Former nurse named for person of year title

A former nurse that continues to serve the Mountain Home community as a volunteer for various organizations will earn the Person of the Year honor during the 23rd Annual Black History Banquet.

The banquet honoring Sadu Simpson will begin at 6 p.m. Friday at the Elks Lodge, 325 South 3rd West Street. Dinner follows at 7 p.m.

Originally from the Bronx in New York, Simpson started working part time as a nursing assistant at St. Marks Orphanage for Children Harlem Hospital when she was 16 years old and later became a nursing assistant.

In 1967, she graduated from the Central School for Practical Nurses where she earned her licensed practical nurse accreditation. Seven years later, she earned her associate's degree in nursing from the Bronx Community College. In 1985, she graduated cum laude from the City College of New York City.

Over the years, Simpson served in various medical centers in the New York area, including the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in Stanten Island, N.Y., which served military service members, veterans and their families. In 2003, she retired from the nursing corps at Beth Israel Medical Center.

Her commitment to helping others continued when she moved to Mountain Home that same year. Her volunteer service includes work at the Desert Mountain Visitors Center and a producer and editor for the former Camera 8 public television channel here.

In 2005, she joined the Mountain Home Citizens on Patrol unit, where she eventually became its vice commander. In addition to her work with the volunteer police force, Simpson also teaches basic guitar lessons to teenage girls in the Mountain Home community and serves as a public relations person for the city's Juneteenth committee.

During this year's Black History Banquet, the Mountain Home Black History Committee will feature a retrospect of President Abraham Lincoln.

Former Idaho Attorney General David H. LeRoy is the night's guest speaker and will focus on the evening's theme, "Abraham Lincoln: 150 years later." LeRoy will also sign copies of his latest book at 5:30 p.m. that evening and following the banquet.

As part of this year's observance, the community's black history committee also has a display at the Mountain Home Library. People may view the display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Groups can arrange other times by contacting the museum.

For tickets and additional information on the banquet and museum display, call 587-3227.