City of West Memphis celebrates Black History Month

Mayor, city council recognize pair of local standouts at meeting

By Ralph Hardin

news@theeveningtimes.com

Black History Month 2025 may have come ton an end, but not before the City of West Memphis had an opportunity to celebrate by recognizing a pair of local talents.

As has become the tradition, at the last city council meeting of February, the council, as well as Mayor Marco Mc-Clendon, presented commemorative plaques to this year’s Black History Month honorees.

For this year’s selections, the council looked to the West Memphis public schools.

“The City Council selected two men involved in the district to receive 2025 Black History Awards,” said Mc-Clendon. “Matthew Robinson and Curtis Washington Jr.”

Robinson is a music teacher at Wonder Junior High School.

“He wears many hats at the school, including being the ‘House’ Team coordinator,” McClendon said. “The Houses of Wonder Junior High was the first school in the West Memphis School District to participate in the spring and fall Keep West Memphis Beautiful Clean Up Blitz. Under Mr. Robinson's leadership, about 25 students participated, and over 100 bags of litter were picked up, inclusively. Because of his ef-

See BHM, page A3

Photo courtesy of WMSD BHM

From page A1

forts he received the ‘Mighty Man of Valor Award’ for his excellent leadership with the students at Wonder Junior.

High.”

Washington is a 2018 graduate of the Academies of West Memphis “H played baseball for the University of Arkansas on an athletic scholarship,” said Mc-Clendon. “Washington also played for Wabash Community College and Purdue University. In 2022, he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners becoming the first African American player from West Memphis drafted into Major League Baseball.”

In 2024, Washington earned the Dan Wilson Community Service Award – an award given to one player each year who demonstrates a strong commitment to community service.

“He held his inaugural youth baseball camp in his hometown of West Memphis,” Mc-Clendon said, for young baseball and softball enthusiasts in the area and he speaks to inspire the young athletes in the West Memphis baseball program.”

At the conclusion of the presentation, McClendon added, “Congratulations, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Washington. You shine a bright light on West Memphis and our school district.”