“Little Einstein” HAROLD GENE BOOKER Published September 2010 Updated February 2013 Volunteer Legal Services Notary Public Atty. Harold G. Booker is 79 years of age and the father of two sons, Harold Jr. – age 54 (a Boeing manager) and Bradford Ian Booker – Age 52 (a KING-TV photographer). Harold has been a resident of the King County area for Enclosed is a video of his life and accomplishments made by his captures the essence of his lifelong journey of accomplishments EDUCATION of Spring Texas. He was born in Spring, Texas in October of 1933 as the third child of Alvirta Wells Booker and Arthur R. Booker SR and completed the Southwell School for Negroes in Spring. Harold (center back) and his brothers Art and Alvin and sisters Vivian and Verna. Earliest photo in Spring, Texas (1941) High School for Negroes in Spring so Harold had to take the Greyhound Bus every day from Spring to Houston where the nearest High School for Negroes was located. Harold enrolled at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston’s Fourth Ward and graduated as Valedictorian of his class at the age of 15. Harold ‘s high school Harold and his two sons, Harold and Brad {COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS} {1967} Harold received the Wayne McCall Memorial Award as the Jaycees. Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States, for his valuable {2005} HONORS Harold was recognized as Pro Bona Lawyer of the Year at the annual dinner of the King County Bar Assn. Harold was a nominated by a number of community individuals for a 2006 Jefferson Award for Community Service. {2007} Law Student Assn. for Professional Achievement and from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority for his pro bono work on behalf of HIV/AIDS clients. opportunity and social justice. {2000-2010} Harold has received a Pro Bono Publico Service for the performance of at least 50 hours of Pro Bono Publico service each year for the last ten years. businessman, Mr. Hugh Mortemer Russell, the owner of Russell Gardens, a Spring, Texas nursery (located west of Highway 75 at Spring-Stuebner Road) which grew daylilies and shipped them and offered him encouragement and assistance in furthering his black man. His daughter, Ginny Russell, says she agreed with her father who said, “If you don’t help somebody up, you’re not doing yourself any good.” This encouragement and assistance was instrumental in Harold’s enrollment at Wiley College in He received his BS Degree in Chemistry from Wiley College, a Historically Black College, in Marshall, Texas with high honors (Summa Cum Laude) at the age of 19 and was class valedictorian. At Wiley College he was known as “Little Einsten”. He earned his MS Degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Washington, after being discouraged from entering the UW by the Head of the Chemistry Department who stated he would not likely be able to earn such an advanced degree at the UW. He not only earned the MS Degree in Organic Chemistry but worked as a research chemical engineer at The Boeing Company for over 20 years and developed some metal finishing treatments which Boeing EDUCATION {2006} When Harold graduated as valedictorian of his class at Booker T. Washington High School in 1949, the story of his relentless received an MS Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in 1973 and his Doctorate in Law (JD) from the University of Puget Sound in 1977. He served in the US Army Chemical Corps Reserves for eleven years. He worked as a chemical engineer in the Manufacturing Research and Development Dept for 22 of those years and as Middle East and Africa. 2 volunteered with journals. A former award winning member of the Washington State Jaycees Speak-up Program , Harold is an accomplished speaker on civic and social issues and has been in constant demand by local, during 1988. Harold has served as: • The Girls Club of Puget Sound (renamed “Girls Incorporated”) since its founding. • His church, Bryn Mawr UMC, where he has been one of the greatest donors of time, legal advice and financial assistance. FIUTS Students) at the University of Washington. This is a volunteer Harold also serves as President of The board of Theraputic Health THS presents an annual award to an individual who has done outstanding volunteer work for families and youth at risk in our society from mental health issues and/or drug Readers Digest Award in 1969 as America’s Most Friendly City. Economic Opportunity Board (SKCEOB), • Chairman of the Federal Way School District’s School naming in 1988. Among the outstanding recipients of the Award are Mother Hale of New York City for her work with drug addicted babies and Senator George McGovern, for his advocacy on behalf of individuals and families affected by chemical dependency. COMMUNITY SERVICE AND DIVERSTIY COMMUNITY SERVICE AND DIVERSTIY five years, he was a lecturer in the Equal Employment Opportunity Seminars sponsored by The Boeing Company. He was a loaned purpose is to fundraise for the elderly, having served the maximum term for a Director. Long Range Planning, pay for such services and specializes in Family law related issues. Conference • special award by the King County Bar Assn. for his work with HIV/ AIDS clients in 1998. He was named Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year and has worked extensively with youth in South King County. Commission of the County of King. fraternity (Omega Psi Phi) and President of the YMCA at Wiley during his college years. • Harold was also instrumental in establishment of the first chapter of Alpha Phi Omega (a college fraternity for former Boy Scouts) on • Harold was selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in the State of Washington in 1968. “Outstanding Young Men in America.” He was also listed in the of Achievement, 1969.” COMMUNITY SERVICE AND DIVERSTIY COMMUNITY SERVICE AND DIVERSTIY in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, Mexico and Appalachia), Commissioner in the history of the Housing Authority. civic and social work. Harold was selected as an Honorary Member of the League of Women Votes of South King County for the year primarily in working with customers in the Middle East and African areas, including Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Bahrain and Nigeria. Harold has traveled and worked extensively in newspapers from people on both sides of the issue. The Federal Washington State whites revoked their memberships and returned started a legal effort to force the Elks to change its membership policy. It worked. Harold’s service as a Commissioner for the Housing Authority of the magazine, in 1993, as one of America’s Best and Brightest Business and Professional Men. Harold was a Board member and President of the University of immigrants with visa problems and other problems requiring legal help. His current pro bono case load includes Asian, Pacific Islander, American clients. service as Commissioner, the Housing Authority’s holdings grew became acutely aware of the financial and privacy issues authority’s public housing program grew from 1,000 units stretching from Black Diamond to White Center to over 10,000 housing units stretching from Olympia to Snoqualmie to Sedro Wooley. Harold instrumental in the development of the first Housing Authority Newspaper (The Forward), the first Housing Authority Tenant Authority, the first Leased Housing program for King County and the first comprehensive personnel policies for the Housing Authority. a period of thirty five years and was the longest serving family told him he had contacted the AIDS virus. Mr. Booker began planning, public benefits and federal subsidized housing. COMMUNITY SERVICE AND DIVERSTIY COMMUNITY SERVICE AND DIVERSTIY to join the local Elks club, he was turned down for membership