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Paxton Williams performs a selection of his play about Carver's life, "Listening to the Still Small Voice."

The Fourth Annual Hoover-Wallace Dinner honored the legacy of George Washington Carver and recognized Simpson College, Iowa State University and Tuskegee University for their courageous humanitarian leadership.

The three educational institutions played key roles in Carver's development into one of the great agricultural minds in history.

Iowa Governor Chet Culver delivered the keynote address. Also particpating in the event were Senator Tom Harkin, Represenatative Leonard Boswell, and former Iowa Governors Robert Ray, Terry Branstad and Tom Vilsack. Roughly 550 guests were in attendance.

The evening featured two musical performances by Waterloo jazz artist Effie Burt and a selection of the one-man play "Listening to the Still Small Voice" by Iowa State alum Paxton Williams (shown here).

Born into slavery circa 1864, George Washington Carver would go on to become one of the most important Americans in history. The 2007 Hoover-Wallace Dinner recognized the imperative role that the State of Iowa played in fostering Carver's success.

In 1890, Carver became one of the first African-American students admitted to Simpson College in Indianola. In 1891 he transferred to Iowa Agricultural College (now Iowa State University), where he became the first African-American student, graduate, and faculty member. He then went on to Tuskegee University, where he worked tirelessy to improve living conditions for farmers in the South.