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.
