Remembering Claysburg's Don Witherspoon

This is part six of an ongoing series featuring notable people who once called the Cove home.

For longtime president of the Blair County chapter of the NAACP Don Witherspoon, human rights wasn't about color.

He was also from Claysburg.

Witherspoon's vice-president, the late Bill Sweet, said that Witherspoon would advocate for civil and human rights.

"We would visit prisons and answer complaints from the prisoners," he said. "If they needed representation, we would sit down with them and listen to what they had to say. We visited every prison within a six-county area at one time or another."

The two would also address complaints of discrimination in the workplace.

Sweet said that, with Don, it wasn't a matter of race. Witherspoon's nephew, Jeremiah Witherspoon Jr, agreed.He said that Witherspoon helped thousands of individuals.

He gave scholarships out to young athletes. He treated people the way that he wanted to be treated. He worked for equality for all people.

Pennsylvania State Rep. Jim Gregory (R-80th) was a friend of Witherspoon's.

Gregory said that he was first introduced to Witherspoon and his character when he accompanied PA State Sen. Robert Jubelirer to an NAACP dinner.

He said that Witherspoon loved that dinner, which was his project.

Gregory said Witherspoon put everything he had into it.

"Just watching him in the room at The Calvin House with all of the luminaries," he said. "All walks of life in the room. He was just like a king among us. Our own Martin Luther King in Blair County, but also a king among everyone."

Witherspoon was one of those folks who didn't take himself too seriously. He enjoyed what he was doing and worked hard at it. Even so, many times, Gregory said, there was a visible weight on his shoulders.

"The people who he was representing, speaking on behalf of and trying to help - it could be a lot. It could just be a lot," he said.

Gregory realized that, as an elected official, he needed guidance following the killing of George Floyd of Minneapolis on May 25, 2020.

Witherspoon recognized that there was a need to be "proactive". What needed to be done as an elected official was to have sensitivity to the issue. Gregory said that there was only one person who he could call.

Witherspoon told him, "Jim, be yourself. You have always been supportive of the black community. Just be there for them."

Gregory said being able to have Witherspoon as a resource meant so much.

Witherspoon, who became president of the NAACP in the 80s, made a lot of changes for the area as far as justice and equality. He always looked at things from both angles and then came to the conclusion about what needed to be done.

Sweet remembered, "With Don's personality, he could get along with everybody. It wasn't the matter of your race. He had this ability to sit people down and get things done.When you thought of the NAACP, you thought of Don Witherspoon, because he put his entire life into it-24/7."

Gregory recalls an awesome moment on the golf course with Witherspoon.

"Don was legendary when it came to his love of golf. I golfed with him many, many times. One of our greatest memories was being part of a foursome at Iron Masters for The Chamber of Commerce Golf outing. I hit the drive on number eight. We were about 130 yards out and Don hit the second shot and put it in the hole for an eagle on what is one of the toughest holes in Blair County."

Gregory said he chuckles about that memory.

"When you golf with someone, it shows their character," he said. "Golf is a game of gentlemen. He was a true gentleman on the golf course and in life."

Jeremiah said that Witherspoon was very genuine.

He said that he would look out for people and he would check up on those who were in the hospital.

"He just made everybody feel like he cared about them," Gregory said.

The tennis courts at Claysburg Kimmel High School were recently named for him.

"We just need to pick up where he left off and run with it. Always make change," Jeremiah said.

Witherspoon passed away in December of 2020.