Lou Rawls to Receive Honorary Doctorate

Wednesday, August 25th 2004, 10:37 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Grammy-winning singer Lou Rawls, who has helped raise more than $200 million for the United Negro College Fund, is getting an honorary doctorate from Wilberforce University in Ohio.

Rawls will be honored Saturday for his ``lifelong service to the education of historically disadvantaged populations.'' The presentation will be made during a concert performance at nearby Fraze Pavilion in Kettering, Ohio.

``Although I never went to college, I've been extremely fortunate to receive a number of honorary doctorates. It always gives me a feeling of accomplishment to know that I've been able to help others,'' he said this week.

Rawls, whose hits include ``Love Is a Hurtin' Thing,'' ``Dead End Street,'' ``A Natural Man'' and ``You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine,'' launched the annual United Negro College Fund telethon in 1980.

``A woman recently came up to me and said, `Thank you. You made my grandson the first college grad in our family.' This honor makes me realize that I am continuing to be successful in my endeavors to give something back. That makes it all worth it,'' the 68-year-old singer said.