The following Fort Des Moines Museum project officers are available as event speakers or lecturers for a negotiated fee and expenses.

Dr. James E. Bowman is one of the founding members of the Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center’s board of directors. He was a World War Two “Tuskegee Airman” in 1945. He trained at Tuskegee and survived a crash of his P-47N airplane into a snake swamp. He served at various Army Air Corps bases in the South. After the service, he graduated from Drake University, later Dr. Bowman became the Assistant Superintendent of the Greater Des Moines Public Schools. He has lectured nation-wide on multi-cultural educational issues, black history and his experiences as a “Tuskegee Airman.”

Caesar Smith, Sr. is Co-Executive Director of the Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center. Caesar is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant in human resource's development. Caesar is the 2001 District 19 - 1st place International Toast Master Speech Contest winner.

Caesar retired as a Major after a 20 - year career with the United States Army, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam. Receiving 3 bronze stars, 3 army commendation medals, 2 meritorious service medals, the Good Conduct medal, Combat Infantry Badge and Senior Parachutist Wings. He was appointed professor of Military Science at Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA, and was the first EEO Officer for the United States Army Recruiting Command.
 
An Iowa native, Urbandale, Iowa resident, Caesar is a graduate of the University of Nebraska in Omaha.

William S. Morris, Esq.
Director and Military Historian

William Stephen Morris joined the memorial park project’s original board of directors in 1997 and has served throughout its existence. A partner in one of America’s oldest black law firms founded in 1919 by his grandfather James B. Morris, Sr. (see above), he is the author of numerous essays on black military history. A graduate of the University of Iowa (BA&JD), Morris has lectured nation-wide on civil rights law and black military history.