Members
Richard L. Morris
PRESIDENT
Director of Housing, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
Richard L. Morris is a 1969 graduate of Westinghouse High School and was greatly impacted by the learning environment and support provided by the staff at WHS.
Mr. Morris was an eleventh-grade student when Dr. King was assassinated, and this unfortunate event created the need for direct action to produce change at the school. As new leaders emerged, it was important that all facets of black culture be offered to students, alumni accomplishments are celebrated and Bulldog academic, arts and athletic standards are maintained.
While at the House, his commitment to the community was shaped and nurtured. This resulted in career choices that focused on helping those who are struggling to succeed. Being a Bulldog is about never giving up, understanding that you are part of something that is bigger than yourself , and that giving back, allows others to benefit from being in the place “Where Youth and Opportunity Meet.
Kent DeHonney
VICE PRESIDENT
Kent DeHonney is currently employed with the US Capitol Police. He has also worked at Tier-Tech International as a Senior Emergency Management Analyst, Department of Veterans in the Office of Administration where he served as the Chief and Acting Director. His career spans to include working at NASA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Throughout his career, Kent has received numerous awards for his work in Continuity of Operations and Emergency Management. He also retired from and served in the United State Air Force where he was stationed in Korea and Germany. Kent has had great opportunities in working throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East on behalf of the United States Government. Kent served as the Commissioner for track and field with the Boys & Girls Club under United States Track & Field and was also a member of the Board of Directors. He has also coached both youth football, basketball and continues mentoring youth and adults.
Toni L. Allen
TREASURER
Toni L. Allen is the Treasurer of WHS4EVER and she is also the Vice President of the Incredible Class of 1980. She currently works for the Pittsburgh Public Schools where she has served for the past 21 years. After 20 years of service, she is retired Air Force, a life member of the Air Force Sergeants Association, and past president of Chapter 249. She was inducted twice into the Sky-High Club for recruiting over one hundred members and is a recipient of the prestigious CMSGT of the Air Force Award. Allen’s certification is in drugs and alcohol prevention and in 1996 she began teaching classes on this subject. To further the education of her students and their awareness of the dangers of drugs and alcohol, she became a SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Advisor in 2002, which later resulted in her winning Western Pennsylvania SADD Chapter of the Year for 2011-2012.
Other community engagement includes coaching Boys AAU Basketball for the Rise High Elite organization, Pittsburgh Sunnyside school, and her beloved alma mater, Pittsburgh Westinghouse, as well as being the founder of “He’s Able! Outreach Ministry,” where she writes to the incarcerated, being the minority inspector for District 10 Ward 17, and organizing numerous voter registration drives, some of which are ongoing. Proud mother of Marquitta, George and Naomi.
Lastly, “there’s a House upon the hill. Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!”
Sharon Y. Williams
BOARD MEMBER
Sharon Y. Williams, Esq. is a Legal Analyst Specializing in Trademark and Copyright Law Prosecution and Litigation and a graduate of Westinghouse High School. Starting out as an executive secretary at PPG Industries for 10 years, she went to college at night and on the weekends to obtain two Bachelor’s degrees with double majors (Management/Administration, and Paralegal Studies/Computer Technology). Moving to Atlanta, she continued her education and became the first recipient of the Clayton State University’s Academic Excellence Award from the School of Technology. She is also the only non-judge member of the university’s Legal Advisory Committee for Curriculum for the State of Georgia Board of Regents. She worked as a Legal Franchise Coordinator for the Great American Cookie Company. After Great American Cookie Company was sold, she worked as a paralegal at Arrington & Hollowell owned by civil rights icons Judge Marvin Arrington, Sr. and Donald Lee Hollowell working on building corporations and government bonds. Once the firm was dissolved, she was hired by one of the top law firms in Atlanta and world-wide with over 500 attorneys, as an Administrator in Human Resources to create a Diversity Program. She continued her education by obtaining a Master’s of Science degree and later obtained a Juris Doctor degree. After putting the diversity initiative in place, she went to practice law in the firm’s CFR Group (Corporate, Finance and Real Estate) before finally getting a chance to practice in Intellectual Property (Trademark/Copyright/Patent) as a Legal Analyst. Her current portfolio contains ten of the most recognized companies in the world.
A recipient of the Judge Glenda Hatchett Volunteer of the Year Award, she’s been a mentor for over 30 years. A published author of an inspirational novel, Sharon’s goal is to continuously inspire students to hope, dream, and accomplish their goals by becoming a positive part of our future society. Sharon is in charge of the Mentoring Program for WHS4EVER, which is collaborating with 100 Black Men, Urban League, and Mentoring Partnership. She has WHS4EVER also teamed up with Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, who partnered to establish the National Mentoring Resource Center to improve the quality and effectiveness of mentoring across the nation. In her spare time, Sharon hosts her own podcast show (heard in four (4) countries) advocating for equality, social justice, mentoring, and speaking on behalf of consumers, hoping to be a positive part of change.
Lorretta Dozier Reed, EdD
BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Lorraine D. Phillips
BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Lorraine D. Phillips is a 1972 graduate of Westinghouse High School. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, a Master of Arts in Instruction and Curriculum and a Doctorate in Teacher Leadership. Dr. Phillips is a mother, a grandmother, and a retired educator of thirty-nine years. She taught elementary school and was a bilingual teacher and a bilingual coordinator at Inglewood Unified School District in Inglewood, California for eighteen years. Upon returning to Pennsylvania, Dr. Phillips taught at Gateway School District for twenty-two years and retired in 2017. She is on the board of WHS4EVER, a member of Pennsylvania State Education Association Retired, and a member of various ministries at her church.
James McKelvia Jr.
BOARD MEMBER
James McKelvia Jr. takes pride in still being involved in Westinghouse High School festivities.
During his time at Westinghouse High School James played football, tennis, and a two-time letterman during his high school football career. In James’s junior year he played center and his senior year he played offensive tackle.
After graduating from high school James took after his father and worked for their family business Mack’s Car Service just down a few blocks from his alma mater. James football career did not stop there he continued on in his football journey to play semi pro football for Eastend Raiders and the Penn Hills Pythons. James pursed a career in office services for Kirkpatrick and Lockhart Law firm and Fox Rothchild Law Firm for over 20 years. James also served as the 13 th Ward of Homewood Committee Chairman for 4 years. In which James helped various community organizations and groups.
During the years James still had a longing for football and decided that he wanted to help the youth in this area as well. James coached for the Kingsley Association, Hazelwood, and Greenfield. His passion for Football and helping youth made a huge impact in these communities.
James has always been proud of where he came from, the family the brotherhood that he gained from being a part of the Westinghouse High School Bulldogs. He always says Bulldog 4 life!
Melvin Hubbard El
BOARD MEMBER
Melvin Hubbard El has been building bridges across Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to support the community and promote self-sufficiency for the past 46 years.
Mr. El currently serves as the Community Adviser to the Honorable Ed Gainey, Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh. He last served as Chief of Staff to then-Representative Ed Gainey for the 24th district of the Pennsylvania State General Assembly for eight years.
Previously, he directed the Bloomfield Garfield Corporation’s College Opportunity Program for twenty-five first-generation college students, managed Project Success’ Middle School at-risk program for students who attended Reizenstein Middle School, worked as Healthy Start Pittsburgh’s Program Manager, Coordinator, and School Intervention Specialist serving first-time fathers, men, youth, and families. Earlier, Melvin worked tirelessly for seven years as a Family Services Specialist serving pre-k students with Pittsburgh Public Schools. Additionally, Mr. El taught Social Studies for Penn Circle Community High School, the Youth Forestry Camp Education Services Program, and Pittsburgh Public Schools.
Mr. El earned his B.S. degree in Secondary Education in Social Studies from Clarion University, is a proud graduate of Westinghouse High School, and has certifications in Restorative Justice, Mediation, Conflict Resolution, and Manhood/Fatherhood Development as a Trainer/Facilitator. He is also a graduate of the Wilkinsburg Citizens Police Academy, serves on various non-profit boards, and has received numerous forms of recognition for his service to the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Melvin currently lives in Lower East Hills with his wife Kathy and attends the Moorish Science Temple of America.
If you want to know how Melvin Hubbard El understands the world, simply turn to his own words: ‘We are bound by many different connections in life, but the greatest connection is LOVE!’
Phyllis Davis-Jones
BOARD MEMBER
One Pittsburgh Public School Districts finest scholars, educators, and coaches, Mrs. Phyllis-Davis Jones, has served the school, community, girls basketball team, and all students, with distinction for over 30 years. Phyllis was recognized by the Women and Girls Foundation, Women in Sports: Leveling the Playing Field Award. Phyllis was the only woman to receive this recognition that teaches or coaches on the High School Level. Most people in the city recognize Phyllis because of her extraordinary accomplishments as the coach of the Lady Bulldogs of George Westinghouse High School.
Phyllis has had her team in the Championship game of the city league play-offs for nearly every year she has coached, including AAA and unified championship contests. Phyllis has graduated all of her players and has over 40 former athletes who have played in college on scholarship, attended college on an academic scholarship, and are currently working in the field of education or coaching. Ms. Dana Nelson, former team captain and valedictorian a teacher/coach with the Pgh Board of Education, comes to mind as a former player under Phyllis, among so many other distinguished players. Coach Jones teams won 40% of all the championships won in the city in the last 27 years. USA today recently honored Coach Jones as one of the top 5 female women’s basketball coaches in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Her total number of wins is beyond 400. Since coaching she has never had a losing season.
Phyllis has been recognized twice with national coach of the year honors and she has served on the prestigious WBCA All-America selection panel. Coach Jones is a member of both her Carrick High School Hall of Fame and the Western Pennsylvania Hall of Fame. However, what makes Phyllis so deserving of this award is more than her accomplishments on the court, they are her accomplishments with her other professional duties as teacher, and the role she plays in her community as a role model, community leader, and volunteer.