Twenty-five years. Names that held and still hold weight. One standard of excellence. And it all started with a vision.
That vision belongs to Joseph “Joe” Carlos III, a former Maroon Tiger sports editor and a 2004 Morehouse graduate who saw more than student success. He saw the importance of documenting legacy.
He went on to create and publish the first Man of the Year issue, establishing what would become one of The Maroon Tiger’s signature traditions.
“I started it in 1998 with something called the power list,” Carlos said. “I was sports editor, but we were 0–11 that year in football. Basketball was off to a slow start. So, I was interested in making a list of the 10 most powerful students on campus.”
What began as a simple list quickly evolved into something larger. By the fall of 2000, Carlos transformed it into Men of Distinction. Looking to expand it further, he approached then-editor-in-chief Shaun Spearmon ’01.
Spearmon’s response was simple: “Sure, you figure it out.”
“Sean said, ‘You do your thing,’ and so I was greatly influenced by the Hollywood issue of Vanity Fair every year,” Carlos said. “They had all these categories for people working in Hollywood, and it had beautiful pictures. The idea was to bring that same type of art to The Maroon Tiger.”
But Man of the Year carries a deeper purpose than photos and biographies. Carlos’s mission was to ensure that the college recognized students who were pillars of the community.
“I felt that at Morehouse at the time, we were doing a lot to talk about or to discuss events that happened in a moment,” Carlos said. “And to me, I thought there should be a greater exploration or, at the very least, shed a light on those who are doing outstanding work throughout the year.”
Carlos created distinct categories to recognize different types of excellence. The categories included Hall of Fame, Old Guard, New Guard, New Kids, Pioneers, Clique, Style, and Excellence.
He said the original Power List was not enough, as students were excelling across multiple areas. One of his priorities was ensuring that he represented “a variety of students.”
But it would not be The Maroon Tiger—or Carlos—without a competitive edge.
“I think it was time for us to elevate the way we thought about ourselves, instead of just doing it in a way that we saw other schools doing it and do it in a way that no one else was doing it,” Carlos said. “But whatever we did, that was the straw that stirred the drink.”
Carlos said part of the motivation was shedding light on the great work of the Men of Morehouse while also continuing to set a standard that stood above the rest.
A lasting impact
Today, Man of the Year remains one of The Maroon Tiger’s most anticipated annual features, highlighting students across disciplines and continuing to define what excellence looks like.
“It truly is an unbelievable honor. Everything that I’ve done at Morehouse, it wasn’t for the goal of getting an award like this, but it is so amazing to me to see my work be appreciated,” said Jeremiah Lowther, a senior nominated for the Advocates category this year.
Over the years, the feature has highlighted Morehouse men such as Randall Woodfin ’03, Geoff Bennett ’02, and most recently Rollin Jackson Jr. ’25, the former Student Government Association president, all of whom have gone on to lead and impact communities beyond the college gates.
Growth and responsibility
For Carlos, those outcomes reflect something larger.
Looking back on 25 years, Carlos—now back at Morehouse as Director of Alumni Engagement, Programming, and Events—said that while he does not agree with every change the magazine has undergone, he understands that evolution is part of its growth. He added that he is proud of what Man of the Year has become.
“You look at the first Super Bowl picture at the coin flip, there were four people around the captains,” Carlos said. “You look at the coin flip now—there are 50 cameras everywhere. It evolved, right?”
“It’s like you plant a seed and come back—like, dang, that’s the tree,” Carlos said.
Even with that growth, Carlos believes responsibility remains at the core. When asked what role The Maroon Tiger holds today, he emphasized the importance of fairness and intention.
“Take the time to be as open-minded as possible when reading nominations, when making selections, and taking any personal feelings out of the equation,” Carlos said.
A quarter-century after its creation, Man of the Year continues to evolve, still rooted in the same vision that ensures the stories of Morehouse and Spelman are not only told but remembered.
