OBITUARY: Ofield Dukes, founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, dead at 79
(BlackPress.org) - Ofield Dukes, who started his historic journey in the cotton fields of rural Alabama where his parents were share-croppers and ended having received unprecedented awards, died December 7, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan after a long illness. He was 79.
"Like yesterday, I remember the expression on Ofield's face as he and David Parks walked up to the Adam Clayton Powell building in Harlem after taking a mini tour," said DC Livers, managing editor for the Historical Black Press Foundation, which presents the Black Press All Star Awards. "They had been discussing David's dad Gordon and the experiences he'd had filming the movie Superfly in Harlem. Ofield was like a kid in a candy store. In his acceptance speech, Ofield talked about how much none of us will ever forget." said Livers.
Though many knew him as a public relations guru, Dukes told the group that he'd actually wanted to be more like some of the characters in Parks' movies. "I even bought myself a suit like they had in the movie, but it wasn't in the cards for me," he said jokingly. "My life took a different turn."
The turns he speaks of included a Lifetime Achievement Award, having buildings named after him by Radio One founder Cathy Hughes and even receiving the prestigious Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America, the nation's leading PR association. Dukes became the first African American to win the award in the group's 54 year history.
Along the way, Dukes racked up a string of firsts. He first opened his PR office in the National Press Club and landed Motown Records as his first client. He was a co-founder of the Black Public Relations Society (BPRS). He was tapped by author Alex Haley to help with the Roots project that would go on to become a classic movie. He helped Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and was a communications consultant to every Democratic presidential candidate since 1972. He helped Dr. Dorothy Height and her group National Council of Negro Women become the first African American group to own a building on Pennsylvania Avenue, a block from the White House.
But it was his love of young people that led him on his most gratifying journeys. Duke spoke to students and aspiring public relations professionals whenever he could find the time including a dynamic speech at Buffalo State College.
Dukes was a staple in the PR community, said celebrity publicist Priscilla Clarke who worked with him for nearly 15 years.
"He's such an icon in the PR world," Clarke told BlackPress.org a few hours after he passed. "We all loved and admired him."
"Ofield was a pioneer, a visionary leader who gave unselfishly," said Dr. Rochelle Ford, APR, associate dean of Howard University School of Communications.
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation issued a statement saying, "Ofield has, and always will be, a constant presence at the CBCF."
A memorial tribute to Ofield Dukes is now available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6SQy3Ie6fU and www.BlackPressRadio.com
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