Lt. O. Oliver Goodall (Photos – (L) af.mil, (R) Al Beemon. Los Angeles Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.)
On February 16, 2020, at 1:00 pm, a celebration honoring Lt. O. Oliver Goodall will culminate in the unveiling of a monument on the front lawn of his former residence at 679 W. Harriet Street, Altadena, CA 91001.
Altadena resident Eugene Hutchins is leading a committee of Altadena residents to organize an event as part of African-American History Month. The celebration will honor Lt. Goodall and the Tuskegee Airmen’s extraordinary legacy. Members of this committee include other local Altadena residents: Corinne Grant, Fran Brooks, Jo Bradley, Mark Mariscal (President, The Rotary Club of Altadena), in addition to Altadena Town Council Members: Veronica Jones and Gloria Sayinka. The event will include Tuskegee Airmen (Ted Lumpkin and Jerry Hodges), in addition, to live music and family-friendly activities by Rhythms of the Village and Side Street Projects. Mr. Goodall’s grandson, Antuan Goodall, will also speak at the event and Mr. Goodall’s favorite Pastor, Rev. Yvonne Williams Boyd, will do an invocation.
Lt. O. Oliver Goodall (Photo – af.mil)
Lt. O. Oliver Goodall
O. Oliver Goodall entered the U.S. Army Air Corps at Tuskegee in February 1943. In October 1944, he graduated as a multi-engine pilot and became part of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. Goodall was among 60 African-American officers arrested for trying to peacefully integrate an all-white officers’ club. That event came to be known as the Freeman Field Mutiny. The ‘mutiny’ was an important step toward full integration of all U.S. armed forces worldwide in June 1949, and served as a model for later Civil Rights efforts to integrate public facilities.
Over the course of his life, Lt. O. Oliver Goodall had a powerful impact on his adopted communities of Altadena and Pasadena, elevating the dignity and civil rights of African-Americans in this country. Goodall was honored by The Pasadena and Altadena Branches of the NAACP with their Rosa Parks Legacy Award in 2010, and the Italian Renaissance Post Office at Colorado Blvd in Pasadena was named in his honor.
Supporting this event are lead partners: The Rotary Club of Altadena and Altadena Community Chest. Additional partners include: Altadena Community Garden, Altadena Heritage, Altadena Libraries, Altadena Town Council, Day One, Los Angeles Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., Outward Bound Adventures, Rhythms of the Village, Side Street Project, and individual contributors.
Date/Time 02/16/2020 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Location 679 W. Harriet Street Altadena, CA 91001
> Watch an interview of Lt. O. Oliver Goodall made by Pomona Public Library:
Source: theolivergoodallproject.com
As the spouse of a Tuskegee Airman, Larry E. Brown Jr. I am proud for this family. I know Larry would be equally proud if he was still here. We lost him in February 25,2019. God bless the family,and many thanks to the city for the recognition. Delores Brown
Hello, since I live in Altadena I am very proud to know that on Feb 16, 2020, an event to celebrate the service of Lt. O. Oliver Goodall is scheduled to present a memorial to the family and community. My family is also proud to have a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen who we celebrate as well. His name was Lt. Samuel W. Harper and he was trained to pilot a B-25 bomber as they flew surveillance up and down the west coast. He was part of the 477th Bomber Group, 617th squadron. Sadly we lost my father over 40 years ago. We know if he had lived to the present, he would be so personally proud that his and many others’ service is continuing to be acknowledged.
Thank you for this opportunity to comment.
Sandra Harper Johns
I graduated from John Muir High School in Pasadena in 1966. Among my classmates were Jerome Goodall and Cassie Criss. It would take thirty years before I found out that our fathers shared a common bond. They were all Tuskegee Airmen! Jerome’s father was Oliver Goodall. Cassie’s father was LeRoy Criss. And my father was James A. Thompson. Ironically, I met Mr. Criss when I was in high school. Sometimes, it takes awhile for history to be revealed. I am so proud of these brave and exceptional men who enriched our nation’s history.
Anita Thompson-Snow