A
Reading Boosts Businessman's Life
Special To The Post
When James Underwood tells
prison parolees and problem
teens they have the power to
change their own lives, he
speate from experience.
Six years ago, the 51-year-old
Charlotte businessman couldn't
read. He had spent most of his
life driving trucks or working as
a janitor.
But last month, he was hon
ored at the Capitol Hill Club In
Washington, D.C., as one of the
nation's nine Outstanding Adult
Learners for 1989 from among
307 nominees nationwide.
"It was beyond my wildest
dreams to even think of going to
Washington and see the things I
saw," Scild the owner of Under
wood Cleaning Service. "I was
like a kid with a new toy. I just
can't explain all the changes In
my feelings."
Underwood was chosen by the
National Adult and Continuing
Education Week Committee
from among 307 nominees na
tionwide.
The fourth of 13 farm children,
Underwood spent more time
working his family's farm than
he did going to school. When he
ended his formal education after
the eighth grade, he could read
very little. Nevertheless, he
started his own cleaning service
in 1978.
One of his commercial con
tracts was with Freedom Mall,
where Central Piedmont Com
munity College was preparing to
open Its first Adult Basic Litera
cy Eklucatlon (ABLE) Center In
1963.
Underwood was one of the first
to sign up for reading Instruc
tion, testing In at a first-grade
reading level. For two years, he
came twice a week, receiving
one-on-one tutoring and work
ing with special computers.
Crediting his ability to read,
Underwood has more than dou
bled his business contracts. He
now employs nine people and
his company operates four vans.
He was featured as a successful
entrepreneur on WBTVs natlon-
ailly syndicated "PM Magcizlne"
and In a June 1987 "Money"
magazine article.
"I've never felt this good about
myself, ever," said Underwood.
'That knot of frustration and
embarrassment that I had In my
stomach all my life is gone."
In 1988, Underwood was
awarded the Focus on Leader
ship Award for Personal
Achievement and the Governor's
Award for Outstanding Volun
teer Service. He Is a Sunday
School teacher and the chair
man of the Board of Deacons at
Reeder Memorial Baptist
Church.
A frequent speaker at ABLE
Centers and church and civic
groups, Underwood also makes
monthly motivational talks to
prison parolees.
Nominations for the award
Long
Elks Make
Contributions To
Private Colleges
ByLORA VANDERHALL
Post Staff Writer
The North Carolina State As
sociation to the Improved Be
nevolent Protective Order of the
Elks of the World recently made
contributions of $10,000 re
spectively to Livingstone Col
lege in Salisbury and Shaw Uni
versity in Ralel^. ^
The presentation was made by
North Carolina State President,
Dr. Lem Long, Jr., and Mrs. Ar-
lease Hawkins, auxiliary state
president. Dr. O. K. Beatty, pres
ident of Livingstone, accepted
for the college and President T.
O. Shaw accepted for Shaw Uni
versity.
Remarks were given by Hugo
Madison, grand commission of
education
More than 150 grand district
deputies, grand daughter rulers
and many others from across
the United States, Panama, Bar
bados and the Bahama Island
was In attendance.
The Grand Elxalted Ruler, Dr.
Donald P. Wilson and Jean C. W.
Smith of Philadelphia were also
In attendance.
SUBSCRIBE
NOW!!!
were submitted by teachers and
administrators from 41 states
as part of the activities celebrat
ing National Adult and Continu
ing Ekiucatlon Week In March.
Other N.C. nominees included
Walter Gantt, Sherry Modlln and
Luon Phan of Hickory.
Congressman Alex McMillan,
present at the award ceremony,
said, "The volunteer tutors and
the ABLE program In Charlotte
are among my heroes. They are
on the front line of this battle to
overcome adult Illiteracy."
Underwood said on accepting,
"It Is not a sin to not know how
to read. But In this day and age It
is a sin to do nothing about It"
Thursday, >^)ril 13, 1989 - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Page 5A
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