Hon. A. Romeo Horton

The Horton family announces the triumphant home going of Hon. A. Romeo Horton, on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005, in his 83rd year, at the Abington Hospital in Abington, Pennsylvania. His wife, Mrs. Mary Eliza Horton, their daughter Kamah and granddaughter Elishia were at his bedside.

Romeo Horton was the founder and former president of Liberia's first indigenous bank, the Bank of Liberia (BOL). He was a dedicated public servant, rising from Assistant Economic Advisor to President W.V.S. Tubman to become the first Secretary of Commerce, Industry and Labor.

Mr. Horton became the founding dean of the College of Business and Public Administration at the University of Liberia. He was one of the brains behind the establishment of the African Development Bank (ADB) and its subsidiary, the ECOWAS Fund. When the Fund was established, he became its first managing director, assigned at its headquarters in Lome, Togo.

He was appointed president of Philadelphia Corporation for Development and Cooperation (PCDC), appointed by the Mayor of Philadelphia. It was a development-oriented entity to help small businesses.

He assisted in the founding and establishment of the United Bank of Philadelphia, where he served as senior consultant. It was the only minority majority commercial banking institution in the city.

A. Romeo Horton was born in Monrovia on August 20, 1923, to the union of the Rev. Daniel Richard Horton and his wife Ora Milner Horton. He commenced his education at Ricks Institute in Virginia, where Rev. Horton was principal. When his father was transferred to the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) to head the Agriculture Department there, Romeo enrolled there, too, graduating from BWI in the eighth grade in 1937. Among his classmates that year were A.B. Anderson, founder of the Anderson Funeral Home, and Joseph Boayue, former Secretary of Public Works in the Tubman administration.

Romeo then entered the College of West Africa, where he graduated in the early 1940s. He then entered Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia, his father's alma mater, where he graduated from college. Among his classmates was the slain civil rights leader, Martin Luther King.

Mr. Horton then matriculated to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Finance, where he took the Master's degree in Business and Finance.

Mr. Horton was a deacon in the church founded by his father, St. Simon's Baptist Church in Bassa Community, Monrovia. For years, he has helped manage the several missionary churches founded by St. Simon's Baptist Church.

Public viewing and service of remembrance will be held at the Salem Baptist Church of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, (where he once served as deacon) on Saturday, January 7, 2006. Viewing begins at 9:00 A.M. followed by the service at 11:00 A.M. His remains will be flown to Liberia for final services and burial at the Saint Simon Baptist Church, Monrovia, Liberia. In addition to his beloved wife of 49 years, Mrs. Mary Eliza Horton, he is survived by his children: Shepard married to Kelly, Kamah married to Robert Cooper, Danlette, Renee married to Louie Spring, and Romell. His brother, Mr. Frances (Chu Chu) Horton, and a host of other relatives, friends, associates and students. May his soul rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon him.

Salem Baptist Church, 610 Summit Ave, Jenkintown, PA 19406. Tel# 215-884-7664

CONTACT INFORMATION

USA
· Mrs. Eliza Horton----215-233-2710
· Mrs. Kamah Cooper (Daughter) 215-233-2710
· Mrs. Barbara Cooper-Grimes-(Niece) 215-327-0308
· Ms. Janice Cooper-(Niece)---267-207-0435
· Ms. Wede Cooper (Niece)-267-872-5915
· Ms. Ora Horton (Niece)----678-524-3626
· Mrs. Augusta Horton (Sister-in-Law)----610-747-2720
· Dr. Napoleon L. Divine (Friend of Family)---267-971-6561/215-729-0214

LIBERIA
· Mr. Frances Horton---(Brother)---011-2316-559-249
· Ambassador Timothy Thomas---(God Son)--011-2316-519-691