Lincoln University Introduces Inaugural Sapphire Award Honorees

Lincoln University of Missouri will celebrate its inaugural class of Sapphire Award honorees with an induction into the prestigious Sapphire Circle during the Homecoming Centennial Masked Ball on Friday, October 31, 2025.

As Lincoln University of Missouri marks its historic 100th Homecoming, the tradition of honoring individuals whose lives reflect the spirit of excellence, leadership and service continues. This year, the celebration takes on added significance with the introduction of the Sapphire Award — one of the University’s highest honors. Established to recognize alumni and friends whose legacies have shaped, uplifted and strengthened the Blue Tiger tradition, the award celebrates individuals whose extraordinary service, achievement and commitment embody the very essence of Lincoln University.

At the Masked Ball on Friday, October 31, 2025, the inaugural class of Sapphire Award honorees will be inducted into the prestigious Sapphire Circle, joining a legacy of excellence as treasured jewels of the University—brilliant, enduring, and impactful.

Victor B. Pasley, Class of 1968, LU Board of Curators President

Victor B. Pasley was appointed to the Lincoln University of Missouri Board of Curators in March 2019. He holds degrees in education from Lincoln University (Class of 1968) and Northern Illinois University, as well as executive training from Harvard Business School. Pasley retired from Xerox in 2010 after 32 years in leadership roles, including vice president of sales and marketing for managed services. Earlier in his career, he was an educator in Illinois and served as a U.S. Army captain in Vietnam from 1969 to 1972. Active in his community, he has served on YMCA boards, the Junior Achievement of Central Indiana board and the Lincoln University Foundation Board, where he was president from 2007 to 2011. He also served as the first president of the Blue Tiger Athletics Club (2016–2017), which has raised over $500,000 to support LU sports programs and projects.

Sherry Maxwell

Sheryl “Ms. Sherry” Branch-Maxwell has been a driving force in Missouri for more than four decades, serving youth, families and communities through innovation and leadership. Currently the assistant area coordinator for Lincoln University Cooperative Extension in Charleston, she leads programs in youth development, food and nutrition, and community partnerships. Her most notable initiative, Kids’ Beat, once enrolled more than 1,500 members across 30 clubs in all six Bootheel counties. In 2025, the Charleston Outreach Center was renamed the Sheryl L. Branch-Maxwell Center in honor of her dedication and service.

She has served on numerous state commissions, including the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Commission, the Children’s Trust Fund and the Missouri Commission for Volunteerism. In recognition of her lifelong service, she was named the 2021 DeVerne Lee Calloway Woman of the Year.

Mark Schleer, Class of 2007

Mark Schleer, ’07, serves as director of the Archives and Ethnic Studies Center at Lincoln University, where he safeguards and shares the institution’s heritage through preservation, educational outreach and research. A Lincoln alumnus with a master’s degree in history, Schleer’s passion for archival work grew from a deep-rooted connection to his alma mater: while growing up, his great-great-grandfather’s hardware store employed Lincoln students, creating a multigenerational bond with the university. Under his direction, the archives have seen moments of discovery — including the unearthing of a time capsule in Jason Gymnasium in 2009 — and expanded programming, such as his presentation “The Black Harvard of the Midwest: A Student’s Perspective.” Schleer’s efforts continue to enrich both the campus and wider community by making Lincoln’s history accessible, inspiring and enduring.
 

Joe Torry, Class of 1988

Joe Torry is a comedian, actor and philanthropist whose quick wit and off-the-cuff style made him a household name. Best known as host of HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” and for his role alongside Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur in “Poetic Justice,” his career spans blockbuster films, hit TV shows, national endorsements and sold-out tours.

A proud LU graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and communications and a distinguished Hall of Fame inductee, he founded the Giving Back the Love Foundation, an impactful organization that has mentored and supported more than 30,000 youth and families. His authentic comedic voice, deeply shaped by his St. Louis roots and Lincoln University education, continues to inspire joy, laughter, and meaningful connection worldwide.

Dwight T. Reed (posthumously awarded)

Dwight T. Reed joined Lincoln University in 1949 and became one of its most celebrated athletic leaders. As head football coach from 1949 to 1972, he compiled a record of 135-75-6, with back-to-back undefeated teams in 1952 and 1953, three Midwestern Athletic Association titles and one Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship.

Beyond football, he coached men’s track (1949–1993), women’s track (1985–1993) and men’s basketball (1955–1958), leading the latter to a 48-21 record. Over his career, Reed coached 93 All-Americans in four sports and served as athletic director from 1957–1980. He died in 2000, and the Lincoln football stadium proudly bears his name.

Marjorie Williams, Class of 1975

Marjorie Williams made history as the first African American superintendent in the 100-year history of the Hickman Mills School District in Kansas City, Missouri. A lifelong champion for education and equity, she later founded the Marste Group LLC, providing leadership and consulting services to schools and businesses across the country.

She is a dedicated member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and continues to inspire through her commitment to community, leadership and opportunity.

As Lincoln University celebrates its centennial Homecoming, these honorees remind us of the enduring legacy of service, leadership and achievement that defines the Blue Tiger tradition.