Rev. William H. Donaldson
Reverend Donaldson first came to Champaign in 1934 when he became minister of Salem Baptist Church. He is especially pleased by "the multitude of Black churches" in the community. Born and raised in DeValls, Arkansas, he first worked at General Motors in Detroit before becoming a minister in Michigan in 1931. He notes the growth of Champaign-Urbana and "the opening of doors for Black people" that has occurred in
recent years. There was a time, he recalls, when the University of Illinois did not allow Black students to live on campus. He is "most proud of my ministry. It has been my lifeserving people and being called to Salem Baptist Church."
