St. Joseph Black Archives to induct three Hall of Fame honorees during 2026 ceremony
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph Black Archives, a division of the St. Joseph Museums, announced it will honor three inductees at its Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
This year, Julie Vaughn, Doyle Irvin, Jr. and posthumous inductee Georgia Tivis will be in the spotlight.
The organization said this year's honorees represent extraordinary dedication to community service, civic engagement, military service and the advancement of African American history in Northwest Missouri.
The ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the Black Archives Museum, located at 3406 Frederick Ave.
Julie Vaughn is a lifelong resident of St. Joseph and has devoted her life to service, leadership and community wellness.
As the seventh of nine children, Vaughn learned the values of sharing, responsibility and helping others early on.
Vaughn built a career in mental health, earning a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation with a minor is Psycology an achieved recognition as the 1987 Employee of the Year for the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
She holds decades of service under her belt, with both the state and Mosaic Life Care.
Vaughn has also served as President of the Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center Auxiliary Board, Mosaic Life Care Auxiliary Board, and currently leads the local NAACP.
She continues to serve as a church trustee, Sunday School teacher, and usher, believing firmly in service as a calling and a responsibility.
Doyle Irvin, Jr., is a 1987 graduate of Lafayette High School and has spent his life uplifting others through creativity, mentorship and community generosity.
Irvin, Jr., served two years in the Navy and returned home with a passion for art, family and service.
He began cutting hair in high school and earned his cosmetology license in 1999, joining Tanner's, where he's worked for 27 years.
Irvin, Jr., is not only known for his skills as a barber but also for his commitment to giving back.
He organized an annual free back-to-school haircut and supply giveaway for four years, donated shoes to local students and volunteers in area schools.
Posthumous inductee Georgis Trivis was born in St. Joseph and attended Bartlett High School. She lived most of her life in western Missouri and also served her country.
After graduating from Lincoln University and working as a maid, she enlisted in the Women's Army Corps during World War II.
From 1942 to 1948, Tivis served in the historic 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female battalion deployed overseas during the war.
The 6888th played a critical role in clearing massive backlogs of wartime mail, boosting morale for millions of American service members.
After the war, Tivis continued her career in federal service. Her induction honors both her personal achievements and the broader legacy of the 6888th, whose contributions were overlooked for decades but remain vital to American military history.
