Community News

TwiliteZone.com—It’s difficult to think of 1955 BTW without thinking of a couple of my favorite people, John Hightower and Philmore Polk. I always talk trash about how both of them had to guard me in a basketball game when I played for Aldine Carver. John, who later became a Black pioneer in the real estate business, usually counters by reminding me that he was a 5’7” 16-year-old freshman and I was 19-year-old senior (playing bogus) at the time. John, however, became a dominating big man by the time he graduated and was recruited by PVAMU’s legendary coach, Leroy Moore. Philmore, who was a sophomore at the time, later became a super salesman and made history by becoming the first Black representative for Rainbow Bread. The dynamic duo has remained. Polk talked Rainbow into giving John his job when he was drafted into the Army. Thus, it won’t surprise anybody if Polk shows up at BTW’s class of 1955’s 50th Reunion, in 2005 August, although he’s a 1954 grad. Meanwhile, Jacqueline Whiting Bostic is asking that all 1955 BTW grads contact her @ (832) 687-1755. …It was surprising to learn that my former co-worker and fellow journalist Ed Wendt had lost his long, hard fought battle with cancerous Hepatitis C, which resulted in a liver transplant. Ed and I had many a verbal clash over the three decades we worked (on and off) together. Even threaten to kill him once, but he still called me regularly to lament his woes. The late, great Varee Shields, Jr. hired Ed as a freelance writer, when he was For-., ward Times’ managing editor (with the blessing of publisher Lenora “Doll” Carter), who Ed grew to love like family. I had inherited Ed when I came out of retirement in 1986 to serve as interim managing editor after Varee left FT, after 27-years, at the behest of his new wife, who urged him to start his own newspaper (The Houston Flame), serving his Houston Gardens community. Ed worshipped Varee, who treated him like wayward son, but couldn’t get ready for my “don’t mix business with bullshit” work ethic. Hey, the man was the best investigative reporter I’ve ever worked with, but he didn’t always take care of business. And people who don’t take care of business have a problem working with me. I last saw Ed at M. D. Anderson, in December 2004, when I was finally released from my 1988 episode with throat cancer. Ed told me at that time that he thought he was on the way out, but intended to go out fighting. And that he did. So long Ed, you fought the good fight.

LostInSpace—For the first time, in a long time, Juneteenth falls on June 19, but rumor has it the best celebration in town will be the 13th Annual Juneteenth Business Expo Zydeco-Rhythm & Blues Fes-tival 2005, that will be held on June 19th (from 2-8 p.m.), under the big tent on Malonson Company Inc.’s grounds, 6130 Wheatley. The event will feature Ray Parsee & The All-stars Band, with Miss Vanessa in the spotlight; Ray Brown & The Vintage Band and Nooney & The Zydeco Floaters). It will be broadcast live!!! New vendors, who wish to promote their businesses, still have time to secure display space. For further information, please call Sharon Johnson @ (713) 692-7003
MeMories— A complimentary memoriam is due the love ones of Dorothy Mae Shanklin, whose long and fruitful life was celebrated on Oct. 23, 2004, at Fourth MBC, 2710 Webster, with Rev. Walter Houston officiating. Sis. Shanklin was born on Nov. 14, 1928 to Jessie Sr. and Lucille Guy in Galveston, Texas. She attended public schools in Galveston ISD and became a beautician and worked in that profession for over 25-years and later went into Nursing. Doro-thy met and married Clarence Shanklin in 1948. She departed this life on Oct. 19, 2004 and leaves to cherish her memories, her husband of 56-years; a sister, Casey Brown Harris; a brother, Jessie Guy, Jr. and a host of other relatives and friends. Rest in peace Dorothy Mae Shanklin, you will be greatly missed.

GoodNeighbor—AA posthumous Good Neighbor salute and complimentary memoriam is due Barbara Ann Miles, whose very productive life was celebrated at Pleasantville UMC, 1403 DeMaree, on Oct. 30, 2004, with Pastor Minnie Baxter officiating. Mins. Robert Standifer, Rev. Robert Eagleton, Rev. Kirk Baltrip, Cassandra Rodgers, Minnie Hall, and Carolyn Sandifer, from Northwood Manor of Christ participated in the order of service. Active pallbearers were: Darnell Jefferson, Leon Fulton, Jr., Joshua Evans, Wesley Jones, Reginald Grays and Kamarie Miles. Darryl Jefferson, Leon Fulton, Sr., John Miles, Jr., Toran Reynolds, Cedric Rod-gers, Sr., Cedric Rodgers, Jr., Troy Davis, William Jones III, Roy Brown, Simuel Evans, Jr., Paul Rachal and William Jones, Jr. were honorary pallbearers for Barbara, who was the oldest of six born August 10, 1938 in Houston, Texas to the union of John Wesley Miles, Sr. and Pauline Winston Miles. Bar-bara was christened at Sloan Methodist Church and joined Pleasantville UMC. She was a member until she was a young adult. She later joined Watts Chapel and, then moved her membership to St. John Baptist Church where she served on the Usher board until her death. She graduated from Phillis Wheatley, Sr. High School in 1956 and then attended Beauty and Barber School. She was employed by Harris County Hospital District as a health care provider where she recently retired. She was preceded in death by a sister, Paulette Miles. She is survived by her loving mother; her four children, Ronald Eric Miles, Reginald Charles Miles (Yolanda), Regina Ann Miles Fulton (Leon), Ramona Lavern Jefferson (Barnabus); four sisters, Jacqueline Ruth Evans (Simuel), Audrey Dell Jones (William), Beverly Jo Rachal (Paul), and her only brother, John Wesley Miles, Jr. (Karen); twelve grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Well done Good Neighbor Barbara Ann Miles.

HoodWatch—The Northwest Forest community lost a valiant warrior when Rev. Madison Brown passed away on May 16, 2005. Rev. Brown was a watchman on the wall for his community for over four decades and was one of the most outspoken community leaders on issues involving North Forest ISD. A memorial was held for Rev. Brown on May 20, at St. Mark MBC, 5306 Lyons Ave., with Pastor James Glynn officiating. Rev. Brown was buried in Dequincy, Louisiana. Thanks for the memories Rev. Madison Brown. You will be missed…. Marcus Davis, has much more cooking at The Breakfast Klub, 3711 Travis, than his trademark fish and grits, insofar as he has turned his eatery into somewhat of a public forum. Dick Gregory’s daughter, Ayana will be featured on June 10, 20-05. For info. call (713) 528-8561. Ayana also will appear at Miller Theatre on June 11, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. Free face painting by artist Gail Penrice Rogers will be available…. Happy belated birthday to Michael Harris, the host of Person-to-Person talk show that’s aired on KCOH (1430 AM) radio, from 8-11 Mon.-Fri. Harris celebrated number 53 on June 2, 2005…. I recieved a photo of Harvetta Clemons that was so cute until I decided to run it. For sure, the lovely lass is flowering into a beautiful and talented young lady. You go girl! …You have never seen lawyers this animated. More than 70 of Houston's finest legal minds trade in brief cases and suits for capes and boots in "Night Court 2005: Legal Superheroes. The all lawyer musical comedy will be staged at 8 p.m. at the Hobby Center on June 15, June 16, June 17 and June 18. Night Court has been an annual production of the Houston Bar Association (HBA) since 1989, with proceeds benefiting charitable works of the Houston Bar Foundation. It’s very apropos that Judge Jeannine Barr, who conspired to send me to TDCJ, will play the role of “Cruella DeVil.” And flighty Houston City Councilmember Mark Goldberg plays a fly-by-night airline pilot. For info. contact Tim Weltin @ (713) 897-9090….Late: A Cowboy Song, by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize-winner Ms. Sarah Ruhl, will have its world premiere at Stages Repertory Theatre. Ruhl has been praised by the New York Times as "a provocative new theatrical voice," by Theatremania as” a splendid new American playwright," and by Variety as "a playwright with a unique comic voice, perspective and sense of theater." Directed by Stages Artistic Director Rob Bundy, Late: A Cowboy Song runs in Stages' Yeager Theater June 1-19, 2005. For further information please call Elena Coates @ (713) 527-0229 ext. 223…. Our Lady of the Sea Church, 1401 Fidelity Rd., will host their Annual Bazaar on June 11-12, 2005. There will be good food, Bingo, fun rides and entertainment by Nooney & the Zydeco Floaters and Step Rideau & the Zydeco Outlaws. For further info. call (713) 671-0638…. An old fashioned Zydeco celebrating Father’s Day and Juneteenth will be held from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m. on June 11, 2005 at Our Mother Mercy Church, 2010 Benson. Brain Jack & the Zydeco Gamblers will be the feature artists. For info. call (713) 672-0026…. Me-lissa Thibodeaux and the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum will collaborate to hold the first Annual Texas Slave Descendants Symposium on June 17-19, 2005 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Down-own Houston. For info. call (713) 942-8920.

SportsWatch—“Former University of Houston basketball star, Rickie Winslow’s, ROWDY (Rickie O'Neal Winslow Development for Youth) Foundation-- in conjunction with H-E-B supermarkets and Bridging the Digital Divide-- hosted their first annual COMPUTER OLYMPIC CHALLENGE on June 2, 2005 at the Sugar Creek Country Club located at 420 Sugar Creek Blvd. in Sugar Land, Texas. The medal winners appeared at the Theologians Awards Ceremony that was held at the George Brown Convention Center on June 4, 2005. The event was televised nationally. Congrats Rickie and keep up the great work. God is truly blessing you….Freeda George Foreman will host her 2nd Annual Profess-ional Boxing event on June 17, 2005 at Texas Southern University’s H&PE Arena.
If you like a good fight, you don’t want to miss Houston’s Night of Stars II that will feature heavyweight slugger. Third Ward Billy and Jose “Topita” Gutierrez in the USA vs. Texas battles. As al-ways, when it’s time to rumble, Third Ward Billy will be in an unusually hostile mood and if you’ve ever seen Billy throw leather, you surely know what to expect from the time he climbs into the ring, until the final bell rings, or he makes contact with his big right hand. For info., call (713) 629-3700.... Texas Southern University is again sponsoring the Summer Food Service Program and the 36th year of the National Youth Sports Program. Free meals are provided to enrolled children, ages 10 to 16 years, eligible to participate in the program. The National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) will run from June 1, 2005 until July 7, 2005. The program is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are served to participants en-rolled in the program. Persons interested in participating in this free program should call the NYSP Offices at (713) 313-7087 or (713) 313-7621 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

SayWhat?--Dear Editor: In defense of President Fox, in the article Fox issue apology for (Houston Chronicle 5-17-05), that is an issue that needs be addressed. It is my belief that Fox did not intend to make a racial remark. He was probably repeating the incorrect information that he had seen in published materials in this country. That is, immigrants take the jobs that others do not want. But even the article quoted an immigrant carpenter that was closer to the facts of the situation. He said that the Blacks want to earn better wages, and the Mexican because he is illegal takes what they pay him. I might add, in many cases, less than minimum wages and, certainly below the labor market wages/conditions. I have even heard these complaints from Mexican American citizens of this country. This country’s employers and businesses are exploiting the immigrants for cheaper labor. Blacks know about the era of slavery. They have come a long ways and do not intend to go back. - Lenwood E. Johnson.