On Saturday, February 23, the Franklin County Visitors Bureau, working in conjunction with the Western Maryland African American Association, welcomes Dr. Arnold Hence with his collection of images of Hallowed Grounds, a collection of civil rights and African-American historic sites. The presentation will be held from 1 PM to 3 PM in the second floor Great Room of the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center. FCVB will give a virtual tour of more than a dozen significant African-American and Underground Railroad sites of Franklin County from 10 AM to Noon.
Dr. Arnold T. Hence has been “taking” pictures since the 8th grade when his mom gave him an old Polaroid camera, and “making” pictures for the past fifteen years. His photographic interests have been shaped by his life experiences. Dr. Hence retired as Executive Vice President of Forsyth Technical Community in January 2010 after serving 36 years in higher education. Since retiring he devotes more time and energy to photography, with one of his pictures having won a first place and judges’ choice award at the Dixie Classic Fair in Winston Salem, NC. While he has “bags and albums” full of pictures from the “pre-digital” era, his photographic interests for the past several years have included a growing civil rights and historic sites collection, landscapes, weddings, special events, and classic cars.. He is a former juried member of the Winston Salem Craft Guild and former Board member of The Associated Artists of Winston Salem. He has had solo exhibitions at The International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, NC and the Apple Gallery in Danbury, NC.
After leaving high school in the 11th grade, he joined the U.S. Army where he served for seven years specializing in radar and computer repair. Following his discharge from the Army he did stints as a salesman, auto mechanic, electronics technician and part time musician to support his family. He once played at the famed Apollo theater behind legendary blues singer Al Green, early in his career. In 1972 he was one of nine people selected from the across the United States by the late Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor to receive a Graduate Fellowship to the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education without having a baccalaureate degree based on life experience. He has since earned Master’s and doctoral degrees in education from Rutgers University.
Born in Jackson, Michigan he was raised in Minneapolis, MN. His other hobbies include boating, music, and writing. He and his wife Anna, have two children and three grandchildren. Dr. Hence is also an ordained minister
Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore African American history in celebration of Black History Month and throughout the year.