"Channing Heggie Tobias"(February 1,1882-November 5,1961)

Acquired fame through his work with the YMCA.Born in Augusta,Georgia,to Fair & Bell Tobias,Channing received his bachelor's degree from Paine College in 1902.He left Georgia to study religion at Drew Theological Seminary in Madison New Jersey.After spending time at the University of Pennsylvania,Channing returned to Paine and served as professor of Biblical Literature.Meanwhile,Channing  received a doctorate in Divinity from Gammon Theological Seminary.As early as early as 1905 Channing joined the YMCA and eventually became Secretary of the National Council.He also served the organization as the student secretary for the International Committee of the National Interracial Services Divisions,Channing strenuously endeavored to enhance race relations in the United States and abroad.As a member of the Executive Committee of the National Interracial Conference and as the associate director of the Commission on Interracial Cooperation,and redress racial grievances.His crowning public achievement in interracial affairs occurred when he became a delegate and speaker at the 1926 World Conference in Finland.After retiring from the YMCA in 1946,Channing the first African American director of the Phelps-Stokes Fund,a philanthropic association that awarded funds to institutions that provided educational opportunities for African American children.He also became active in the NAACP and receive the coveted Spingrn Medal in 1948 for distinguished work on behalf of African Americans.Channing served on numerous boards,including,the Committee on Race Relations and the Commission on the Church and Minority Groups of the Federal Council of Churches,as well
as the board of trustees for Howard University,Hampton University,and the NAACP
During World War II  he was appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt to the
National Advisory Committee on Selective Service during World War II.In 1946 President Harry Truman appointed Channing to the Civil Rights Committee.He also served the United States as an alternative representative to the Sixth Assembly to the United Nations.