Columbia Housing Authority
2001 Wall of Fame Inductees
Rosa Williams Patterson - - Saxon
Homes 1960-65
At the time of induction, Rosa Williams Patterson was the Program Information
Coordinator for the State Department of Health and Human Services. Patterson
manages the S.C. Medically Indigent Assistance Program and is coordinator of
the Working Disabled Program. Her story is one of hardships and triumphs. At
the age of 30, Patterson began taking steps toward obtaining a college degree
while raising four children and working full-time. Eleven years and four jobs
later, she graduated from Columbia College with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
She is also a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker for the State of South Carolina.
She is an active membe4r of her church and community.
Colonel Frank Taylor Smith - - Allen Benedict Court 1946-53
A former resident of Allen Benedict Court, this army veteran served two tours
in South Vietnam in combat and advisory units. He has served in leadership
positions from platoon and battalion commander, from small units to the Army
General Staff and Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon. Colonel Smith holds
a Master of Arts degree from Indiana’s Ball State University. He rose
to the rank of Colonel in the Armed Forces during a period of great struggle
for equality in our society and military. His accomplishments include: Defense
Superior Service Medal, two Merit Medals, the Bronze Star Medal, two Meritorious
Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, Honor Graduate of the Defense
Language Institute, and S.C. State University ROTC Hall of Fame award.
Robert
Holmes ‘Pluto’ Bradley
- - Hendley Homes 1952-67
Robert Bradley attended C.A. Johnson High School and lettered in football,
basketball, track and tennis. He is a graduate of S.C. State University.
Bradley holds the distinction of being the first African American to serve
as a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. He has worked at
Booker T. Washington, Keenan High School and S.C. State University as both
a coach and a teacher. In 1978, Coach Bradley was inducted into the S.C.
State University Athletic Hall of Fame. He has also served a term as Interim
Athletic Director for the Physical Education Department at Claflin University.
© 2003 Benedict College, 1600 Harden St., Columbia, SC 29204
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Last Modified: March 18, 2003 4:59 PM