President David Gatling, Sr.
Mr. David T. Gatling, Sr. begins a two-year term as president of the NAACP Washington PA Branch on Sunday, January 15, 2023. Mr. Gatling looks forward to leading the NAACP’s growth in health, education, youth engagement, and voting rights.
In 2015, the League of Women Voters of Washington County honored Mr. Gatling for increasing voter registration and participation. He also received the 2015 Social Justice Award from the Academy of Adolescent Health, Inc. in recognition of his community advocacy. Mr. Gatling also received the 2012 Outstanding Volunteer from the Highland Ridge Community Development Corporation and served as its vice president. He received the NAACP Washington PA Branch service award in 2013.
Mr. Gatling is a semi-retired steelworker, previously the NAACP Washington PA Branch vice president and chair of its political action and legal redress committees. He chose to join the NAACP and participate in its leadership during the last twelve years, inspired by the guidance of past local chapter presidents Dean Ellis and Robert Griffin and his life experience as an African American. He currently sits on the City of Washington Zoning Board.
Mr. Gatling was formerly employed at the LeMoyne Community Center under the direction of Joyce Ellis and worked for the Washington Health System Teen Outreach Academy for Adolescent Health as the administrator of its Educate Children for Health Outcomes (ECHO) program under director Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski.
Born on July 23, 1966, in Washington, PA, Mr. Gatling is a homeowner, graduate of Washington High School, and life-long resident of the City of Washington. A former Washington High School athlete, he volunteered as a youth athletics coach in Washington for fifteen years. He is the husband of Tara Sparks-Gatling, president of the Washington PA School District Board of Directors, father of 5 children, and grandparent of three school-aged children.