Donald Phelps, Bellevue's first black principal, dies at 73
He approached life with powerful skills — a keen intellect, passion for teaching and a sharp eye toward injustice — that helped him carve out an important role in Seattle-area history. He was Bellevue's first black principal and the first black chancellor of the Seattle Community College District.
Mr. Phelps died July 5 in Austin, Texas, at the age of 73. His death, from a brief illness, came suddenly. Friends and family recalled his warm personality and groundbreaking career.
"I just think about leadership," said Mona Lake Jones, a longtime friend. "Wherever he went, he was a leader, and he was a trailblazer."
Born in Seattle on July 22, 1929, Mr. Phelps' roots in the area ran deep. His grandfather, John Gayton, was one of Seattle's first black residents, arriving in 1888 from Yazoo County, Miss. As Mr. Phelps grew older, he became an expert on black history in the state and regaled friends with stories of his childhood.
"His dream was to retire and write a book about black history in Seattle," Jones said.
After a series of jobs, including a stint as a King County deputy sheriff, Mr. Phelps poured his energies into education. He taught grade school in Bellevue in 1960 and quickly became a principal in the district. He resigned from Bellevue Junior High School in 1969 while vowing support for the district's voluntary-integration program.
In the mid-1970s, he served as interim superintendent of Lake Washington School District. He became president of Seattle Central Community College in 1980 before becoming chancellor of the college district four years later.
In 1988, he moved to Los Angeles to become chancellor of the nation's largest and most diverse community-college district. Before he left, Mr. Phelps said he was fed up with the lack of money Washington devoted to community colleges.
Until his death, Mr. Phelps taught in the community-college leadership program at the University of Texas. Just last week, he had a group of students from a new summer session over to his home. "He was going strong," said his cousin, Carver Gayton.
Mr. Phelps was vocal on a variety of topics, including race. In the late 1960s and early '70s, he was a commentator for KOMO television and radio, speaking regularly on race relations. Once he got into leadership positions in academia, he committed himself to hiring women and minorities.
He sang show tunes and recited speeches with a rich, comforting baritone. His energy and intelligence endeared him to friends and colleagues, friends said.
Even when he criticized people for what he thought was racism or other wrongdoing, the relationships remained, his friends said.
"That was an art in itself," said Charles Mitchell, current chancellor of Seattle community colleges and a longtime friend. "And people had such respect for him, if he said it they knew they had to deal with it."
Mr. Phelps' impact in the area surpasses race and politics, Mitchell said. "He's definitely one of the gems. ... He just stands up among the tallest."
Mr. Phelps is survived by his wife, Pamela, of Austin; his children Richard, Michael and Dawn; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. July 15 at First African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1522 14th Ave., Seattle.
Ashley Bach: 206-464-2567 or abach@seattletimes.com