Leadership Memphis announces 1997 class Leadership Memphis announces 1997 class Top business executives, administrators, civic volunteers and ministers are among the 55 leaders in the public and private sectors who have been selected to participate in the 1997 class of Leadership Memphis. The new class is 38 percent black, 62 percent white, 53 percent male, 47 percent female and ranges in age from 31 to 63. Beginning Sept. 5, the class will participate in a nine-month educational and interactive program emphasizing appreciation of racial and cultural differences. They will learn about community problems and create innovative strategies to solve them. Leadership Memphis alumni and community volunteers, assisted by staff, plan and conduct the program. Founded in 1978, Leadership Memphis is a "non-partisan, multi-racial, multi-cultural program designed to produce well-informed, motivated leaders who are willing and capable of working together for a better Memphis." Fees for participation are paid by participants, their companies or by scholarships. Members of the 1997 class are: Darryl J. Arbor, Promus Hotel Corp.; Andrea Auguiste, Church Health Center; William R. Bouknight, Christ United Methodist Church; Charles M. Bowen, Champion Awards Inc.; Debra Brown, city of Memphis Housing and Community Development; Francis C. Brown III, AutoZone Inc.; Joan Carlson, St. Joseph Hospital & Health Center; Steve M. Cohan, Memphis Botanic Garden; David DelBrocco, DelBrocco & Associates; Bruce B. Demps, WDIA/WHRK; Stanley Dowell, River City Medical Group; Cindy Cole Ettingoff, Weintraub, Robinson, et al; Charles Ewing Sr., Ewing Moving Service Inc.; Barry J. Flynn, Assissi Foundation of Memphis; Linda Gibbs, Hutchison School; and Beverly Goines, Union Planters Bank. Other members include John Russell Gwatney Sr., Gwatney Organization of Companies; Carey Hoffman, city of Memphis; Jane Hopkins, community volunteer; Gwen Houston, Memphis Race Relations & Diversity Training; Noel Hutchinson Jr., First Baptist Church-Lauderdale; Judith Johnson, BellSouth; Robert Johnson, Johnson Bryce Inc.; William Johnson, Mid-South Computer Services; Sharon Jones, McKesson Drug Corp.; Marc Jordan, Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce; Martin Kelman, Kelman-Lazarov Inc.; Barbara King, Exchange Child Abuse Prevention Center; Katherine Kirk, Shelby County Clerks office; Gerald Lawson, Buckeye Cellulose; Ivan Legg, the University of Memphis; Merilyn G. Mangum, Peabody Group; Mary C. McDonald, St. Benedict at Auburndale; Robert L. McFalls, Delta Area Agency on Aging; Eileen M. McGinley, BDO Seidman, LLP; Rhonda Nelson, the Regional Medical Center; Karon OConnell, Trinity HealthCare Services; Pam Peternell, community volunteer; Robert Rogalski, Time Warner Cable of the Mid-South; David Rudolph, Martin, Tate, et al; Barbara Russell, Memphis Board of Education; and Clyde Sanders, community volunteer, American Association of Retired Persons. Other members are: Glenn Sessoms, Federal Express; Lee Simpson Jr., Eastwood Hospital Inc.; Yvette Spicer, West Tennessee Area Health Education Center; Joseph Steffner, Trammell Crow Co.; Robert Stolarick, Memphis and Shelby County Health Department; Herman Strickland, First Tennessee Bank; Ken C. Strong, Memphis City Schools; Denise D. Taylor, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau; Lori Thompson, Diesel ReCon; Jimmie Tucker, Self Tucker Architects; Mary Unobsky, Crossroads; Norma Upshur, Boys & Girls Club of Memphis; and Dee Wallace, Harrahs Entertainment Inc.