Julian M. Earls, Ph.D.

1996 Honoree

This distinguished physicist is deputy director for operations at the National Aeronautics Space Administration's Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. For him, it is a dream come true, but it could not have happened without many caring people who helped him secure an excellent education.

Like all of this year's honorees, Dr. Earls credited his parents and home with being the major factor for his success and schooling was second. In his case, his parents established a Christian home full of love and discipline, and constantly aided him in his pursuit of excellence.

In terms of schooling, Miss Richardson, his first grade teacher helped him to see the importance of learning. While his fifth grade teacher, Miss McKnight, noticed his love for mathematics and encouraged him to learn more than was required. The regional mathematics and science fairs in which he participated from elementary through high school were exceedingly important because they helped him to apply the knowledge and principles learned in the classroom. Dr. Ray Woods, physics professor at Norfolk State University, is the teacher who influenced him most. Dr. Woods is a second father to him, and Dr. Earls never makes an important decision without consulting him.

Earls earned his first degree in physics at Norfolk State. Then came a master's degree in radiation physics from the University of Rochester's School of Medicine in New York and his doctorate in radiation physics was acquired from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He also secured a second master's degree from the University of Michigan and graduated from the Harvard Business School Program for Management Development.

Dr. Earls is a believer in keeping one's mind and body in shape with strenuous mental and physical exercise. He has written an impressive and extensive list of scholarly publications and exercises, lifts weights and runs daily and has successfully completed 1 2 marathon runs including the famous Boston Marathon.

Dr. Earls' community service is also commendable. In addition to teaching and counseling students at nearby Capital University in Ohio, he is the co-founder of a group that is raising a million dollars for scholarships to be awarded to black students to attend black colleges. These efforts are consistent with his strong belief that "God did not give anybody everything, but He gave everybody something" and it is one's Christian duty to share.