The Urban League of West Michigan in Grand Rapids honored Davenport University President Richard J. Pappas, with the Paul I. Phillips Presidential Legacy Award at its 2026 MLK Corporate Breakfast.
The Urban League states that the Presidential Legacy Award is given to individuals “who have made a significant and lasting impact on improving the lives of others in our community through their professional accomplishments.” The award is named for Paul I. Phillips, the longtime leader of the Urban League and the first Black person to serve on the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board and the first Black commissioner in the city of Grand Rapids.
“It’s an honor for me to have Paul Phillips name associated with mine, and for our names to be associated with Dr. King,” Pappas says. “I would encourage all of us. especially future leaders, to get involved with the Urban League, to get involved with advocacy groups to support equal opportunity. That’s what the country was founded on. We are members of a community, and we have responsibilities to that community. I’m grateful for the opportunities I have had, and I am thankful for this recognition.”
