Reba Wooden Diggs - Class of 1950

A year and a half after graduating from Phenix in t 950, Reba Wooden Diggs obtained an Associate Degree in Business Administration and started working as a Supply Officer at the U. S. Navy Department (USN) in Washington. D. C. After working several years for USN and saving the organization significant dollars byrevamping some of their forms and processes for greater efficiency, Reba became Section Chief for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission ... now the, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) ... overseeing a staff of 25 and responsible for compilation of nuclear licensing statistics. She held various positions from the onset of employment to her retirement but the ones she enjoyed the most were Licensing Assistant, Section Chief,Branch Chief and Program Manager. As a Licensing Assistant, Reba worked with nuclear engineers and legal staff reviewing and issuing nuclear plant construction permits and licenses. The positions as Section Chief,Branch Chief and Program Manager enabled her to lead teams or people to accomplish the originating, approving (via the Federal Register process s) the rules and regulations for plant construction and operation and ultimately publishing them. The positions also entailed establishing permit and license fees for nuclear power operations and collecting millions of dollars in fees. During her 34-ycar career of distinguished service at the USNRC, Reba received numerous awards (plaques and dollars). In 1989, she was awarded USNRC's second highest award, the Meritorious Service Award for unusual and sustained excellence in supporting USNRC's license fee program.

Reba not only distinguished herself in her career, but also distinguished herself as a consummate public servant,and unlike her retirement from her career the public servant role is one she continues to fill. Her public service activities started over 60 years ago at the time she became a member of the Brightwood Community Association (when she moved into the area in 1959) and later serving as President and Treasurer for many years. She is still very active and spearheads programs focused on community and individual needs. Reba also served as Treasurer and Vice President [or the D.C. Federation of Civic Associations, Inc. (DCFCA}-the umbrella organization for 46 local civic groups. For 20 years, starting in 1980, Reba was chairman of the Scholarship Committee and is still an active member. In 2000, the DCFCA Scholarship was named the DCFCA Reba M. Diggs Scholarship. Reba was appointed to the governing Board of the 105 year old Phyllis Wheatley Young Women's Christian Association in 1995 and has been Treasurer since 1998. Reba was also President of the 20~member Women's Ministry at Metropolitan Baptist Church. Since becoming a deaconess in 1981, Reba has served in positions of Vice President and President of the Deaconess Board. She is also an active member of the D.C. League of Women's Voters and a volunteer hostess for special events and programs at the Kennedy Center. For her volunteer services, Reba has received numerous recognitions, including a mayoral citation.

Anyone doing just a limited amount of research on Reba would quickly discover that Reba's adult life has been one of dedication to and concern for, family and others. She has balanced her career and service work with travel (visiting every continent except Antarctica), reading and poem writing. Reba and her husband, Raymond have been married over 60 years, are the proud parents of Keith Diggs and Sharon Jenks and grandparents of Quinton Lewis Diggs and Jessica Thomas.