More changes possible at King Center, including expansion of board

By Shelia M. Poole and Ernie Suggs

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The King Center board of trustees has asked Houston attorney Terry M. Giles to step in as custodian of the nonprofit corporation established to promote the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

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Phil Skinner, pskinner@ajc.com Martin Luther King III was removed as CEO of the King Center and then resigned at president.

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Giles said an application has to been made to Fulton County Superior Court but no action has been taken as yet. He said the custodianship would be temporary -- lasting just a few months.

The move, made Thursday, is the latest in a series of changes at the King Center.

Earlier this month, the seven-person board, which consists mainly of family members, removed King's eldest son as CEO and replaced him with his sister, Bernice King. Shortly thereafter, Martin Luther King III resigned as president, citing philosophical differences with the approach the board was taking concerning the center and the for-profit King Inc.

Giles said plans also call for the expansion of the board to 15 members. It will include some former board members, whom he declined to identify. He also said the board wants to improve programs at the Atlanta center and supports a project to digitize the center’s valuable archives, some of which became available online earlier this month on the national holiday honoring King.