'He just served': Scotch Plains to rename middle school after Tuskegee Airman - My Central Jersey

SCOTCH PLAINS – Malcolm E. Nettingham, a Tuskegee Airman, let his actions speak louder than his words.

So the renaming of his former high school, most recently known as Park Middle School, to Malcolm E. Nettingham Middle School, during a Veterans Day ceremony on Thursday, would have been beyond his imagination, according to his son, Malcolm V. Nettingham.

"My father hardly ever spoke about his military career and being a Tuskegee Airman. It was only after 2007 that he started speaking about his experience." said Nettingham, adding his father, who died last year at age 101, explained segregation was a way of life at that time. "My dad did a lot of things, but he was never outspoken, he just did things, he just acted."

Nettingham said his father was a master mason and worked on the revitalization of the Jerseyland Park Community Center in Scotch Plains and on urban renewal, but never spoke much about it.

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"He just served his country, he served his church, he served his community. He just served, that's how he was," said Nettingham, who was joined at the event by his sister, Deborah.

Deborah Nettingham said her father lived by the six principles of aim high, believe in yourself, use your brain, be ready to go, never quit and expect the win.

"I'm honored, overjoyed, proud and very excited about Malcolm E. Nettingham Middle School, that's a fact," she said.

Together, the Nettingham siblings cut the ribbon unveiling the school’s new name.

The Scotch...

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