Late Black Educator Honored at Ceremony

The California Legislature proclaimed Thursday “Dr. Charles W. Buggs Day” at a ceremony in Willowbrook honoring the late educator, who was praised as a guiding light and a role model for many African American physicians and scientists.

Buggs, who died at age 85 in 1991, was influential in the development of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, the site of the ceremony. Listed in “Who’s Who in America,” Buggs was a professor of Biology and Microbiology at Howard University, UCLA, Dillard University in New Orleans and Cal State Long Beach.

“We owe him a tremendous debt,” said Harry E. Douglas III, Drew University’s executive vice president. The state of California resolution honoring Buggs said he was “responsible for obtaining federal funding which resulted in scientific education centers being built at historic black colleges and universities.”