March 21, 2010, CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY

In 2009-2011, The 1st Historic 501(c)3 Recorded Names of the 2nd Generation 1973 Highwaymen Artists Movement.

The story began well over fifty years ago; during the 1950s, a group of African American young men and one woman would decades later become known as the Florida Original Highwaymen.
During the era of segregation, art teacher Zanobia Jefferson of Fort Pierce, Florida, had a vision for her black art students.  She introduced her high school student Alfred Hair to AE Backus, a privileged white landscape artist.  Backus taught Hair to paint and influenced another young man named Harold Newton, an established artist.

It was the beginning of a historic movement no one could have foreseen.  Backus and Hair's unlikely friendship during segregation was forbidden when blacks and whites could not mix races.  Their vision influenced "friends and family, blood and non-blood" and grew into twenty-six Original Hall of Fame Highwaymen.  What started as a way out of poverty became a black history art movement that began during the Jim Crow era of the 1950s.

Early core Original Highwaymen Harold Newton taught Mary Ann Carroll to paint; others learned by watching.  James Gibson was influenced by Alfred Hair, who taught many artists to paint.  Decades later, Gibson became the first Highwayman to teach 2nd Generation female AJ Brown to paint and educate her on the Highwaymen's history.  Gibson introduced Brown to early core Original Highwaymen Johnny Lee Daniels, who mentored her.  Johnny Daniels mentored and established Jimmy and Johnny Stovall, Kelvin Hair, AJ Brown, and Richard Edwards for over a decade.  Original Highwaymen Willie Daniels continued to support and teach Brown after the death of his brother Johnny.

The Original Highwaymen of the early years played critical roles in establishing close friendships and formed the Highwaymen 2nd Generation members.  The Original Highwaymen salesman, Al Black, was at the core of these efforts.  Like in the old times, Al Black sold art by Highwaymen 2nd Generation AJ Brown from the trunk of his car throughout their Florida travels.

As history repeats, the "Second Generation Movement" was established in 1973 by Roy McLendon Jr. but can be traced back to the "Civil Rights Movement."
In the late 1960s, according to Jimmy Stovall and his beginnings.  The two legends are significant milestones for the Florida Highwaymen Historic 2nd Generation Artists.
Just as the Originals were collective friends, family, blood, and non-blood, the all-African American second-generation group transcends the 1950s vision. Instead, it continues Florida's art history as the "Florida Highwaymen Historic 2nd Generation Art Movement."

*Alfred Hair-forefather: known as one of the leaders, Hair died in 1970 at age 29.  In 2009, after forty years, Hair's widow, Doretha Hair Truesdell, occasionally attended board meetings.  In 2011, after retirement, Doretha and their son Roderick Hair joined the Highwaymen group as an artist.  Kelvin Hair also promotes Alfred Hair's legacy.  These members offer a significant history and represent Alfred Hair's legacy.  As a Highwaymen painter in September 2011-2012, Doretha toured Florida's art circuit with AJ Brown; Roderick Hair occasionally joined.  The author of the Highwaymen book Legends of the Road, Gary Monroe, awarded Highwaymen artists AJ Brown and Doretha Hair at the Uptown Art Expo in Orlando, Florida.

*Harold Newton—forefather: Newton was born in 1934 and died in 1994. His brothers Lemuel and Sam are originals. Sam does not refer to himself as a highwayman. His son, Tracy Newton, is a painter. None of these painters ever attended meetings.

Roy McLendon Sr.: born in 1932, the 89-year-old legend McLendon Sr. holds the highest seniority among the group today; he briefly served as a 2009 board member and only during the first historical 501(c)3.  His son Roy McLendon Jr. established himself in 1973 and has historically painted for over 40 years; the above image of Roy Jr. is to respect and honor the legend who has earned his place in history.  His seniority marked the milestone of establishing the Florida Highwaymen Historic 2nd Generation in 1973.  Daughter Kay manages her father; his second son Ray McLendon is also a well-known Highwaymen artist.

*Livingston Roberts: born in Elkton, Florida, in 1941.  Roberts died in 2004; his daughter Diane Roberts painted but hiatus-ed after she married.  His sister Gertrude Walker was a member of the 1st By-Laws Committee; brother Francis Roberts and Nephew Francis Roberts Jr. hiatus-ed.

*James Gibson: 2009 board member Gibson was born in 1938 and died 8/15/17. In 2005, James Gibson taught AJ Brown to paint and establish her status as a second-generation Highwaymen artist. Brown is the only female Gibson taught. Brown sometimes refers to herself as a Florida Highwaymen Historic Artist. 

*Mary Ann Carroll: died December 4, 2019, at age 79; she was the sole female of the "Original Highwaymen" group and the first historic President of the first historical 501(c)3 organization.  From May 2009 to 2011, "the mandated allotted two years." Mary Ann Carroll unified and included all 2nd Generation Highwaymen artists and deligated several official offices to most of the 2nd generation.

*Ellis Buckner: Ellis Buckner Jr. paints,
*George Buckner: nephew Ellis Buckner Jr.

*Hezekiah Baker: Brother Lee Drake/business manager/officer

*Willie Daniels: Died early Sunday morning, September 19, 2021, at 71.  In support of female AJ Brown, Willie continued to paint with her.  Brown taught her granddaughter "Salsa" to paint; Willie began back porch lessons with Salsa when she was nine.
At age ten, Salsa became a member of the 4th Generation through Willie Daniels's teachings. Willie Daniels has a legacy.

*Johnny Lee "Hook" Daniels: Johnny died Tuesday, 05/26/09; the legend established five members of the 2nd Generation.  Johnny taught and mentored four men and one female, AJ Brown, for over a decade to paint.  Jimmy Stovall was a by-laws committee member of the 1st historic 501c3.  His twin brother, Johnny Stovall, was a board member.  Kelvin Hair was appointed the 1st spokesman for the group.  Johnny and Kelvin were business partners of the first Johnny Daniels Highwaymen art gallery.  Kelvin's childhood friend Richard Edwards was a board member and the last to receive Daniel's teachings.  Female AJ Brown was appointed as the 1st secretary & by-laws committee member; Brown was the former business partner of the Johnny Daniels Highwaymen art gallery in Fort Pierce, Florida.

*Rodney Demps: died June 17, 2020, no attendance, no family paints

*Alfonso "Poncho" Moran: died in 2003, no attendance, no family paints

Curtis Arnett: in 2009, the 1st vice president attended the meeting occasionally; no family paints

Al "Blood" Black: 2009 attended board member; 2011 elected vice president; in 2016 assumed the 3rd presidency, after the death of President Carnell Smith on 12/15/15; son, Marcus Oliver paints in 2011 off/on, no attendance.  Al Black was essential in establishing AJ Brown as a 2nd Generation member.

*Isaac Knight: 2009 board member; his wife Lilly is his manager., and was the 1st by-laws committee member; their son does not paint, brother-in-law to Al Black;
In 2014, Mr. Knight taught his granddaughter, Desiree Knight, to paint.

Sylvester M. Wells: 2009 attended board members, inactive due to loss of eyesight; *wife Mrs. Clezell Wells painted some backgrounds.

*John Maynor: 2009 attended board member; born in Springfield, GA on June 19, 1948, Maynor died on Tuesday 02/02/16 at age 67 in Fort Pierce, Florida;
his son does not paint.  Initially, Maynor's son authorized Brown to construct Maynor's gravesite monument.

*Charles" Chico" Wheeler: died 07/12/19 at age 73, no attendance, no family paints

*Carnell "Pete" Smith: 2009 board member; his sister Doretha Hair Truesdell occasionally attended meetings.  In 2011, Smith was elected President of the second 501(c)3.  Smith extended the office's allotted period, and his sister, Doretha Hair, became secretary.  In 2011, Doretha, the retired teacher,
permanently returned to Fort Pierce after 40 years.  She joined the group and toured the art circuit with AJ Brown in September 2011/12.  Smith held office until he died on December 12, 2015.  No official voting elections were held after Smith's death.  In 2017, Doretha Hair, "not an Original Highwayman," assumed the position of President.  The bylaws were designated for members of the "Original Highwaymen" to hold the office of power for a "limited term of two years."  The second 501(c)3 was controversial, unethical, and exceeded the terms of the written by-laws in 2009.  Unlike the first 501(c)3 elected president, Mary Ann Carroll's office included all 2nd Generation members.  Still, for reasons unknown, the second 501c3 excluded members of the "Original Highwaymen, Hall of Fame Johnny Daniels 2nd Generation Artists."

*Charles Walker: 2009 board member, wife Gertrude managed her husband and was a By-Laws Committee member.

*Robert Butler of Lakeland, Florida: attended meetings when possible. Mr. Butler owned multiple galleries and was initially an Okeechobee artist who did not paint as a highwayman. He died on 3/19/14. His sons Robert Butler Jr., Daniel, David, and Samuel, and daughters Dorene and Angela, are all artists.  Correction: Timothy, Michael, and Aletha do not paint.  

R. L. Lewis, JR.: In 2009, he was elected secretary but delegated his position to second-generation member AJ Brown. She was appointed and authorized as the first official secretary; his son Robert Lewis III is his father's manager. Both sons are second-generation members.

Willie Reagan: 2009 board member, wife Don manager, no family paints

Norman Wright: 2009 board member; Wright has historically painted since 1974 and, over decades, struggled to build his legacy; as a former brother-in-law to Al Black, Wright is one of the Highwaymen who can still be found roadside painting King's Highway south of Orange Avenue and US Highway One south of Orange Avenue; the above image of Wright is intended to respect and honor the legend who painted over the decades and has earned his place in history.

Jimmy Stovall: 2009 board member and by-laws committee.  According to Stovall, the prominent Florida Highwaymen artist began to paint in 1969; he hiatus-ed over the years, then renewed his interest during the late 1990s.  Stovall pursues an Original status distinguished from the 2nd Generation and refers to himself as an Original Highwayman.

*indicates deceased members

Together, we are our best,
Thank you, America, for treating all our generations as worthy!

March 2010 documented, recorded & updated: By 2nd Generation Highwaymen appointed Secretary and By-Laws Committee Member AJ Brown of the 1st
historic 501(c)3 Organization of 2009-2011 included all Original and 2nd Generation Highwaymen board members.