WHEREAS, Thomas Howard Sumpter, Jr. was born in Saint Francis Hospital on Saint Patrick's Day in 1950. As a lifelong resident of the Schenley Heights section of Pittsburgh, he has led an inspiring life as a scholar, government representative, community activist, and policy maker whose decisions reflected the belief that all children are entitled to achieve ; and,
WHEREAS, educated in the Pittsburgh Public School System, Mr. Sumpter graduated from Schenley High School with high honors. Thereafter, he attended Carnegie Mellon University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Relations. He did graduate work at the School of Urban and Public Affairs at Carnegie Mellon University, as well as, the Graduate School of Urban Planning at Morgan State University. In addition, he has a certificate of completion from the Columbia School of Broadcasting; and,
WHEREAS, from 1976 to 1979 Mr. Sumpter worked for the state government in West Virginia. He worked in the Governor's Office of Economic and Community Development as a Housing Specialist and as a Land Use Specialist. There he chaired a State Housing Task Force and authored an executive order that was signed by Governor Jay Rockefeller. In 1979 he returned to Pittsburgh and started working for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. During his tenure he was charged with administering funds to local units of government and non-profit organizations in the western half of Pennsylvania and West Virginia; including programs such as the Community Development Block Grant, Housing Investment Partnerships, Supportive Housing Program, Youthbuild, and Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS. He retired in July 2004; and,
WHEREAS, in 2005, Mr. Sumpter was elected to represent District 3 on the Pittsburgh Public Schools school board. As a board director, Mr. Sumpter was a representative on the PSBA, 1st VP, 2nd VP, and Chair of the Education Committee, Early Childhood Committee, PIAA Com...
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