Derrick Lee Foward (born April 26, 1968) is an American civil rights activist serving as the 34th president of the Dayton Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 2007. He has also served as vice president (2019–present); 2nd vice president (2017–2019); 3rd vice president (2009–2017); and Executive Committee Member (2003–2009) of the Ohio Conference NAACP. Foward also serves on the NAACP National Life Membership Committee and has served as the chair of the NAACP National Credentials Committee for many years. He won the NAACP Image Award for Activist of the Year in 2023.
Early life and education Foward was born in Kettering, Ohio, and, along with his brother and four sisters, were raised in the black middle-class community of Jefferson Township, Montgomery County, Ohio. His father served in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged after his tour of duty. His father then became a police officer in the community where his family lived and retired from the Defense Supply Center, Columbus (DESC) after nearly 40 years of federal service. His mother retired from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) with over 34 years of federal service.
Foward graduated from Christ Temple Christian School as class valedictorian. He was the leader on the Christ Temple Warriors basketball team, averaging 34.7 points a game in his junior year. He had a severe speech impediment as a child and through young adulthood. Family members, friends and foes laughed and talked about how bad he stuttered which caused aggression and anger issues. The faith Foward embodied as a member of Christ Temple Apostolic Faith Church and the leadership roles he served in while at Speedway and the NAACP, assisted him with overcoming his disability.
He graduated from Central State University on June 17, 1990, and was inducted into the Central State University Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame on March 1, 2016.
Foward then received his Master's of Administration and Organization from International Apostolic University of Grace and Truth on July 13, 2002, and was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters on September 30, 2018.
Personal life Foward was married to Jean Ann Foward for over 20 years until her death from cancer on April 11, 2019. They were together for over 30 years and have two sons, two daughters, three grandchildren and three godchildren.
Foward then married Tiwona L. Branham on June 17, 2023, four months after he proposed to her in Pasadena, California after he received the NAACP Image Award for Activist of the Year. Foward credits her with the renewal of his interest to move forward with the second chapter of his life. She brought to this union, one son.
Professional career Foward began his career with Emro Marketing Company, now 7-Eleven, Inc., on March 1, 1993. He retired with more than 28 years of service on October 15, 2021. Foward served as a Store Manager, District Manager, Associate Category Manager (Cigarettes), Food Service Sales Rep., Facility Income Sales Coordinator, Associate Category Manager (Services), Fleet Relations Rep., Account Management Rep. and retired as a Program Manager.
Dayton City Commission In 2003, Foward sought the endorsement of the Montgomery County Democratic Party for Dayton City Commissioner, but withdrew his name as a candidate after he did not receive the endorsement.
Ohio House of Representatives In February 2002, while State Rep. Dixie Allen was considering a run for the Ohio Senate, Foward petitioned to run for her 39th House District of Ohio seat. Former State Rep. Tom Roberts was chosen by the Ohio Senate Democratics to fill the unexpired term of Senator Rhine McLin, so Foward withdrew his name as a candidate in the May 2002 Primary after the Montgomery County Democratic Party endorsed Allen for the House Seat she currently held.
In September 2019, Foward petitioned to run for the 39th House District of Ohio. Current State Rep. Fred Strahorn said he would endorse Foward for his seat, however many well-known leaders of the Montgomery County Democratic Party got behind Willis Blackshear Jr., as his father, the late Willis E. Blackshear Sr., a longtime Montgomery County Recorder, had recently died from cancer.
In October 2023, Foward petitioned to run for the 38th House District of Ohio. This seat is currently held by Rep. Willis Blackshear Jr., who is seeking the office of Ohio State Senator.
On January 6, 2024, Foward announced that he is seeking the Office of State Representative for the 38th House District of Ohio. In March, during the Ohio Primary Election, his opponent Desiree Tims won the election. He congratulated Tims on her successful campaign and advised that he would support her in the days ahead.
Electoral history Election resultsYearOfficeElectionVotes for Foward%OpponentPartyVotes%2024Ohio House of RepresentativesPrimary2,41328.27%Desiree TimsDemocratic6,12271.73%
NAACP In September 2008, Foward called upon the FBI to investigate a firebombing at the home of Saundra Ballard, a Black female residing in Jefferson Township, after the son of Earl McLearran set her house on fire while he was in jail on ethnic intimidation charges.
In March 2010, under the leadership of Foward, the Dayton Unit NAACP hosted a forum to educate parolees about how to access job opportunities, case management and drug rehab services. That same year, he led a group of Daytonians on a trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the 10-2-10 March on Washington.
In 2011, Foward spoke out against subtle racism in the workplace and the lack of promotional opportunities made available to Black people. He said this type of racism contributes greatly to the wealth gap in America. That same year, Foward called upon the FBI to investigate the death of Kylen English, who allegedly broke out of a Dayton Police car window and jumped over a bridge to his death.
In July 2012, Joseph Ross filed a complaint with the Dayton Unit NAACP after being greeted at a Motel 6 in Sharonville, Ohio, with the words "Hello Nigger" on the screen of his TV in his room. Foward conducted a full and complete investigation into the case and was able to reach a settlement agreement with Motel 6 for an undisclosed amount.
In 2013, under the leadership Foward, the Dayton Unit NAACP led another group of Daytonians on a trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington.
In 2014, in his role as a State Officer of the Ohio Conference NAACP, Foward held an organizational meeting to start the process of reorganizing the Lima NAACP. On June 27, 2014, Foward applauded the action of the executive director of the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority to fire RTA bus driver Rickey Waggoner who lied about being shot by 3 black boys, and condemned the prosecutor's actions not to pursue charges. On September 24, 2014, Foward urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Ohio attorney general Mike DeWine to investigate the shooting death of John Crawford III at the hands of a Beavercreek Police Officer at the Walmart in Beavercreek, Ohio. Foward also met with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown to seek his support.
In July 2015, the Dayton Unit NAACP launched a petition drive to oppose the Dayton Together Initiative for a City/County Merger. Foward led a group of community leaders to oppose the merger which would have disenfranchised over 140,000 residents of the city of Dayton. In September 2015, Foward successfully negotiated a settlement agreement with the Kettering City School District to ban the flying of Confederate Flags on school property and to implement diversity training throughout the district.
In February 2016, Foward was responsible for the chartering of the first NAACP High School Chapter in the State of Ohio. He paid for the first 25 charter members of the organization. The Move Foward Thurgood Marshall NAACP High Chapter was named after Foward and Thurgood Marshall for their Civil Rights work locally and nationally respectively. In March 2016, Foward urged Jefferson Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, Board of Trustees to fire Jeffrey Jones, firefighter for Jefferson Township, for racist remarks he made on Facebook regarding a commercial Foward was in with the owner of SVG Motors. The commercial in part focused on the fact that the Oscars did not have any African Americas nominated for any awards. Jones eventually resigned from his job days before he was to have a hearing.
In September 2017, Foward demanded the Franklin Township, Warren County, Ohio, Board of Trustees to fire Tyler Roysdon, a firefighter for Franklin Township, for racist remarks he made on Facebook. Roysdon was suspended indefinitely, and later resigned from his job.
In January 2018, the Dayton Unit NAACP hosted a Town Hall to hear from residents, educators, business leaders and parents, about the proposed Dayton Public School closures. Foward shared those concerns at the February 2018 DPS Board Meeting and urged members of the DPS School Board not to close any of the 9 proposed sites. That same month, Foward led a press conference, along with local pastors, to announce a community meeting that will be held with Premier Health executives and citizens of Dayton to address the impact the closing of Good Samaritan Hospital on the residents of Northwest Dayton. Foward urged Premier to reconsider their position to close the hospital.
In January 2019, Foward spoke before the Miamisburg City School District Board of Education and demanded swift action to be taken after the child of a client of the Dayton Unit NAACP was called racial slurs and ultimately assaulted by another student at Miamisburg Middle School. Foward called upon the district to implement a district-wide diversity training program. In May 2019, under the leadership of Foward, the Dayton Unit NAACP organized 3 days of events to divert people's attention away from the planned visit of the Honorable Sacred Knights from Indiana KKK.
In February 2020, Foward demanded that an employee of H&L Market be fired due to calling the organization's client the N-Word. Foward also negotiated a settlement agreement with the store which included cultural competency training for the staff, donations to community centers, community outreach and posting a public return policy in the store.
In March 2020, Foward met with Patricia Trammell, Building Management Committee Clerk for the American Friends Service Committee, along with another committee member, to discuss the possibility of the AFSC donating their Dayton, Ohio, office to the Dayton Unit NAACP.
In the wake of George Floyd's murder, the Jewish community sought guidance and direction from Foward on how to deal with racism in America. They sought his advice as Rabbi David Lefkowitz was one of the founding members of the Dayton Unit NAACP back in 1915. In addition, Foward worked with over 20 law enforcement agencies throughout Montgomery County, Ohio, to implement an 8-point strategy on criminal justice reform and police accountability. The Montgomery County Association of Chiefs of Police supported the strategy.
On November 1, 2020, the Dayton Unit NAACP officially moved into what is now known as the NAACP Dayton Headquarters located at 915 Salem Ave. The building was constructed in 1918 and had been owned by the American Friends Service Committee since 1964. Foward had negotiated with the AFSC leadership team in April 2020 to secure funding for capital improvement projects such as a new roof. In addition, Foward worked with the Montgomery County Land Bank to acquire the adjacent property at 911 Salem Ave. to construct a new parking lot for its clients and office volunteers.
That same month, Foward implemented a free turkey distribution service to help defray cost associated with the Thanksgiving holiday.