This Day in History: 1938-04-14

Civic and educational leader Gloria Dean Randle Scott, the first African-American president of the Girl Scouts of America and the twelfth president of Bennett College, is born in Houston, Texas to Juanita Bell and Freeman Randle. Scott grew up in Houston, attending Blackshear Elementary and Jack Yates Secondary School.  Acquiring a scholarship, she continued her education at Indiana University where she received a BA in 1959, an MA in Zoology in 1960, and a PhD in education in 1965. Scott has received numerous awards, including six honorary degrees, League of Women Voters prizes in 2008 and 2010, the Star of Texas Award in 2009 and the Urban League Star Award. She was noted as a History Maker in November 2010. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, has chaired the Corpus Christi Juneteenth Coalition for several years, and is an active member of the Corpus Christi Black Chamber of Commerce. She is also president of G. Randle Services, a consulting firm. Learn more.