The Community Action Nation Loses Another One of Their Pioneers, but the Legacy Will Live On

The Community Action nation loses another one of their pioneers, but the legacy will live on…

Community Action has lost one of their pioneers, Mr. Daryl Mack Andrews, CCAP, 81, living in Neosho, MO passed away April 27, 2016 at his home. He served in the U.S. Army for 2 years from 1952 to 1954. After his service, he attended Pittsburg State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree. This is when he started his career with Community Action and this thing called “The War on Poverty.” Within six months of his hire date, he became the CEO of Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Area (ESC) from 1966 to 1999, for 33 years.

You may not even know anything about Daryl Andrews and his leadership of Missouri and Community Action. But, if you live and breathe “The Community Action Promise,” than you should know someone who embodied “The Promise,” before it was even written.

Working together with the early leadership of Missouri, E.C. Walker, Executive Director of Northwest Missouri Community Action Agency (Maryville), Bill Young, Executive Director of Ozark Action (West Plains), Charles Braithwait, Executive Director of West Central Community Action Agency (Appleton City), Charles McCann, Missouri Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Unit Director and Don Warren, Executive Director of Green Hills Community Action Agency (Trenton), {referred to as “the Missouri boys” in Community Action circle.} This group of warriors took the Community Action movement and raised the bar across Missouri. Others in the nation, often looked to Missouri, when defining what needed to be done. What most people working in Community Action don’t realize is these were volatile times, during the early years, Board of Director’s meetings could turn into rough situations, in some cases literally fights broke out. These were very emotional years where major decisions were being made about funding for every county in Missouri. Think about it…seniors…Youth Services…Energy…Food Stamps….Healthcare..and employment and training.

Mr. Andrews’ leadership included: being the first Missouri Association of Community Action (MACA) President in 1974, leading the Missouri Community Action Directors as the President and Vice President (several times he held these positions throughout his tenure), The National Association for Community Action Association’s (now it is referred to as Community Action Partnership) Region VII, President, Instrumental in leading the development of the Crosslines Joplin, directed the organization and opening of ALL of the Senior Nutrition Centers in Southwest Missouri. In 1966, the early days on the War on Poverty, he locally led the charge with a variety of new opportunities to help families and individuals become self-sufficient: Summer Head Start, Neighborhood Youth Corp, hosted a number of VISTA staffers from all over the country. In 1974, supporting and organizing with “the Missouri boys” the National Community Action Foundation (NCAF), knowing that Community Action needed to have a voice in Washington D.C.. That same year, Family Planning, including a mobile health unit, delivering services out in the community. In 1975, Weatherization came along, later with President Jimmy Carter and the energy crisis, came solar panels. We were ahead of our time. Workforce training, including CETA, Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) all led the way to a strong employment and training opportunities for Southwest Missourians.

Mr. Andrews received the first Charles Braithwait Leadership Award.

Even in marriage, Community Action was part of his new wife’s life, Daryl Andrews and Flora Mae Tadych were married by R. Kermyt Roebuck, Community Action pioneer in St. Joseph, in 1980.

Quotes from the Community Action Leadership across the country:

“I so remember when I first became "one of them" we were young and so filled with passion about what we were doing!” says PatSteiger, CCAP (Retired Iowa Community Action Program (CAP) Director and Past NACAA Board Chair)

“He was a true warrior of the movement.” says Karen Lueck, CCAP (Retired Nebraska CAP Director and Past NACAA Board Officer)

Jim Masters, CCAP, NCRT, Center for Community Futures says of Mr. Andrews “I was the OEO Field Representative for Daryl Andrews in 1967 or 1968. I remember Daryl as an unflappable, thoroughly professional Community Action Agency (CAA) Director and leader. He had a wry sense of humor. And, he “got it” about the big changes needed in American society and he was committed to doing his part.”

“I have no idea about why they were called “the Missouri boys”, because these were strong, tough men. They could take a punch, and give one, too.”

“I think that people had to be involved with “the Missouri boys” for many years in order to be a full-fledged member. Starting a few short years later, Charles McCann, Elaine West and Jeannie Chaffin et. al. were made full members of “the Missouri boys” and that was -- and indeed still is – a high accolade.”

“Because I moved to New York City in 1970, I probably was not around long enough to obtain full membership, but as a member of The Missouri Boy’s Admiring Auxiliary, I am still in awe of all of you.”

“There is no better testament to a leader than for their people and agency to be strong and successful. Daryl did a great job of passing the torch. One is a lucky person to be raised up in the Missouri CAA Network!” says Jeannie Chaffin, CCAP (Director of Office of Community Services {OCS}, Past Missouri CSBG Unit Director, Past OACAC Community Services Block Grant Director)

“Daryl's leadership was so vital to the success of ESC as well as MACA. Our network is one to be proud of. I feel like Charles, Daryl, Bill and others continue to watch over us as very important decisions are made for future of the Missouri network,” says Elaine West (Retired Missouri Association for Community Action (MACA) Agencies Executive Director)

“While Community Action flourished throughout the country, Missouri and Region VII served as the epicenter from which so many others gained their energy and inspiration. And the process continues….They will be sorely missed but their legacy remains,” says JohnBuckstead, CCAP (Past Region VII OEO Staff Director)

“Daryl was a good person and a good Community Action person. His agency was conspicuous in the depth of leadership he assembled, and many of those leaders are still in Community Action. During the Howard Phillips Days, when E. C. Walker and Charles Braithwait were travelling around the country getting support for the lawsuit, Daryl was the one who made sure everything Missouri held together,” says Charles McCann, CCAP (National CCAP Commissioner and Past Missouri CSBG Unit Director)

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