The Honorees for 2026
A Look into the Selection of our African Americans of Excellence​
Leslie Barnes-Keating
Nonprofit Selection: Whole Heart Life Center
Leslie Barnes-Keating serves as the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Frederick County Government, appointed by County Executive Jessica Fitzwater. A Frederick native, Leslie has dedicated more than three decades to public service, building a career grounded in listening to and addressing the needs of marginalized and historically underserved residents of Frederick County.
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Leslie has held numerous leadership roles, including Deputy Director of the Citizen Services Division and Director of the Office for Children and Families. In these roles, she has led and supported initiatives, grants, and cross-sector collaborations focused on improving outcomes for vulnerable seniors, children, youth, and families. Her leadership also extended to directing Frederick County’s shelter and mass care response during emergency events, ensuring equitable access to critical services during times of crisis.
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Leslie’s work is characterized by her ability to bring community voices to the decision-making table and translate lived experiences into thoughtful, impactful policy and practice. She has served on countless committees—such as the Ausherman IDEA Committee supporting Black-led nonprofits—charged with developing inclusive strategies that deliver direct resources to community residents. Throughout her career, Leslie has prioritized supporting young women, including as a formal mentor in the North Star Leadership Initiative, a Black mentorship program building the next generation of community and civic leadership.
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Beyond government service, Leslie is a licensed Realtor® and co-owner of the Keating Group of Keller Williams Realty Centre real estate team with her husband. Education for first-time homebuyers, community engagement, and in-person service to Frederick County nonprofits are foundational to Keating Group’s mission.
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Leslie’s commitment to service and equity has been widely recognized. In 2023, she received both the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the UNESCO Opal Lee Empowerment Award. In 2024, she was named Woman of the Year by the Frederick County Commission for Women. These honors reflect her enduring impact as a leader, advocate, and bridge-builder within the Frederick community.
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Leslie holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Mount Saint Mary’s University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College. She is a wife, mother, and Gigi, and remains deeply committed to participating in solutions that address the evolving needs of Frederick County residents.
Rose Chaney
Nonprofit Selection: AARCH Society
Rose Dorsey Chaney is a retired art teacher who devoted 34 years to Frederick County Public Schools and is a graduate of Morgan State University. A passionate advocate for history, equity, and community engagement, she is a founding member of the African American Resources, Cultural Heritage (AARCH) Society. For more than two decades, Rose has been instrumental in building AARCH’s programming, exhibits, and communications, laying the foundation for the AARCH Heritage Center now underway.
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Her dedication to service has earned her wide recognition, including being named a Wertheimer Fellow for Excellence in Volunteerism by the Community Foundation of Frederick County in 2021 and receiving the Theodore W. Stephens Lifetime Achievement Award from the Frederick County Human Relations Commission in 2022. She also established the David Key Memorial Fund to support AARCH’s mission and programs.
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Rose is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and a charter member of the Chi Theta Omega Chapter in Frederick. Beyond her sorority involvement, she has served on boards such as I Believe in Me, Inc. and the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs, and is a member of the Frederick County Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. She has also contributed as a writer and editor for the County Globe, amplifying the voices of women and minorities in Frederick County.
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Deeply rooted in her faith, Rose serves as church administrator and an active member of Asbury United Methodist Church, where she participates in multiple ministries. Through her leadership, volunteerism, and storytelling, she continues to preserve Frederick’s African American history while inspiring new generations to engage with their community.
William "Wickie"
Lee Bowie
Nonprofit Selection: St. James AME Church
William Lee Bowie, affectionately known as “Wickie,” was born on September 12, 1938, in Frederick, Maryland. He is the youngest of twelve children born to the late Cora Lee Bowie and Walter Spencer Bowie. His nickname, “Wickie,” was lovingly given to him by his mother after she heard the name on a radio soap opera—a name that would stay with him throughout his life.
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Wickie attended Lincoln High School, where he graduated with the Class of 1956. In his younger years, he spent much of his time working on Hargett’s farm, alongside his parents, who worked there for many years. These early experiences helped shape his strong work ethic and dedication that would follow him throughout his life.
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He later began working at Frederick Memorial Hospital as an orderly before accepting a position at Walter Reed, where he worked in animal husbandry and eventually advanced to the role of Laboratory Technician. His professional journey reflects a lifelong commitment to hard work, growth, and service.
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On August 5, 1960, Wickie married the love of his life, Veronica “Peggy” Bowie. Together, they built a home on Bartonsville Road, where they continue to reside—a testament to their enduring partnership. Their union has been blessed with four children—Kevin, Terry, Stacey, and Byron—along with 22 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren, forming a rich and loving legacy that continues to grow across generations.
Wickie is a lifelong member of St. James AME Church, where he has faithfully served in many capacities and remains actively involved in the life of the church today. His dedication and service have been widely recognized, including receiving the Man of the Year Award from the late Bishop Vinton Anderson, along with numerous other certificates of appreciation and recognition.
In his earlier years, Wickie enjoyed playing softball and was deeply involved in the car club community. He was one of the founding members of the Road Knights Car Club and later a member of the Frederick County Street Rods until the club disbanded. In 1959, he played a key role in reorganizing the Road Knights Car Club, using his original jacket and emblem to help establish the identity of the renewed club.
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For more than 30 years, Wickie has been the owner and operator of Bowie D & S Transportation. Through his business, he has been instrumental in providing reliable transportation for residents to and from work, church services, medical appointments, and community events. More than a service, this work became a ministry—spreading the word of Jesus, offering encouragement, and sharing faith and compassion with everyone he encountered along the way.
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William Lee “Wickie” Bowie’s life is a powerful testimony of faith, family, service, and perseverance. His legacy is not only seen in his professional accomplishments, but in the countless lives he has touched, the generations he has nurtured, and the unwavering example of love, humility, and devotion he continues to provide.
Shirley Fossett
Nonprofit Selection: Sertoma Basketball League
Native to Frederick, Shirley raised three children and became a foster parent. Fossett became involved with the Sertoma Club, and she is known to many people in Frederick as leading the Off-Street Basketball League, which is a highly successful league for girls and boy ages 7 through 18.
The league encourages youth to do the right things at all times and teaches leadership and giving back to the community with fundraisers for breast cancer, the kidney foundation and the liver foundation, to name a few.
She is an active member of the Jackson Chapel United Methodist Church, a former member of the Stepping Stone Day Care board of directors, and during basketball season she can be found supporting youth at Frederick High School.
Colonel Thaddious Goodman
Nonprofit Selection: Black Advancement Inc.
Colonel (R) Thaddious Goodman completed 26 years of service to our great nation culminating as the Chief of Staff of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command, Washington DC. He served in leadership positions throughout his career, including Chief of Staff, and Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics for the US Army Medical Command, Europe in Heidelberg Germany.
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Colonel (R) Goodman is a distinguished military graduate of Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and a distinguished honor graduate of Frostburg State University, Frostburg, Maryland, where he holds a master’s degree in management. He is also a graduate of the US Army War College, and completed executive leadership training at George Washington, University, Washington DC, and the Yale School of Management Executive Leadership Program, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
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Thad Goodman and his family were assigned to Fort Detrick and moved to Frederick in 1974. They have been members of Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church since 1981. Over the years, Thad has been a Sunday School Teacher, Assistant Sunday School Superintendent, Member of the Steward Board, Inspirational Choir Member, Men’s Day Chair, Chair of Ruth S Brooks Scholarship Committee, and New Members Class teacher. Today he serves as the Grants Coordinator for Quinn Chapel and spearheads the fundraising effort that has raised almost $1million in funding to restore and rehabilitate the sanctuary.
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Life after the military led Thad to serve as a health care consultant and senior leader at four companies McAdams Technology Inc., Integic Corporation/Northrop Grumman Information Technology, Deloitte Consulting LLP-Military Health Services Healthcare Practice, and Ciquima (pronounced Chi-key-ma) Consulting. During his tenure at Integic Corporation, He served as the Program Director for the development and fielding of the Department of Defense Electronic Health Record which is the official system of record that is used in all military health care facilities worldwide.
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He has also been actively involved in the Frederick Community. He formerly served as a Member of Board of Trustees, Frederick Community College, and the Maryland School for the Deaf Foundation, and has been the moderator for several local Political and Voter Education Forums.
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He is a proud member of Alpha Lambda Lambda Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. where he served as the Chair of the Social Action Committee and led the Mentoring Program at several schools including West Frederick Middle School, Walkersville High School, Monocacy Elementary School, Monocacy Middle School, and Frederick Community College. He oversaw the Chapter’s Back–to--School Program-which provides school supplies, Children’s Christmas Party and the Christmas and Thanksgiving support programs for the Lincoln Community in downtown Frederick.
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He has been married to his high school sweetheart, the former Diainn Nevada Williams for the past 54 years, and they have three sons/daughter’s in-law; Thaddious Jr. and Donna, Graig and Lanita, and Agyemang and Chanese; and eight grandchildren (Jordan, Jasmine, Sommer, Seven, Anah, London, Agyemang II, and Langston).
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Thad Goodman truly believes in the words of Micah 6:8 where the question is asked, “What does the Lord require of me? We should not only “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly before God, but we should also pray, give thanks and give back.
John Onley
Nonprofit Selection: Frederick Mass Choir
John Onley is a Pianist, choir director, and deacon. He is a Frederick native who has spent decades directing community gospel choirs who play for community events, in nursing homes, etc.
His “Tree of Life Gospel Singers” also have given college scholarships to deserving high school students.
His latest choir is The Frederick County Mass Choir. The choirs are composed of talented local singers in the community. He volunteers his talent to uplift and inspire the community through traditional African American gospel music.
Dr. Olivia White
Nonprofit Selection: AARCH Society
A lifelong educator, leader, and community champion, Dr. White’s 40-year career in higher education—most recently as Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students at Hood College—has inspired generations.
Today, she continues her impact as Project Manager for the NCNW Good Health WINs initiative, Chair of the Charitable Partners Committee for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and President of the AARCH Society, where she is leading the charge to bring Frederick’s African American Heritage Center to life.
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Dr. White’s unwavering commitment to service, culture, and community makes her a shining example of excellence. We are honored to celebrate her legacy.