Meet the Author - The Story of an Original Tuskegee Pilot

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Educator . Historian . Author .

It is my hope that in telling his story and through it, the story of other Tuskegee Airmen, we will all be reminded to renew our fight to advance these time-weathered goals which are enshrined in our Constitution.

– Tuskegee Airmen WWIi Fighter Pilots by Dr. Patrick Coggins

The Story of

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Dr. Patrick Coggins, Distinguished Professor at Stetson University in Multicultural Education, African and African American History, and Cultural Competence in all populations. He is a native of Georgetown, Guyana, and has worked on the Florida Commissioner of Education African American History Task Force and the Holocaust Education Task Force.

He has worked closely with members of the 99th Pursuit Squadron and helped to document their stories, including a biography of Lt. Colonel Hiram E. Mann, a decorated WWII Tuskegee Pilot. Each year, Dr. Coggins provides a free lecture at the DeLand City Library in the Tuskegee Pilots. He believes that the efforts of these Tuskegee Airmen influenced President Truman in 1948 to issue Executive Order 9981, which integrated the military. This then provided equal opportunities for all military personnel regardless of race or gender.

Dr. Coggins co-founded the nationally acclaimed “Project Harmony,” which trained over 25,000 youths to positively deal with racial violence in public schools. He received the 2004 Florida Education Association Mary McLeod-Bethune Human Relations and Civil Rights Award, was nominated for the 2005 Onyx Magazine Award, and received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Arkansas for his contributions to the Addictions field in 2004. Lastly, Dr. Coggins was honored on March 24, 2024, in The New York Times Book Review.

Professor Patrick Coggins, PhD, Receives Community Hero Award

On Nov. 9, for all he gives to others and his community, Coggins was awarded the 2023 Cecil Paul and Marie Jones Community Hero Award by The House Next Door in DeLand.
“The recipient of the Cecil Paul and Maria Jones Community Hero Award must have demonstrated over a significant period of time, dedication to the promotion of nurturing and empowering families in our community, combined with a strong sense of civic duty,” explained Jennifer Nadelkov, CEO of The House Next Door, in her remarks at the award ceremony. “Patrick Coggins has had a hand in countless great initiatives and community improvements in his lifetime.”

Nadelkov added that Coggins is a distinguished professor and author whose influence extends far beyond academic dimension.
“Being a South American has underscored his perspective that society must ensure that all individuals are provided with adequate education and opportunities to pursue a successful life wherever they choose to live and work,” Nadelkov commented. “Professionally, he focuses on the integration of substance abuse and other clients from a cultural perspective and cultural diversity training for counselors, administrators and policymakers in medical, human and other services.”

‘Always Volunteering’
“Patrick is always volunteering in the community,” said Kathy Piechura-Couture, PhD, professor of Education. “He cares about his community and often quietly supports others. He is a quiet force that is always working for the betterment of the community.”

Coggins has dedicated numerous volunteer hours for a myriad of organizations, including being past-vice chair of the Florida Commissioner of Education African American Studies Task Force and current member of the Florida Commissioner of Education Holocaust Education Task Force. He has served on the board for St. Peter’s Catholic Church, the YMCA, the Knights of Columbus and the DeLand Breakfast Rotary. Also, he is a past board member of The House Next Door. And that’s only a sampling of his past and present involvements.

“As a fellow Rotarian, one of my favorite things about Dr. Coggins is that he lives our motto, ‘Service Above Self,’” added Nadelkov. “I’ve spent countless hours working alongside him in various ways volunteering for the DeLand community. He takes great pride in serving his community.”
The Cecil Paul and Maria Jones Community Hero Award was created six years ago in recognition of Paul and Maria Jones, who have dedicated decades of volunteer hours meeting the community’s needs, and have been steadfast supporters of The House Next Door.

-Trish Wieland

Lt. Col. Hiram E. Mann

Lieutenant Colonel Hiram Mann (1921–2014) was an American hero whose life embodied courage, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to service. A member of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, Mann broke racial barriers during World War II as one of the pioneering African American military aviators who forever changed the history of the United States Armed Forces. Flying forty-eight combat missions over Europe with the famed 332nd Fighter Group—better known as the “Red Tails”—he helped redefine what was possible through skill, determination, and extraordinary bravery.

Mann’s path to the cockpit was marked by perseverance. Initially rejected because he was Black, married, and lacked the required years of college education, he refused to give up on his dream of becoming a military pilot. His determination ultimately earned him his wings in 1944, launching a distinguished career that spanned more than two decades in the United States Air Force. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel and later completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, demonstrating his lifelong belief in the power of education and personal growth.

Beyond his remarkable military achievements, Hiram Mann was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and mentor. He shared a loving marriage of more than seventy-one years with his wife, Kathadaza “Kitty” Mann, whom he affectionately honored by naming his beloved fighter aircraft after her. Their enduring partnership stood as a testament to love, resilience, and mutual support throughout the challenges of war and military life. Together they built a family that remained the center of his life and his proudest accomplishment.
In retirement, Mann dedicated himself to ensuring that the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen would never be forgotten. He spoke at schools, universities, museums, and military events across the country, inspiring young people with his message of perseverance, education, and service. His story became a bridge between generations, reminding audiences that character, determination, and integrity can overcome even the greatest obstacles.

Hiram Mann’s legacy extends far beyond the skies he once defended. He is remembered not only as a decorated combat pilot and trailblazing Air Force officer, but also as a humble family man, an educator through storytelling, and an enduring symbol of courage in the face of adversity. His life continues to inspire readers to pursue excellence, confront injustice with dignity, and leave a legacy of service for generations to come.

OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY.

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Educator . Historian . Author .

It is my hope that in telling his story and through it, the story of other Tuskegee Airmen, we will all be reminded to renew our fight to advance these time-weathered goals which are enshrined in our Constitution.

– Tuskegee Airmen WWIi Fighter Pilots by Dr. Patrick Coggins

The Story of

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https://www2.stetson.edu/today/2023/12/professor-patrick-coggins-phd-receives-community-hero-award

Lt. Col. Hiram E. Mann

OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY.

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Lt. Col. Hiram E. Mann

Dr. Patrick C. Coggins