2013 IPS Damen Award Winner Jimmie L. Flewellen, Sr., MPS ’83

IPS Damen Award Recipient 2013

Named for Loyola University Chicago’s primary founder, Arnold Damen, S.J., this award is granted to an alumnus(a) from each of Loyola’s schools and colleges.  It recognizes the qualities of leadership in industry, leadership in community, and service to others.  This year IPS is proud and pleased to announce that Father Garanzini will bestow this award upon

MR. JIMMIE FLEWELLEN 

Jimmie L. Flewellen, Sr. is a native of Columbus, Georgia, born in 1926.   He completed high school in Columbus and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1945.  After his service he married and moved to Chicago.  He converted to the Roman Catholic faith in 1960. In 1970 he joined the training program for Permanent Deacons in the Archdiocese of Chicago, and was ordained a deacon as a member of the first class, in 1972.  He began service in his home parish, St. Thaddeus, a ministry he continued for 34 years.  In 1985, he was appointed a Catholic Chaplain for the United States Justice Department.  In this appointment he was the first African American Catholic Chaplain in the History of the United States.  He served as prison chaplain in Springfield, Missouri from 1985 to 1993.  In 1993 he was transferred to the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago as its Head Chaplain.  He held that position for nine years, until his retirement.  Deacon Flewellen received a Master of Pastoral Studies in 1983.  This award will be presented at Founders’ Day, June 8, 2013.