Articles

Hyman among Carrick-honored alumni

Category: Metro Published on Thursday, 22 October 2009 12:56 Written by Courier Newsroom

The Carrick High School Alumni Association will designate four of its alumni as Distinguished Alumni at a ceremony, Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. in the high school’s auditorium. The public is invited.

The event will be dedicated to U.S. Marine Sgt. Ryan H. Lane, a 2002 graduate of Carrick High, who was killed in action in Afghanistan July 23.

PHYLLIS LINDA HYMAN

The distinguished alumni are the late Phyllis Linda Hyman, class of 1967, a jazz and R&B singer and songwriter who starred on Broadway in Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Ladies.”

Robert Haskins Miller, class of 1936, who is the retired chief justice of the Kansas State Supreme Court.

Royland Earl Wild, class of 1933, the world famous, legendary concert pianist.

Victor F. Koontz, class of 1943, retired managing director of the Robe River Iron Ore Project in Australia. He and his team oversaw the construction and startup of two company towns complete with schools, hospitals, water and sewage, power plants, shopping facilities, police stations and houses in a remote part of Western Australia 700 miles north of Perth, the capital and only city in that area.

In a 1995 issue, People Magazine described Hyman as infusing her music with passionate, life affirming energy. She sang at many Pittsburgh night clubs with musicians such as Walt Harper, George Benson and Stanley Turrentine. Well known singer Patti LaBelle said Hyman was a true diva—a grand lady.

Hyman’s manager, Glenda Gracia, said, “It was easy to find Phyllis in a soup line feeding people or donating her services to combat AIDS or the abuse of women and children.”