Past National President

Link Vivian J. Beamon
4th National President

The Fourth National President, Link Vivian J. Beamon, was the first from the Central Area. She was a charter member of the Cincinnati Chapter and before her election as president in 1962, had served as Central Area Director and National Vice President.

The theme, "Dynamic Dimensions,” used at the 1964 Assembly over which Link Beamon presided, might very well characterize her administration. Enthusiastic, gracious, charming are a few of the adjectives used to describe this effective leader who did so much to expand the program horizons of The Links. Her messages, letters, and speeches are evidence of an elegance of expression, which was a rare natural gift.

Link Beamon was born in Paris, Kentucky, and grew up in that state. She graduated from Kentucky College and Industrial Institute in Frankfort, and earned a bachelors degree from the University of Cincinnati. She held a masters degree from New York University. She consummated her post-graduate study at the Universities of Chicago and Michigan and at Columbia University.

As a Rosenwald fellow at New York University, Link Beamon pursued her life-long interest in developing positive educational programs for inner-city children. She entered the Cincinnati school system in 1931 as a teacher at Douglass School and soon moved to Jackson School as assistant principal, becoming its principal a short time later. After twenty years at Jackson School, Link Beamon helped open Hayes School in an area where most of the students were considered "culturally deprived.” Under her leadership, Hayes School received many foreign visitors and ex-change teachers, and was the site of a number of experimental and innovative programs.

Link Beamon was recognized as the role model and inspiration for at least eight Cincinnati school principals. At a testimonial marking her retirement after twenty-five years of service to the Cincinnati public schools, the superintendent cited her distinguished record and praised her ability to recognize, develop, and inspire leadership skill and ability. Following her retirement from the public schools, Link Beamon joined the faculty of the University of Cincinnati as an instructor in teacher training programs.

A member of the Delta Kappa Gamma professional sorority for women in education and of Kappa Delta Pi scholastic honor society, Link Beamon served at various times as workshop consultant at Syracuse University, North Carolina College at Durham, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Link Beamon was a dedicated community worker, serving on many boards including the Child Guidance Home, the Children's Theater, the Community Chest of Greater Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Urban League. She was the first woman president of the Cincinnati Urban League and carried this responsibility with distinction for three one-year terms.

At the time she served as national president of The Links, Link Beamon was the widow of Dr. Reginald E. Beamon, a dentist who was also an activist. Dr. Beamon was the first Black candidate to run on the charter ticket as a candidate for the Cincinnati City Council. Link Beamon herself served as the second president of the Women's Auxiliary of the National Dental Association.

On January 11,1970, the Cincinnati Enquirer saluted Link Vivian Beamon as one of that City's ten most outstanding women. She died in 1975 and is buried in Cincinnati.

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