SIOUX CITY - The 2010 Human Rights Awards will be presented Friday to a retired educator who was a longtime member of the Human Rights Commission and a bilingual therapist who also helps sexual assault victims.

Karen Mackey, executive director of the commission, announced Wednesday the awards will be presented to Royce Barnum and Meg Bessman-Quintero. The presentation will take place at 11:30 a.m. in City Council chambers.

Barnum taught in the Sioux City Community School District for 35 years. He retired in 1994 from East High School. He wrote and taught the first curriculum for minority cultures in 1973 and used innovative ideas to teach his students, Mackey said.

"He has been a dedicated and tireless advocate for civil and human rights in both his professional and volunteer capacities," Mackey said.

Barnum served on the Human Rights Commission on and off since 1974, and was chairman for a number of years.

In 1990, Bessman-Quintero moved to Sioux City after serving in the Peace Corps in Ecuador for three years.

Through her work at Catholic Charities as a bilingual therapist, Mackey said she has provided support to the Latino community. She has helped them with complex immigration issues and work through the legal and social service systems.

She has become "a tireless advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault," particularly immigrant women, Mackey noted.
By Lynn Zerschlinglzerschling, Sioux City Journal

Everyone who was fortunate to have Mr. Barnum for English will be pleased to see this acknowlegement of his character.  I believe that we were his very first class after graduating from college.  He had great humor and could relate to all of the kids so well.  My favorite memory of him is the day I put baby chickens in his desk drawer before class as a practical joke.  My friend Preston Hayes acquired the little chirpers for me from Hill Hatchery.  Mr Barnum was such a great sport!  He also introduced us to chocolate ants !  His favorite name for me was "Lenore" - aka the Poe poem "Nevermore".  He had us loving Edgar Allen Poe !!  If you'll recall, Mr. Barnum was our Honorary Guest at the 40th Class Reunion in 2001.

The one thing that I got from Royce was, to speak cleanly and don't be afraid to pause as you speak. It was better to pause than to throw in a bunch of a-a-a-a-a's and er's and I-I-I-I's and ah's to fill in as your brain was trying to think between phrases. That alone really helped me during my working career. THANKS ROYCE for helping me and so many others.