Per Bro. Jeffrey Thomas

Brother Dilworth was initiated into the Fraternity on 28 Feb 1936 through the Beta Sigma Chapter at Southern University.

Robert Israel “Speedy / Speed Boy” Dilworth

He was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, one of humanities most generous and benevolent creatures. His life was a “mosaic” of many professions and activities, including a professional baseball player for the Negro League, laundry presser, tailor, brick layer, teacher, researcher, football coach, Boy Scoutmaster, polling commissioner and entrepreneur. His business career as the proprietor of several dry cleaners and self-service laundries spanned more than 50 years. A resident and native of Baton Rouge, he passed away peacefully Monday, Jan. 9, 2012. He was 99 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1943 to 1946.

He was married to Madeline D. White for 43 years until her death in 1983. Visiting was at Hall’s Celebration Center, 9348 Scenic Highway, on Monday, Jan. 16, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Christian funeral services at Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church, 8742 Scenic Highway, on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m. Interment in Port Hudson National Cemetery. He is survived by his only son, Zebedee R. Dilworth; daughter-in-law, Clara B. Zeno Dilworth; grandchildren, Shonda R. Zeno, Robert Z. Dilworth and Cardell I. Dilworth; great-grandchildren, Nia S. Dilworth and mother Natalie, Jarred S. Dilworth and mother Shodana and Kayia L. Dilworth and mother Gabrial; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his father, Israel Dilworth; mother, Mary Dilworth; wife, Madeline Dilworth; and nine brothers and sisters. He graduated from McKinley High School in 1932.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Southern University A&M College in 1937. He received his master’s degree from Iowa State College in protozoology in 1949. It was during this time he was presented with the privilege of doing research work with the esteemed Dr. E.R. Becker on the nature of eimeria nieschulzi growth promoting potency of feeding stuffs. Dr. Becker gave him credit in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, May – June 1941, Vol. 68, No. 3. He then moved on to Georgia Normal College, Albany, Ga., where he taught biology and coached football from 1940 to 1943. In 1952, he was the first black man to run for Baton Rouge City Council since reconstruction.

He was affiliated with numerous organizations through the years. The ones he collaborated on the most were Boy Scouts of America, Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church, Omega Psi Phi and the U.S. Army.

Published in The Advocate on January 17, 2012