Charles W. Moore
Charles W. Moore and older brother John Douglas Moore, were born and raised in Macon, Georgia. Although neither of their parents finished their formal education beyond elementary school, they stressed its value to their children.
Mr. Moore entered Hudson High School at the age of ten (10), and graduated at the age of 14 in 1938. He was the youngest member of his high school graduating class.
Mr. Moore, was unsure about going to college, mainly due to lack of financial resources so he worked odd jobs until drafted into the U.S Army in 1943. He states that it was an honor to serve his country.
Mr. Moore came to Atlanta in 1946, after serving three years in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He was honorably discharged at the end of the War. Attracted to business, he enrolled in a two-year course at Morris Brown College, where he learned bookkeeping, business related subjects, typing, short-hand and other clerical skills. After the two year course at Morris Brown, Mr. Moore enrolled in a degree program and obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree (cum laude) in 1950. He immediately went on to the New York University Graduate School of Business Administration earning an MBA.
Before he completed the MBA program, Morris Brown offered him their Chief Financial Officer position, he served in this position for the first 15 years of his professional career.
During his tenure at Morris Brown College, Mr. Moore was responsible for all business and financial activities of the college. The college experienced growth in enrollment and fiscal resources during that period.
Mr. Moore also received a Master of Science Degree in Human Resources Management from the University of Utah. Further studies were done at Atlanta University, University of Omaha and the University of Georgia.
Mr. Moore has been awarded two honorary degrees, the Doctor of Humane Letters from Daniel Payne College and the Doctor of Laws from Morris Brown College.
Mr. Moore became a member of the Butler Street YMCA during his junior year at Morris Brown College. He served as volunteer leader in several capacities, including the Annual Membership Campaigns Chairman, Chairman of the Capital Development Committee, Budget and Finance Committee Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors. In recognition of his outstanding leadership services, the Butler Street YMCA gave Mr. Moore the “Benjamin E. Mays Leadership Award”, and he was ceremoniously inducted into the coveted “Legacy Circle” of the Butler Street YMCA.
In March 1966, Mr. Moore accepted a position with the U.S Department of Health, Education and Welfare in Washington D.C. as an Education Program Specialist. Additional positions of responsibility which he held with the Federal Government included Senior Program Officer for the Higher Education Facilities program, Director for the Division of Education and Community Services, Senior Program Officer for the Division of Post Secondary Education, Acting Director for the Division of Post Secondary Education Region IV, Chief Budget Services Branch Director , and Director of Accounting for Fiscal and Budget Services with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region IV, Atlanta, Georgia. In the latter position he was responsible for developing and directing the department’s financial management program for the entire Southeastern Region with regional headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. His areas of responsibility included the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.
“That was a very interesting part of my life,” said Moore. He felt that the most satisfying part was his ability to provide some assistance, particularly to HBCUs – some which had not built a new academic facility on their campus in decades.
One of the first applications he processed… Morris Brown College. “I’m so glad I was able to provide that assistance.” There are plaques on several buildings bearing his name in recognition of his assistance.
In 1985, upon his early retirement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, he returned to Morris Brown College and assumed the position of Vice President for Business and Finance, a position he held until February, 1991.
After retirement from his position as Vice President for Business and Finance for Morris Brown College, he became affiliated with The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, where he served as a registered representative for traditional life and health insurance, and equity based products and annuities. In 1992 he transitioned into entrepreneurship, and became co-organizer and Vice President of “Brown and Moore Associates”, a financial services company specializing in group student health, accident and athletic insurance. HBCUs were the primary clients.
Mr. Moore has been a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., since 1948. As a member of Phi Beta Sigma, he has served as the President of Lambda Sigma Chapter, Treasurer of the Southern Region, and International Treasurer from 1970 to 1993. Upon his retirement as National Treasurer of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. the fraternity bestowed upon him the title of International Treasurer Emeritus and renamed their International Headquarters Building in his honor. He was elected to the Distinguished Service Chapter in 1978. He is a charter member of the Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union organized in 1986 and served as President of the Board of Directors from 1993 to 2000.
Mr. Moore has received the following awards, citations and recognitions for his outstanding community service:
- Who’s Who in the South and Southwest – 1963.
- Alumnus of the Year – Morris Brown College National Alumni Association, 1968 and 1975.
- Distinguished Alumni Citation of the Year Award – National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) – 1986.
- Citation for Outstanding Leadership in Education, Religion and Social Development – Rust College – 1971.
- Special Achievement Award – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Sustained Outstanding Work Performance 1984.
- Listed in Who’s Who among Black/African Americans – 1976 – 2007.
- Listed in Who’s Who in Black Atlanta – 2022.
Mr. Moore is an active member of Big Bethel A.M.E. Church, Atlanta, Georgia, where he serves as a member of the Board of Stewards, the Bethel Towers Board, and Past Vice Chairman of the Stewardship and Finance Commission. He served as Co-Superintendent of the Sunday School for 20 years and is currently a member of the “Truth Seekers” Sunday School Class.
Mr. Moore attributes his accomplishments, to a strong family background, and his various levels of education.
“I was married successfully to a fellow graduate of Morris Brown,”. Mr. Moore and his late wife have one daughter, two granddaughters, and two great-grandsons. His daughter is a retired I.T. professional, one granddaughter serves as an examiner with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, TX, and the other serves as a practicing physician in Georgia.