Social Transformation

The formation of the Civic League coincided with a particular volatile period in America's history. The Civil Rights Movement was riding the passage of the most comprehensive legislation since the Civil War in that of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Consequently, the repercussions of such legislation created hostility, and in many cases, a violent backlash. Furthermore, America's involvement in the Vietnam War divided the country and precipitated dissent among the country's student population. In addition, women fought to secure an equal status with their male counterparts. In this dynamic atmosphere, the Civic League stood firm as a bulwark against the demoralizing effects of rapid change, while embracing the positive attributes of social transformation.

Dr. Charles Millican, President of Florida Technological University of Orlando appeared before the Civic League to discuss the causes and cures of student, social unrest. His presentation was outlined in a News Journal article on November 20, 1969. Dr. Millican divided students into four distinct types that often clashed with one another. These groups included liberal students, new left radicals, black militants and conservative whites. Dr. Millican continued to state the causes of unrest other than the obvious political and racial differences between these groups. These causes focused on the Vietnam conflict, military conscription, the civil rights movement and the failure of local and federal government to find fast solutions to social problems. Dr. Millican suggested that student unrest could be deterred by opening and maintaining a dialogue between students and the administration, and by ceasing hostilities in Vietnam.

The Civic League played a pivotal role in the development of the institutions of higher learning in the Daytona Beach area. Before relocating to Daytona, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University operated in Miami. League members went to great lengths to lure Jack Hunt and the University to the area. Consequently, the Junior Chamber of Commerce members drove thirty-six trucks to accommodate the move and the school has been a fixture of Daytona's community. Jim Huger stated the Bethune-Cookman College succeeded because of people like J. Saxton Lloyd who believed in the idea of the college and supported it by all means possible. Huger states that although the school has problems "Bethune-Cookman is going to be a viable force in education for a long, long time."

An editorial published in the News Journal on November 20, 1971 illustrated the improvement of race relations in the Daytona community. The editorial was primarily about Dr. Richard Moore, President of Bethune-Cookman College. At the annual dinner of the Civic League, the League presented its fifth distinguished service award to Dr. Moore for his efforts to make Daytona Beach a better community. Dr. Moore came to the community in 1947 when Bethune-Cookman College was a small, poorly funded institution. He transformed the college into an institution able to produce graduates capable of succeeding in a white dominated society. In 1970, when problems arose in the black community, Dr. Moore was always present, counseling black youth and removing them from trouble areas. J. Saxton Lloyd said of Dr. Moore, "While being a stalwart representative of the black community, Dr. Moore always had been able to interpret their affairs and problems so that the white community could understand them." The action of the Civic League was an important step in uniting the black and white community because it showed the community that not only could a black person succeed in a white world, but also, a black person could be recognized for their accomplishments by everyone.

The Civic League helped alleviate the rift between genders by acknowledging the extraordinary contributions that women made in the community. Ellen Black became the first women to win the Halifax Area Civic League Distinguished Service Award on November 18, 1976. Mrs. Black moved to Daytona Beach in 1930. She taught at Mainland High School for 16 years before she dedicated her life to volunteer work. In 1950 she visited her hometown of Moultrie, Georgia where she attended a speech clinic and formulated a plan for helping the handicap in the Daytona area. Since then she has traveled the nation serving on the Women's Committee of the National Society of the President's Commission of the Handicapped, the President's Committee of Employment of the Handicapped and the People to People for the Handicapped. Mrs. Black collected many awards for her volunteer work including Woman of the Year from the Palmetto Club Juniors in 1960, a volunteer award from the Georgia State College for women and an international goodwill award in 1967 from the Committee for the Handicapped of the People to People program. The reception of her award was announced in the News Journal on November 19, 1976. The article cited her achievements and listed the previous winners of the League's Distinguished Service Award.

At the February 11, 1989 Civic League Annual Banquet at the Indigo Lakes Conference Center, incoming Chairman and Community Development Director, Jim Huger, announced many of the upcoming projects of the organization. One of the most startling revelations came with the announcement about breaking the sex barrier. In an interview years after his chairmanship, Jim Huger stated that he had "suffered discrimination all along and I did not feel I wanted to be a part of anything discriminatory ...I think we need to open this League to all qualified women." Consequently, Huger asked "the membership committee to look at the acceptance of outstanding women into our organization." This would break the twenty-four year tradition of male only membership. Huger also stated that the League would devote attention to rapid population growth, transportation, water supply and sewage disposal, and jobs. In addition, the League would tackle redevelopment and revitalization of the downtown area and address decent housing and jobs for moderate to low income citizens.

On November 15, 1991, Jim Huger's vision of a non-discriminatory League came to fruition when the Civic League finally amended one of its longest standing traditions by inviting five women to be members. Chairman Jon Kaney stated, "We are very pleased to take this step in attracting to the Civic League an exciting group of community leaders. They will help the Civic League immensely in its work. We are pleased to have them join us." The five new women were Gloria Cook, Josephine Davidson, Dr. Sarah Pappas, Mary Jo Stansfield and Beebe White. All five women were highly qualified, community leaders, who willingly offered their vast knowledge and experience to the Civic League.