Romeo B. Garrett

Romeo Benjamin Garrett (February 2, 1910 – March 23, 2000) was a professor of sociology at Bradley University.

The Romeo B. Garrett Cultural Center at Bradley University was dedicated in 1980. The city of Peoria renamed Fifth Street, where he lived, to Romeo B. Garrett Avenue.

In 1942, during World War II, Dr. Garrett enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Victorville Army Flying School in Victorville, California. In 1945, he received from the Army Air Forces recognition for meritorious service.

1947 Dr. Garrett taught a course in Sociology called Race Relations. In 1969, within Bradley's Department of Sociology he served as "Chairman of the Faculty" and again in 1970 as "Chairman". As a long-time faculty member, he went on to win the Mergen Award for Community Service in 1974. In 1964, Dr. Garrett was honored with a scholarship program in his name, given to five gifted students from area high schools: The Romeo B. Garrett Scholarship.

Additionally, Bradley University offers the Romeo B. Garrett Intercultural Leadership Award annually to students who demonstrate leadership by positively impacting the University through promotion of diversity and intercultural understanding.

Many of Dr. Garrett's sermons were published in The Traveler Weekly.

Dr. Garrett's The Negro in Peoria documented the history of Blacks locally.

Personal life He was the husband of Naomi Sanders Garrett.

Works Our Heritage from the American Indians, Journal of the Illinois State Archaeological Society, Vol. 4, No. 1, January 1954 The Negro in Peoria, 1773–1905, Negro History Bulletin, Vol. 17, No. 7, April 1954 African Survivals in American Cultures, Journal of Negro History, 51(4), 1966. Famous First Facts about Negroes (1972) Arno Press, New York The Negro in Peoria (1973) – dissertation expanded and published as book The Bible and the Negro, Negro History Bulletin, Vol. 36, No. 4, April 1973. Illinois Commentary: The Role of the Duryea Brothers in the Development of the Gasoline Automobile, Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (1908–1984), Vol. 68, No. 2, April 1975. The Presidents and the Negro (1976) & The Presidents and the Negro (1982) Imhotep – Father of Medicine, Negro History Bulletin, Vol. 41, No. 5, September–October 1978.