Chester Wickwire facts for kids

Chester "Chet" L. Wickwire (December 11, 1913 – August 31, 2008) was an important American leader. He was a chaplain (a spiritual leader) at Johns Hopkins University for many years. Chet Wickwire was known for being a strong supporter of civil rights and a dedicated peace activist around the world. After he passed away, people remembered him as someone who deeply cared about all people.

Early Life and Learning

Chet Wickwire was born in Nebraska but grew up in the countryside of Colorado. His family was part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which shaped his early life. He earned his first college degree from Union College in Nebraska.

Later, in the 1940s, he went to Yale Divinity School at Yale University. While he was studying there, he got sick with poliomyelitis, a serious illness. This meant he had to stay in a hospital for over a year. He said this experience helped him understand the world better. Even though he needed crutches after that, people called him "Chet the Jet" because he had so much energy! He became a minister in the United Church of Christ. Chet was married to Mary Ann Wickwire for 71 years. He also loved writing poetry and published two books of his poems.

Many community leaders and important people, like former U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes, attended his memorial service. Senator Barbara Mikulski also wrote a special message to remember him.

Working at Johns Hopkins University

In 1953, after finishing his studies at Yale, Dr. Wickwire started working at Johns Hopkins University. He first helped run the Levering Hall YMCA, a student center. Later, he became the University's chaplain, serving in that role until he retired in 1984.

He got involved in many activities both at the university and in the city of Baltimore. In 1958, he started the Tutorial Project. In this program, Hopkins students volunteered to help tutor young people from Baltimore who needed extra support. This program, which helps students learn, is still running today! Johns Hopkins University created the Chester Wickwire Diversity Award to honor students who help bring different cultures and backgrounds together on campus.

Fighting for Civil Rights

Dr. Wickwire was a pioneer in the fight for civil rights. He organized the very first concert in Baltimore that allowed both black and white people to attend together. This happened in 1959 and featured famous musicians like Maynard Ferguson and Dave Brubeck.

He worked with local leaders, such as Walter P. Carter, and ministers in the 1960s to end segregation at Gwynn Oak Amusement Park. This meant making sure the park was open to everyone, regardless of their race. Because of his hard work, Dr. Wickwire earned a lot of respect from community leaders. He was even chosen as the first white leader of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, a group mostly made up of African-American ministers in Baltimore.

In 1970, when police were looking for members of the Baltimore Black Panther Party, they agreed to surrender only to Dr. Wickwire. He also served as the chairman of the Maryland Advisory Committee for the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, which works to protect people's rights.

Working for Peace and Workers' Rights

Chet Wickwire often disagreed with the Johns Hopkins University leaders because he was so dedicated to promoting peace. He frequently invited speakers, like Philip Berrigan, to talk about peace on campus. In 1962, he was held in Moscow with some Johns Hopkins students. They were accused of sharing anti-Soviet writings.

He also supported workers' rights. In 1977, he helped lead a group that boycotted J.P. Stevens & Co. because the company was against unions. In 1982, he worked to improve the rights and living conditions for migrant workers in Maryland. He was the chairman of a group that advised the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on this issue. Later, with the same group, he helped improve the rights of Korean-American store owners.

In the 1990s, Dr. Wickwire traveled to Central America several times to speak out against unfair political rule. He was part of a group called the Ecumenical Program in Central America (EPICA). For all his important work, the University of El Salvador gave him an honorary doctorate degree.