gordon, Jr., ‘08 is an Organizational Effectiveness Manager at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Carlton holds an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Carlton also serves as President of the Chicago Area Morehouse College Alumni Association and as an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. In Carlton's spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children while reinvesting his time into communities within the Chicago area.
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Tell us about your father figure growing up?
Carlton: I was fortunate to have two father figures in my life - my dad and my grandfather. My
dad showed me the importance of being present and the impact that can have on the
development of men. My dad is also a social person, so I was able to learn how to build
relationships at an early age. My grandfather exposed me to unique life experiences, which
helped me develop a diversity of thought that has benefited me heavily throughout my life.
Enlisting me in activities such as golf and bowling, while also taking me along to witness him
manage his business ventures, helped enable me to think bigger than my surroundings.
How did your Morehouse experience shape your views on fatherhood?
Carlton: Morehouse showed me that there is a specific place of higher learning built for black
men. As a black man in America, I was enamored by the rich diversity of experience when
learning more about my classmates while growing a deeper appreciation for seeking knowledge
and expanding my leadership abilities. Morehouse pushes me to remain aware of my ability to
shape the learning of those that I interact with, and I utilize those same abilities when raising
my boys.
What is your favorite family activity?
Carlton: I love taking road trips with my family. Whether it’s signing songs in unison, or the
mindset that I am steering us into our next family adventure, I have grown to appreciate these
experiences with my family and wouldn’t trade them for anything. Cultivating these experiences
allows me to focus on being in the moment as well, which enables me to be present like my dad
was for me.
Carlton: I was fortunate to have two father figures in my life - my dad and my grandfather. My
dad showed me the importance of being present and the impact that can have on the
development of men. My dad is also a social person, so I was able to learn how to build
relationships at an early age. My grandfather exposed me to unique life experiences, which
helped me develop a diversity of thought that has benefited me heavily throughout my life.
Enlisting me in activities such as golf and bowling, while also taking me along to witness him
manage his business ventures, helped enable me to think bigger than my surroundings.
How did your Morehouse experience shape your views on fatherhood?
Carlton: Morehouse showed me that there is a specific place of higher learning built for black
men. As a black man in America, I was enamored by the rich diversity of experience when
learning more about my classmates while growing a deeper appreciation for seeking knowledge
and expanding my leadership abilities. Morehouse pushes me to remain aware of my ability to
shape the learning of those that I interact with, and I utilize those same abilities when raising
my boys.
What is your favorite family activity?
Carlton: I love taking road trips with my family. Whether it’s signing songs in unison, or the
mindset that I am steering us into our next family adventure, I have grown to appreciate these
experiences with my family and wouldn’t trade them for anything. Cultivating these experiences
allows me to focus on being in the moment as well, which enables me to be present like my dad
was for me.
