The John Petty Community Champion Award was established in 2019 to honor an individual with connections to Lawrence Technological University, who is positively impacting the lives of the African American community. The award was initially created by LTU students as part of the programming for Black History month.
Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of LTU students with advising (if needed) from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Nominations are due by January 31, 2024, by 4pm.
John Gordon Petty, Sr. had over 40 years of Engineering and Management experience. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (1965) from LTU and a Masters Degree in Business Management from Indiana Northern Graduate School in Marion, Indiana.
John began his work in the field of engineering in 1963 and in 1995, he served as the Engineering Society of Detroit's (ESD) President for their 100th anniversary year. He was an active member of ESD for over 30 years and served on the Board of Directors and numerous committees. He was the recipient of ESD's "Distinguished Service Award" and was also elected to the prestigious " ESD College of Fellows." In 2006, Mr. Petty was the recipient of ESD's highest honor, "The Rackham Humanitarian Award." In June 2009, John was presented the "Harold Slaight Ellington Award" for outstanding leadership on behalf of ESD.
He was LTU's first Black trustee, and served on the Board of Trustees for over 20 years.
Mr. Petty was a member of Berean Chapel Church of Detroit, where he served as a Deacon and Superintendent of the Sunday School. He also served on the Board of Directors of the related Circle Y Ranch, a Christian summer camp for kids located in Bangor, MI.
Mr. Petty served a number of years on the Zoning Board of Appeals for the city of Southfield where he and his wife, Evelyn have lived since 1979. John and Evelyn have a grown son (John II) and a daughter (Stacy) and five grandsons (Titus, Jordan, Terrence, Jason and Justin).
