March 26, 2007
Wyandotte Distinguished Graduate
 Inductees

Jackson, Dr. Noel William - 1969
Malwitz, Karl - 1975
 

Dr. Noel William Jackson - Class of 1969

 

Noel Jackson, DDS, distinguished himself as a renowned dentist, a respected community leader, and a dedicated public servant. Dr. Jackson has spent his entire professional career contributing his time, talents and financial support to countless community projects that have enriched the lives of downriver citizens.

Noel graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1969. He was a member of the National Honor Society, the W.A.A.C. (World As A Community) Class, and a record holder on the RHS swim team. He began his college training at Michigan State University with a BA Degree. In 1979, Noel Jackson graduated from the University of Detroit Dental School with honors, and became a member of the national dental fraternity, Omicron Kappa Upsilon.

Dr. Jackson began his practice in Rochester, Michigan. In 1980, he moved to Trenton, Michigan and since then has been recognized as an excellent dentist and community-minded citizen.

Dr. Jackson has been honored by his colleagues by being awarded the Degree of Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. Less than 200 dentists world-wide receive this award annually. Dr. Jackson has been listed in numerous "Who's Who" editions, and is recognized by many medical organizations as an "Outstanding Dentist." Noel Jackson has held various positions in several dental organizations and is currently a leader of the Michigan Mentors Association, educating and helping young dentists.

Downriver, Dr. Jackson has been elected "Man Worth Watching", and his practice named the 2005 Business of the Year" for the city Trenton. He also received the DTE Luminary Award, and was a Downriver Council of the Arts Salute Awardee in 2005. Noel Jackson serves on the DDA for the City of Trenton and is a member of the Trenton Business Association.

Dr. Jackson's interest and concern for his community has expressed itself in many ways during his 26 years in Trenton. He participates in the ADA program-donating his dentistry services to countless needy and deserving individuals. Dr. Jackson developed a program of comprehensive dental education and annually presents dental health clinics in the Trenton Public Schools. He initiated an annual scholarship for Trenton students who personify excellence and demonstrate the interrelationship of Science, Arts, and Community.

Dr. Jackson also founded and financially supported the Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center. The DYPAC is dedicated to the positive development of young people through experiences in the arts. While serving as President of the organization, Dr. Jackson spearheaded the restoration of the Trenton Village Theatre. The successful campaign raised over $350,000.00 to make the theatre DYPAC's rehearsal home. Dr. Jackson was the visionary and a financial benefactor behind this most successful project.

Over the years, Dr. Jackson has financially helped countless individuals and provided funds for many school, city and youth programs. Much of his personal assistance was done discreetly and often anonymously.

In addition to his fine dental practice, Noel also is active in the Trenton Kiwanis and the Trenton Rotary Club. He serves as a trustee on the boards of the Information Center and the Downriver Council for the Arts. His concern and love of children has him involved with the Boy Scouts, swimming & soccer programs, the PTO, and the band and arts activities in the City of Trenton.

Dr. Noel Jackson and his wife, Debra, have two sons and one daughter and make their home in Trenton, Michigan.

 

Karl Malwitz - Class of 1975

 

Karl Malwitz, in spite of a life-altering accident during his high school years, has distinguished himself as an outstanding citizen, living a life of distinction as a community-minded volunteer.

In the tenth and eleventh grades at Roosevelt High School, Karl was active in sports - football, baseball, and wrestling. He also participated in both the marching band and the concert band. When he was in the eleventh grade, a football injury left him a quadriplegic. This changed his life dramatically, but this injury never kept Karl from being productive. As a senior, he was inducted into the National Honor Society.

After graduation in 1975, Karl attended Wayne State University and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1981.

In the past 32 years, Karl dedicated his life as a volunteer in a variety of activities and organizations. His love of sports was carried over into managing a little league team in the Wyandotte Braves Junior Baseball Association where he worked for 12 years with a team in the 9-10 year-old division. Following that, he served on the League's Board of Directors for two years.

As a volunteer at the Wyandotte Municipal Cable Studio, Karl again called on his knowledge and love of sports and directed cable broadcasts of Roosevelt football and basketball games. Karl also used his musical interests and directed a cable show devoted to bluegrass music, "Mountain Echoes," again for the Wyandotte studio.

Since 1990, Karl has given much of his volunteer efforts to the Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital Auxiliary. One of his primary volunteer duties is typing the monthly auxiliary newsletter. In spite of his quadriplegia, Karl uses a special mouth piece to type the 4 to 10 page newsletter each month His supervisors at the hospital have attested to the high quality of Karl's work. He also types the Auxiliary's annual membership directory, its executive directory, and its annual report. In 2004, Karl was recognized for his volunteer service at the hospital with a "Thanks for Giving" award, which honors volunteerism in health care facilities in Metro-Detroit.

Karl has also volunteered with the Silver Strings Dulcimer Society, a traditional American music group, typing their newsletters. His love of music is also evident in his participation in the Praise Choir at St. John United Church of Christ in Wyandotte, where he is also a member in the St. John Brotherhood.