We here at UPH would like to extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of the pioneers, visionaries, and trailblazers. Our present and future shall forever be shaped by your contributions. May you rest in peace.

Derrick Bell – One time civil rights lawyer, first African American faculty member to gain tenure at Harvard Law School, author. Bell’s 1973 publication “Race, Racism and American Law” is a standard text in law schools. Several times throughout his career, Mr. Bell resigned his positions over what he considered matters of principle. This includes a position with Harvard. In 1959, when his bosses at the Justice Department told him it was a conflict of interest for him to belong to the NAACP, Mr. Bell quit his job. He once stated, “I cannot continue to urge students to take risks for what they believe if I do not practice my own precepts.”

Fred Shuttlesworth – The reverend was the last of the civil rights movement’s ‘Big Three’ and co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Braving beatings, bombings, and fire-hosing, the preacher pushed Birmingham, AL to the forefront of the civil rights movement. Shuttlesworth was known to prod Martin Luther King Jr. into taking more aggressive action and made no apologies about his rough-edged approach.  He often stated that he “tried to get killed in Birmingham” to draw attention to the injustices.

Steve Jobs – The co-founder of Apple Inc. and Pixar Animation Studios was widely described as a genius in the field of business, innovation, product design, and a man who profoundly changed the face of the modern world. As of October 9, 2011 (2011 -10-09), Jobs is listed as either primary inventor or co-inventor in 342 US patents or patent applications related to a range of technologies from actual computer and portable devices to user interfaces (including touch-based), speakers, keyboards, power adapters, staircases, clasps, sleeves, lanyards and packages.

Al Davis – The NFL Hall of Famer lived and breathed football. His “Just win, baby” was a rallying cry for generations of Oakland Raiders fans. At various points in his life, he was a freelance scout; a college coach at 21; head coach of the Raiders at 33; commissioner of the American Football League at 36; and Raiders' majority owner at 47. Davis was not only the owner of the Raiders, he was also general manager. And would often be a staple at Raider’s practices, giving a few coaching points about execution or timing.