A retirement bash is set for 4 p.m. Sunday at the Bond Hill-St. Mark's United Methodist Church to celebrate contributions the Rev. Norman Macon has made to the Bond Hill neighborhood.

        The Rev. Mr. Macon, a former National Football League player, has pastored the church for 14 years.

        He became the church's pastor at a time when California Avenue, one block north, ran rampant with drugs and prostitution.

        “Through a collaborative effort of the Bond Hill Community Council, my church, other churches in this area and the police, we have made some changes on the street,” the Rev. Mr. Macon said. “We still have a long way to go.”

        He said unemployment among young blacks is still a major problem.

        “I am working with several companies to get them to hire young people as they are and train them. I believe anybody can be trained,” he said.

        Sam Nellom, president of the Bond Hill Community Council, said the Rev. Mr. Macon's involvement in the neighborhood has had an impact.

        “He was a part of our Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation and was very active until he became ill. We hope to see him back now,” Mr. Nellom said.

        The church operates a food pantry and has a multicultural library to promote diverse role models for kids.

        The Rev. Mr. Macon was a lineman for the Buffalo Bills from 1960-62. Before that he played in Canada.

        He played football at Kentucky State University and majored in political science and sociology. He taught in the Cincinnati Public Schools and was the director of contract compliance for the city from 1967-83.

        The Rev. Mr. Macon attended the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, from 1984-88, receiving a master of divinity degree.

        He was associate pastor of Gaines Methodist Church in Madisonville for two years and senior pastor of Broadus Chapel in Springfield, Ohio, for two years.

        He also attended Samuel P. Chase College of Law from 1969-73.

        The Rev. Mr. Macon and his wife, Daisy, own Daisy's Beauty & Health Salon in Walnut Hills.

        Student Recognition Day, designed to honor outstanding scholastic achievement, will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Twin Towers Center, 5343 Hamilton Ave., College Hill.

        The 13 Kiwanis Clubs of Ohio's Sixth Division will honor more than 45 seniors from area high schools.

        Guest speaker will be Jonathan Holifield, executive director of CincyTechUSA, vice president of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and a former Cincinnati Bengal.

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.
       

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