Dr. George Robert Garrison

Dr. George Robert Garrison was born in Rock Hill, SC during the days of the segregated south, and is a veteran of the Civil Rights Movement in that state. He graduated from Emmett Scott High School, and attended the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he majored in philosophy. He received three degrees from that institution- B.A., 1969; M.A., 1974; and Ph.D. 1976. Between undergraduate and graduate school, he spent four years as a naval officer, in the US Navy, having graduated from the U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School, and the US Naval Communication School, in Newport, RI. He served aboard the USS Oriskany (CVA-34), and is a Vietnam Veteran. His areas of specialization includes: Social, Moral and Political Philosophy; Afro-American Philosophy; Africana Philosophy; Ethics; Black Theology and Social Change; Ancient African and Afro-American History; and African Civilization.

Dr. Garrison has worked at five universities and colleges: Spelman College, 1976-78; Howard University, 1978-1985; University of Northern Colorado, 1985-87; University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1987-1995; and Kent State University, 1995-2018, from which he retired with honor, as Professor Emeritus. He was a tenured full professor; and his scholarly works are published nationally, and internationally. His commitment to education extends beyond the boundaries of the campuses where he has been employed. While teaching at the University of Nebraska at Omaha he was the project leader that took then K-12 educators from the state of Nebraska to Zimbabwe and Malawi, who were enrolled in a graduate course he taught, for six weeks to be immersed in African Culture and history by professors at the University of Malawi; to learn about the everyday life of indigenous Africans; to make field trips to schools throughout the country of Malawi; and to visit important archaeological sites, where they received instruction from experts working in the field. He also held discussions on the history and culture of Africans and their Descendants, both on the continent of Africa and throughout the Diaspora, with inmates in the Nebraska State Penitentiary. During the four year commitment of Kent State United for Disaster Relief- an organization he co-founded the campus of that university he assisted with the coordination of work by faculty, students, and community volunteers to help restore the homes and lives of local residents along the Gulf coast, following hurricane Katrina. Always the teacher, he conducted discussions about black history and culture with members of a local church that partnered with the efforts of KSUDR. He also spent a year teaching Junior High School students at a boarding school on the Navajo Nation, following a leave of absence he took from Howard University while on faculty there. Among his volunteer work and service to the community, state, and nation he has served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations, among them are the Nebraska Humanities Council, and the Ohio Humanities Council, where he has Chair of the Board of in both organizations. He has traveled extensively throughout the world, in western and eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, the Caribbean, and the Philippine Islands.

Among the many honors and awards he has received are to be found the following: Kent State University Distinguished Teaching Award; Portage County NAACP’s Social Justice Leadership Award; KSU’s Volunteer of the Year Award; Black United Student’s Outstanding Faculty Member of the year award (2); Key to the City of Omaha, and Proclamation, 18 December 1994—George R. Garrison Day; Urban League’s Annual Community Service Award; Omaha Chapter of the National Pan Hellenic Councils College Educator of the Year Award; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s Citizen of the Year Award; University of Northern Colorado’s Faculty Excellence in Performance Citation; and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (Tuba City Boarding School) Excellence in Teaching Award.

George was a member of Brookland Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina, and VFW Post 3746 Gray-Cockerell Post in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

George was preceded in death by his grandparents, George and Viola Garrison, Parents, Afro Harris and Mrs. Ola B. Barber, Brother, Mr. Melvin Barber and son, George R. Garrison, Jr.

The loving and devoted family members that George leaves to honor him includes his children, Anola Malik Lyons (Willie J.), Djoser Garrison-Quick (Bianca) and Khafre Garrison. His siblings: Goria B. Walker, Cheryl E. Barber, Preston B. Barber, Daisy B. Foxx (Ronnie, Colonel US Army retired), Juanita Springs, Randy Spearman, Jeneria (Toot) Lane, and Lamonica Harris (Derell Bryant). Grandchildren; Kandyce Epps, Kianni Mason, Kamryn Jones, Avery Jones, Anaya Quick-Garrison, Amiaya Quick-Garrison, Asia Isabel Mae Lee, Trinity Bryant, Great Granddaughter, Kiona Garrison, an aunt, Maude Elder and a host of nephews, niece, cousins, and friends.