Donald M. Suggs, publisher and executive editor of The St. Louis American, was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Washington University on Friday morning at the university’s 151st Commencement, held in the campus Quadrangle.
University Trustee Larry Thomas cited Suggs’ contributions as civic leader, patron of the arts and publisher of “one of the nation’s largest and most respected independent newspapers.”
Suggs shared the honor and stage with a sparkling cadre of fellow honorary Doctors, including nationally syndicated cartoonist Mike Peters and Gloria Steinem, founder of Ms. magazine.
A world-famous icon of the feminist movement, Steinem received a large standing ovation, as expected. It was a formidable act for Suggs to follow, as he did on the program. But he inspired his own spontaneous standing ovation by African-American graduates sprinkled throughout the massive, overflowing quad.
Among the black students who spontaneously recognized Suggs was 2012 class president Alexander Stanley Cooper.
No doubt regular readers of The American, these students who honored Suggs also are the direct beneficiaries of his civic leadership. Suggs has worked for decades with the late Dean James E. McLeod and others to diversify Washington University and attract and retain black students to the university at all levels in every discipline.
McLeod, who passed last year, was honored by Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton at the outset of the ceremony. Wrighton asked for a moment of silence in honor of McLeod and Emily Benitar, a first-year student who tragically died last Wednesday from bacterial meningitis.
The honorary Doctors were recognized as part of the university’s Commencement, and as such were afforded no time to address the audience. Suggs reflected on the recognition afterwards.
“This great honor is not really mine, but it is given to the many, many people in this community who have welcomed me and worked with me in challenging St. Louis to live up to its vast potential,” Suggs said.
Suggs privately told staff at The American that one of the nation’s finest universities was honoring him because of the newspaper and the hard work so many had invested in its success.
“I particularly share this honor with my colleagues at The St. Louis American,” Suggs said.
Suggs’ daughters, Dina M. Suggs and Dawn M. Suggs, traveled from Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, respectively, to share in their father’s big day. Senior staff of The American also attended as a group and joined the black graduates in the spontaneous recognition of his honor.
The new honorary Doctor himself savored the conclusion of his impressive biography prepared for the program by Washington University. After mentioning his daughters and son, Donald M. Suggs Jr. of New York, it mentions that he is “the grandfather of Delali M. Suggs Akaffu of Los Angeles.”
The joy of her grandfather’s life, however, remained in L.A. on this auspicious day.
