Calvin A. Harper

His Story

Calvin Harper was born in Lynch, KY to the union of Rev. Madison Harper, Sr. and Lillie Mae Cunningham Harper. He was the youngest of four brothers, with two older sisters and one younger sister. The Harper family was unique in that the two patriarchs, Madison and Patterson (who were twins) married the two matriarchs, Lillie Mae and Willie Mae (who were twins). In the West End, the two families lived next door to each other. As such, it was said that the two sisters would knock on the common wall between their two apartments when a decision to add to their growing families was made.

Education
Calvin was very bright and productive in his younger years, which carried over into adulthood. He was educated in the Cincinnati Public Schools having attended Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary, Jennie D. Porter Junior High and was an outstanding scholar, inducted into the Pi Tau Delta Honor Society. In 1979, Calvin was named a YMCA Black Achiever. He was a talented athlete, playing shortstop and gaining the attention of minor league scouts. Calvin attended Fisk University where he pledged Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Microbiology from Miami University. He later completed a Master’s degree in Theology at the University of Cincinnati.

Ministry
Calvin was spiritually motivated to excellence by his parents who convinced him to always follow after God and remain humble. Calvin was ordained into Christian Ministry in 1966 receiving a Bachelor of Theology Degree from Cincinnati Baptist College and a Master of Divinity Degree from Cincinnati Theological Seminary. He was later honored with an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree from Cincinnati Theological Seminary. On June 13, 1975, Minister Harper was called to the pastorate of Morning Star Baptist Church where he served for 35 years until his health failed.

Under his leadership, Morning Star grew spiritually and in membership. The church was blessed with members from all walks of life who love God, are sincere in service and talented in many ways. Calvin was a gifted teacher. He had a unique way of explaining the Word of God such that students of every education level could gain understanding.

Pastor Harper was led to expand the church’s community outreach by purchasing the apartment building next door and a building on Stanton Avenue. At his direction, the church established prison, soul winning, marriage, singles, tape and teaching ministries. In 1987, Morning Star Baptist Church was able to celebrate a Year of Jubilee where the debt for the current church building was retired.

It was said jokingly, but in love, by a colleague that “Harper is the president of
everythang!”. Calvin was president of his senior class at Robert A. Taft High School, Class of 1958 and President of The Baptist Ministers Conference. He was one of the founders and President of Temple Bible College from its inception in 1970. He served faithfully until his health began to fail and another of the founders, Rev. Carl P. Adkins assumed his duties. The remaining founders, Revs. John Daniel White and Artie Brown preceded him in death.
Calvin served as Pastor of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church for 35 years.

Corporate
After college, Calvin conducted five years of medical research at Children’s Hospital Research Foundation and later joined the Procter & Gamble Company in 1967 as a Research Chemist in the Foods Product Division. One of his treasured accomplishments was the development of Pringles potato chips. He often spoke fondly of his trips to Idaho for research. In 1972, he became the first African-American promoted to Section Head in Research and Development and was later promoted to Associate Director in 1981.

Civic
He was Co-Founder and President of The Amos Project, a coalition of 40 multidenominational churches allied around issues of racial and economic justice with a commitment to cross racial worship. Harper participated in the sit-in demonstrations in Nashville, TN where he met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A leader in many civic functions and heavily involved in his community, Harper provided leadership in the Capital Fund Drive to build the present Findlay Street Neighborhood House while serving as Secretary of the Board of Directors of Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, Inc.

He was the founder and organizer of the Robert A. Taft High School Alumni Association and became that organization’s first president.

In 1988, Pastor Emeritus Harper was named as one of the 100 Outstanding Black Cincinnatians during Cincinnati’s Bicentennial Celebration. In 1990, he was appointed by Governor Richard Celeste to the Ohio Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission.

Devoted Family
Calvin is survived by his faithful wife of 49 years, Mary Calhoun Harper, who cared for him until his last days, two sons, Calvin Alexander (Isabelle), Chad Austin, and a daughter, Tiffany Paige. Calvin lived to see his first and only grandchild, Calvin Alexander Nkashama (Trey). He is also survived by sisters Harriet Ward and Salsabil Abdul Barri, sisters-in-law Dorothy Greene and Iona Calhoun, brother-in-law William Calhoun and a host of relatives and friends.

Calvin was a godfather to many. Zion Williams was the first to call him “Paw-Paw” along with Alexis Flagg, and Kadyn Dudley. He had a special bond with Kadyn Dudley and Big Brother to Dr. Robyn Chatman.