Dr. Jernigan In Memoriam

Dr. Jernigan In Memoriam

Dr. KennethJernigan

November 13, 1926

to

October 12, 1998

Dr. Kenneth Jernigan In Memoriam

On October 12, 1998, Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, one of the most outstanding blind leaders

the world has ever known, died peacefully at his home in Baltimore, Maryland. The lung and

bone cancer he had been battling for about a year finally prevailed. The funeral took

place at St. Joseph's Monastery Church in Baltimore, and his body was buried at Loudon

Park Cemetery on Thursday, October 15, 1998. Following the interment a celebration of the

life of this remarkable man was held at the National Center for the Blind. Those who could

not attend the funeral had the opportunity to commemorate his life at a memorial service

held on December 5, 1998, at the Omni Hotel in Baltimore.

President of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) from 1968 to 1986, Dr. Jernigan

dedicated his considerable talents and energy to the cause of creating equal opportunities

for blind people everywhere. It was Dr. Jernigan who, during his presidency, aggressively

supported and promoted the initiation of Future Reflections, our magazine for parents and

educators of blind children. It was he who brought a core group of parents and educators

to the National Center for the Blind to write the first draft of a constitution for the

National Organization of Parents of Blind Children. It was Dr. Jernigan who established

the principle that sighted parents of blind children have full membership rights at all

levels within the NFB. He often said—and meant it from the bottom of his

heart—that, spiritually, blind children were also his children and the children of

all the blind adults in the Federation.

Dr. Jernigan did more than talk about the deep personal obligation that he felt toward

the next generation of blind citizens; he did something about it. His contributions have

done more than those of any other person in our time to improve the education and quality

of life for all blind children. Right up to the last few weeks of his life he was laying

plans and making decisions about programs that help blind children become Braille

literate. Furthermore, Dr. Jernigan had the insight to build an organization and train

future leaders so that his individual commitment and vision would not die with him. In

October, 1981--17 years ago—he shared that vision in an inaugural message to parents

in the first issue of Future Reflections (originally called the NFB Newsletter for Parents

of Blind Children).

Somehow, it seems appropriate to reprint that message here, as a memorial and as a

reminder that while Dr. Jernigan may no longer physically be with us, his spirit, his

vision, and his love live on. Here is—as fresh, dynamic, and meaningful as it was

when it was written 17 years ago—what Dr. Jernigan said to our readers:

NOPBC President, Barbara Cheadle,

introduces Dr. Jernigan at the 1993

Parents Seminar in Dallas.

A Message from the President

by Dr. Kenneth Jernigan

The inauguration of a newsletter is always serious business, a momentous occasion. If

the newsletter succeeds and achieves its purposes, it will grow and influence lives. If it

fails, it will simply be one more lost dream, joining the many others which lie forgotten

on the trash pile of history.

Although prophecy is always a chancy business, I feel confident that this newsletter

will not fail. The need for it is too great, and the hope and determination which have

launched it are too strong. It brings to bear (for the assistance of the parents of blind

children) the focus of the experiences of the organized blind movement for the past four

decades. It is a reaching out by the blind of this generation to offer help and

encouragement (through parents) to the blind of the next generation.

When the blind came together to form the National Federation of the Blind in 1940, the

picture was about as bleak as it could be. There was very little in the way of training or

opportunity or understanding. There was no employment and not belief that the blind were

capable of working competitively even if the job had been available.

The world of today is different. The blind now have more choices and possibilities open

to them than ever before in history, and most of the progress can be traced (directly or

indirectly) to the work of the National Federation of the Blind. But we have a long way to

go to equality. If the blind children of this generation are to have the chance to lead a

fully normal life as they grow to adulthood, the work of the past forty years must be used

as a foundation and a steppingstone. And (valuable though some of their efforts are) we

cannot depend upon the professionals in the field to do the work for us. We must do it for

ourselves—we the blind of this generation and we the parents of blind children.

Dr. Jernigan always found a few moments at National Conventions

to talk with blind children and students. (April and Amanda Jones of

Tennessee, left, and student from the Louisiana Center for the Blind, right.)

We have no vested interest in this or that program, no agencies to protect, no axes to

grind. We have only our collective experience of blindness, and our yearning to help make

things better for the blind of the next generation. Neither do the parents have any vested

interest to protect—any agencies or programs or jobs or professional jealousies. They

have only their love for their children and the desire that these children have the

opportunity to lead normal lives and realize their full potential. Our interests and those

of the parents are identical.

Dr. Jernigan visits

the

Courtney Despeaux (Maryland)

Jamaican School for the Blind,

and Dr. Jernigan at the

March 1990.

National Center for the Blind,

June 1996.

This is why I am pleased to participate in the launching of this newsletter and why I

feel certain of its success. We can do what must be done if we work together, and the

stakes are too high for us to do otherwise.

Dr. Kenneth Jernigan

Memorial Fund

Established by the National Federation of the Blind, the interest from this fund will

continue to support the work to which Dr. Jernigan committed his life. The National

Organization of Parents of Blind Children is collecting contributions from parents and

other members for this fund. We will make a presentation to the NFB in Atlanta, Georgia,

at the July, 1999 National Convention for the amount we have collected. If you would like

to contribute in this manner, make a check payable to the NOBPC with a note on the check

that the contribution is for the Kenneth Jernigan Memorial Fund. Mail the check to Julie

Hunter, Treasurer, NOPBC, 620 Elm Street, Denver, Colorado 80220.

Dr. Jernigan congratulates Dr. Ruby

Ryles, recipient of the 1992 NFB

Educator of Blind Children Award.

Memories of Dr. Jernigan

The January/February, 1999, issue of the Braille Monitor, the monthly publication of

the NFB, is a memorial issue devoted to memories of Dr. Jernigan. You may request a single

free copy in print, cassette tape, or Braille by writing to NFB, Kenneth Jernigan Memorial

Issue, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230.

Students at the 1998Convention

(left to right) Kimberly Aguillard,

Jesse Hartle (standing in back)

David Glasspool, and Ryan

Richard share a light

moment with Dr. Jernigan.

Space will be allotted in every 1999 issue of Future Reflections to those who wish to

contribute their thoughts or recollections of this remarkable man. We can't possibly

publish everything we receive, but we will try our best to represent the many different

parents, children, teachers, and others whose lives he touched in a unique way. Please

send your contributions to Barbara Cheadle, Editor, Future Reflections, 1800 Johnson

Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21230.