Grapevine, November-December 1976

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Title

eng Grapevine, November-December 1976

Relation

eng Grapevine Magazine

Date

eng 1976-11

Format

eng PDF, 32 pages

Identifier

eng SCMS_gvmz_00050

extracted text

1976

1977

'Pi.t ~eta,
SitJM"'

s.uel-ea,it
{!411,fitfltatu

WALTER SMITH
FRESNO'S LARGEST

MEN'S STORE
TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU
FOR ALL

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JOHN GAROFOLI
1976

485-2564
3

:-fIf

2049 Broadway
Fresno, CA
Grapevine

Special Announcement

MAGAZINE
GRAPEVINE CORP.

The Grapevine Magazine will publish four editions during

Fresno, Calif.
1012 S. Trinity
Phone: 486·0273
or 233·1346

the coming year. Each edition wll feature a special subject start·
ing in February with the Black History edition which will feature
new and informative information concerning the history of Blad<

Vol. 8

No.4

November-December, 1976

people. Each edition will also feature more pages to increase
the magazine's news coverage. Other editions will be published

FRANK J. JOHNSON
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER

in May, August, and November in 1977.

CLEO JOHNSON
ADVERTISING EDITOR

Think Coffee's for Your Gifts -

JERRY C. JOHNSON
DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION

--

MATTIE MEYERS
Staff Writer

The Coffee Label-Ad
Value to the Gift

·······•··· ..

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:
Single
year
order
IO12

copies 50¢; $6.00 per
Send check or money
to Grapevine Magazine,
S. Trinity, Fresno, California 93706.
All rights reserved for material
contained in the publication .

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DOWNTOWN
Grapevi ne

Advertising Rate Card
available upon request

FASHION FAIR
4

BAKERSFIELD

Copyright 1976
by Grapevine Corporation

Education ·····················-··········· 6
Youth ·············-······················---- 7
Black Postmaster ...................... 8
Our Little Miss Pageant ............. 9
People ··············-······················· 10
Travel ...................................... 11
Social Scene ............................ 12
Sports ···-··········· ....................... 13
Former Fresnan ........................ 14
Education .. ........................... ... 14
Library .................................... 15
Sweetheart Candidates .......... 16
Disc Jockey .......... ... . ................ 19
Vice Principal Claims Racism .. 20
Ivy School Band ....... ___ .. .... .. ... 23
Black Poetry __________ _....... ... ....... 24
Christian Uplift ........................ 26
Baby Beauty Pageant .. .......... 30

*****

Photo Credits:
Fresno Bee Pg. 6, 7, 8, 13, 15, 26
California Advocate Pg . 9, 19
Earl Bradley Pg . 12, 16, 17, 18 - Cover

1976
1976

5

Grapevine

Elizabeth Johnston

Rae Mims
New Principals

LOIS

Hams

EDUCATION
Dr. Joe H. Lee, at 34, has become
the highest ranking black in the Fresno
City School system upon being named
assistant
superintendent
of
educational services.
At the same time the school board
ratified 71 promotions ranging from
leadership trainee to associate
superintendent, which included
appointing the first black assistant
superintendent, the first woman high
school principal, three black women
elementary school principals and two
Mexican-Americans as principals .
Lee, a native of Fresno and former
North Avenue Community Center Boy
of the Year, was named as top
educator by the Fresno Jaycees in
1973. He has held positions as acting
principal at two city schools and
served as principal at the Martin
Luther King School.
The
three
black
women
elementary principals are Rae Mims,
I 11 1 Elizabeth Johnston and Lois Harris.
ff f If ff, Ms. Mims will become principal at
' ' ' ' ~~ : Starr School, Ms. Johnston will be
rap evine

6

principal at Columbia and Ms. Harris
will become principal at Martin Luther
King School.
Betty Simpson, a black woman,
was promoted to assistant administration
program planning
development and implementation for
elementary schools .
Marlene Day and Stanley McDonald were promoted to counselor
at Edison High School and Curtis Hurd
was promoted to vice principal at
Lane School.
Fresno Schools Supt. Ger : : A .
Rosander said personnel
: '1els
screened 586 applicants fo ad-:i1
ministrative positions and of ~'.! 71
promotions, 39 are men and 32 are
women . Twenty-three of those
promoted are members of minority
groups.
Blacks included on the recommended list of trainees for district
leadership training are Marvin
Howard , Ronald Fuller , Stanley
McDonald, Irma Mitchell , Richard
Mitchell and Shirley Wiley.

1976

SUMME R INTERNSHIP-Anthony J. Smith, a senior at Fresno High Sc hool, left,
spent the past summer in Washington , D .C., working in the office of Rep. B.F.
Sisk of Fresno as a Senate Page Intern . He is the only black youth in the
program . An artist, Smith has been commissioned to paint posters fo r a specia l
swimming program being sponsored by Rep . Sisk. Anthony's mother is Mrs.
Fay Anna Smith and Grandparents are LaFay and Therber Jay of Fresno.

1n6

7

Gm~~M

REUBEN FORD TAKES OATH AS
FRESNO'S FIRST BLACK POSTMASTER
Reuben Ford was sworn in as
Fresno's postmaster fulfilling a career
goal he set 27 years ago when he
began as a mail carrier in Bakersfield .
Ford's new job places him in
charge of 1,250 employes spread over
five counties .
Ford, 50, replaces Roy W . Johnson,
who is retiring after five years as
postmaster.
The Fresno postmaster also serves
as manager of the sectional center,
which places him over 53 other
postmasters in portions of Fresno,
Madera, Merced, Tulare and Mariposa
Counties.
Ford said he plans no major
changes in the way the Fresno office
will handle the some 250,000 pieces of
mail it receives daily. But he does
foresee greater mechanization of the
proce~sing in the future .
Nor does Ford expect any
significant rise or fall in the number of
employes under his direction .
In his former job as district
director of mail processing in Santa
Barbara, he often worked with Fresno
office.
Though a native of Seminole,
Okla., Ford was reared for the most
part in Bakersfield . He attended
Bakersfield College and took graduate
courses at the University of California
at Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Reuben Ford Takes Oath

SPECIAL

SECURITY PACIFIC
Grapevine

8

Youth and Ta lent

Wendi Wright, Fresno's Our Little
Miss, won the right to travel to Baton
Rouge, La., to compete in the World
International Our Little Miss Pageant.
She won the right to do so by
placing among the top 10 at the Our
Little Miss California Pageant in Palm
Springs.
A total of 110 youngsters from
throughout California were competitors in the state contest.
During the competition at Palm
Springs Wendi was selected for a
special audition by the Walt Disney
Productions. The results of that
audition will be announced later .
Wendi, a student at Columbia
School, was named as one of the
school's top students during June.
Wendi has won several local and
state contests in the past.

CO GRATULATIONS to Shuanta
Renne Whiteman, 7, the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Tommy E. Whitemon of
Fresno. Shuanta was crowned Miss
LaPetite 1976-1977 in Fresno's Our
Little Miss Beauty and Talent Pageant,
aworldwide contest. Shuanta won her
crown and went on to compete in the
state finals in Palm Springs . Shuanta
had a week filled with fun and
laughter during the competition . She
didn't bring back the State Crown, but
she did bring back an award and lots
of fun-filled memories.

YOU'VE GOT

5)

Our Little M iss

I 111 I

i,--■ SOMETHING

&

YOUTH

BANK

1976
1976

9

Grapevine

TRAVEL

CAR IBBEAN CRUISE Mr. and M rs. Henry
Hayes of Fresno recent·
ly returned from an enjoyable tw o-w eek v acat ion cruise of nine Ca ribbean Isl a nds. M ika mi
Travel Service located
in West Fresno made
the arrangement s fo r
the Hayes cruise.

Boley Hamilto n, Jr.

0. C. White

PEOPLE
O C. WHITE has been appointed Sewer Maintenance Superintendent for the
Public Works Departemnt for the City of Fresno. White, promoted from his
position as Supervisor of the Community Conservation Corps, has been a city
employee for 20 years .
BOLEY W . HAMILTON JR., a Fresno Unified School District Teacher, has been
nominated to receive the Masonic Order's 33rd Degree. It will be bestowed
during the annual session of the United Supreme Council of the Prince Hall
Southern Jurisdiction which is scheduled for Oct. 3~ ov. 2 in Washington,
D.C. Hamilton is a member of the King Solomon Lodge 6 .

M r. and Mrs. Henry Hayes

it's not just another

if 1t comes from
EDMONDS
and we have the great selection to prove

1

Just say "Charge if

EDmonos

J),---,/~~

Grapevine

10

_ ,889

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1976

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Grapevine

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225 North "H" St.
11

1976

SPORTS

The refreshments were flowing
from a sparkling fountain and the
guests were arriving in delightful
summer array as about 200 Fres·
nans responded to an invitation
of "We're Proud . .. Jackie Hodge
has received her doctorate and
we're going to celebrate." And
celebrate they did just as the
invitation suggested "casual
and cool with dinner by the pool "
in the lavish garden of Betty and
Frank Johnson .
The Hodge fam ily was on deck
proudly greeting the guests and
receiving the hugs and best wishes
from long·time friends.
The highlight of the evening
came after a delicious dinner of
cornish hen, g reen beans, corn·on·
the-cob, salads, several kinds of
homemade cobbler, and more .
Roland Johnson, an adminis·
trator with the Diablo School Dis·
trict in Walnut Creek and a Fresno
State classmate of Jackie 's, was
emcee of a brief time to reminisce.
Rutherford 'Bud ' Gasto n, principal
of Bethune School and Frances
Goodwin, the fi rst b lack school
teacher in the Fresno City Schools,
also remembered the good ole
days with Jackie at Fresno State
University.
The attractive and beaming
Jackie made rema rks as she held
a beautiful bouquet of re d roses
presented he r by Bobby Lee from
the Fresno Colony School District,
where she serves as an adminis·
trator. Her obv iously pl e a sed hus·
band and the ir son Eric had re·
marks too. Eric mentioni ng his
pride and love for both of his
parents.
Frank Johnso n, Supe ri nte ndent
of the Fresno Colony Schoo l Dis·
( ( ( ( ( ( , Grapevine

Former Fresno City College and
Hoover High Sc hool standout Rod
Perry_ is now a regular with the Los
Angeles Rams . Perry was an a ll-state
defensive back at Fresno CC and
played at t h e University of Colorado.
He is in h is second season as a cornerback w ith the Ram s.
Bee p hoto

Dr. Jacqueline Hodge (center) and friend

trict and host of the a ffair, receiv·
ed the big sur prise of the even ing
. . . wife, Betty, glamorous and
glowing in a fl ow ing mu lt i-striped
hostess gown, presented her hus·
band with a huge b irthday cake
in the fo rm of a brown beauty ir.
a bikini . " Good idea " was a ll the
superintendent could stamme r a s
the guests sang Happy Birthday.
Beautiful mus ic was enjoyed
th roug hout the even ing t h anks to
the ta lented and versatil e Edwa rd
Burke on piano.
Young men and young ladies
serving as host a nd hoste sses in
eluded Apr il Ba ins, pretty ni ece of
Frankie Johnson, and three Fresno
beauties Terri Kimber, Tina Sm ith
and Eve Emith.
Several Fresnans with the ir own
00ctorates ca me out to ce leb rate
with Jackie; They includ e d Dr.
Dorothea Coo ley Willi am s, Dr. Jee.
Lee, Dr. Joe Toney, Dr. A lex La rk,
Dr. George Bugg, Dr. Noel Sm ith,
Dr. Gle nn Blomg ren . .. d id I m iss
any??? a nd of course their mates .

12

1976

Rod Perry

1976

JOE HENDERSON is back in the
big leagues. The Former Edison High
Sc hool standout was promoted to the
Cinc inati Reds' mound staff
two
months ago, ending a two-year
period he's been out of the major
leagues. Henderson, a 30-year-old,
right-handed relief pitc her, had a 7-3
record for the Indianapolis Indians
farm club in the America n
Association . He also had 11 saves, a
2.31 earned-run-average (lowest in the
league) , coming off 54 appeara nces.
Henderson's only other big-league
experience during a lengthy sti nt in
the minors came in 1974 when he
hurled five games for the Chicago
White Sox.
13

Grapevine

FORMER FRESNAN

EDUCATION

Philosophy and English Instructor, Rev. Rueben Scott has been
named to top leadership posts in two
Fresno City College faculty groups.
Scott has been elected president of
FCC's Faculty Association for one-year
terms.
The association represents 247 fulltime instructors, counselors, and nonadministrative certificated employees
at City College. It is responsible for
salary and related matters affecting
instructors, as well as providing a
social program for the faculty and
supervising the nomination and
election of members of the senate .
Scott has taught at City College
since 1971 . He received a bachelor's
Ms. Vivianne Moultrie-Hawkins degree in history from Fresno Pacific
has accepted a position with Modesto College and a master's of divinity from
City Schools. Her new title is Human Golden Gate Seminary in Mill Valley .
Relations Coordinator for Modesto
High School and Mark Twain Junior
High School. She is under the direct
superv1s1on
of
the
Assistant
Superintendent of Curriculum and
Instruction of Modesto City Schools.
She is the only woman on the Administrative staff at Modesto High
School and is one of four black administrators out of 110 in the school
district.
Ms. Moultrie-Hawkins
worked as Vocational Counselor
under the Student Training Employment Program with Fresno County
Schools. She has a B.A. Degree in Fine
Art and a M.A. Degree in Counseling
and Guidance in addition to a
Secondary Teaching Credential and a
Pupil Personnel Services Credential.
At the present she is working on the
Administrative Services Credential
which she plans to complete next
summer. Her long-range plans are to
earn a PH.Din Counseling Psychology
specializing in Art Therapy.
Ms. Moultrie-Hawkins is founder
and Co-chairperson of the Central
Valley Kuumba Arts Assoc1at1on
and plans to remain active m the
group after her relocation
Rev. Reuben Scott
14
Grapevine
1976

CHECKING THINGS OUT
Marc 0. Hoffman helps Cashundra Thomas, center, and Valerie Brown
s~lect reading material in the new Bigby Villa library. Hoffman has spent
_hr s weekends since September 1974 soliciting aid for setting up the facility
1n the converted laundry room of the housing complex. The library will
serve approximately 500 children up to age 18 who are residents of the
Bigby Villa area. The library was opened for the children's use recently.
1976

15

Grapevine

p,, ~eta
St'l"'a

s(;(,t eet,ealtt
etuedidatea
The Brothers of Phi Beta Sigma
Fraternity of Fresno will present
their 20th Annual Christmas Dance
at Fresno's Hilton Hotel on Decem·
ber 25, 1976. Highlighting the
evening will be the crowning of
the 1976·77 Sweetheart.
These beautiful and talented
young ladies along with the Broth·
ers of the Gamma Xi Chapter ex·
tend an invitation to the public to
join them for an enjoyable and
funfilled Christmas night.
Whsyeena Flowers

Joy Kelly

Gayle Willis

Toni Flemming

Shelley Porter

'J

Joanne Washington

Cheryl O'Blenis
Grapevine

16

1976

1976

17

Grapevine

PHI BETA SIGMA SWEETHEART CANDIDATES

COUNTRY & WESTERN DISC JOCKEY
"Getting into country music and
relating to the va rious artists proved a
bit difficult in the begi nning," he said,
'but I no longer have any pro blems
identifying the d ifferent artists, what
they are doing and w hy t hey are doing
it."
Starr settled o n radio broadcasting
after t ryi ng out a host of other pursuits .
Among those were attending auto
mechanic sc hool, The International
Business Sc hoo l in Los Angele s and
the Ron Bailie Schoo l of Broadcast.
He had also been employed by Aero
Special Air Freig ht, Dancer-FitzgeraldSamp le Inc., an d KQ ED-TV in San
Francisco as a f ilm man and news
photographer.

Deborah Lee

Cherlynn Stevens

*

FLOYD'S
Body & Fender

Starr said he settled on radio ,
'because radio absorbs your every
talent, it is a cont inuing and innovating busi ness, you are always
making changes ."

*

tl.E~ON*

M ech a nic

Pa inting

* FREE ESTIMATES

* WORK GUARANTEED
* TOW TRUCK SERVICE

" I d o b ig jobs a nd s m a ll jobs. Chec k my
p roces a n d le t me save yo u mon ey . I gu a ra ntee
all o f my wo rk . Ca ll m e for a fr oc est im at e."

Coll 264-6704 or 486-2514
Floy4 Harris

911 E. Jensen
rapevine

Fresno, Calif.
18

1976

He said he chose country-western
music because it is not an overJ.R. Starr believes his coming to popu lated field, not many blacks as
Fresno was a fortunate trip. It led to artists or broadcasters.
his becoming the only black man in
Starr points out one thin g he has
Central California involved in countrynoticed about country music fan s is
western music broadcasting.
that they are more dedi cated t o their
When Starr arrived in Fresno he idols and the peop le in t he countrychecked with all the local radio western music wor ld.
stations, black, Spanish-speaking and
" For example, Hank Snow and
country, there were no openings.
Hank Williams passed away a long
He felt rather low for he had been time ago, and they are sti II in t he
informed broadcasting positions were minds and hearts of their listeners. Bu t
on the other hand, you might mention
available here .
Jackie Wilson's name and they w ill
However a while later Radio KEAP, say, 'who is he?!"
a country-western station had an
In addition to a new found love in
opening, Starr accepted the offer and
for the past 10 weeks has become a his work, Starr says he has also fa llen
regular on the station 's programming . in love with the people of Fresno.
1976
Grapevine
19

Vice Principal
However, In your ratification of 70 promotions, you made a significant
oversight which must be brought to your attention. It seems to me that you
have failed to deal falrly with the Black male minority, generally, and you
failed to appoint me to a prlnclpalshlp, In particular.

Claims Racism

I address the board tonight, July 22, 1978 at 11 : 00 p.m. to make some
statements, to ask a few questions and to offer some suggestions about the
promotional process.

In Fresno
Unified School

Members of the Board, I am not pleased with the promotional procesSN
employed by Fresno Unified School District, to put It mlldly. I am not pleased
that I am constantly bv-Dassed In the Dromotlonal process and I am not
satisfied with the few answers I have recelvedso I come to you, the employ•
of Fresno Unified School District and request that you get some answers for
me.

District Promotion
Polices
Carver Elementary School vice principal Henry Jules, Jr. has accused the
Fresno Unified School District of "discrimination" and "racism" in its
promotion policies.
.
.
Whi le he praised t he district board of t ru stees fo r its appointment of 23
women and minorities recently in approving a total of 70 promotions, Jules
said he has been "constantly bypassed in the promotional process" because he
is black .
The district has also been accused of sex discrimination by the U.S. Justice
Department.
In the recent promotions, four black women were given promotions, and
one bla6:k male was given an administrative post.
Dist. Supt. Dr. Gerald A. Rosander said the appointments were made on a
nondiscriminatory review basis, but he said the district needs "to constantly
reassess its promotional policy ."
Ro and r called Jules an "excellent employee-he constantly strives to do
his b st."
Board Chairman Keith Chun noted Jules has a "valid request" and directed
Rosander to provide him with a written explanation. Below is the complete
text of Jules' address to the school board .

Address To The Fresno Unified School District
~

BOARD OF EDUCATION
THURSDAY , JULY22, 1976
by
HENRY E. JULES, JR.

Board chairman and members of the Board of Education of Fresno Unified
School District :
111 111 Perhaps you are to be commended for your appointmen t of 23 women and
1111 11 minorities to administrative positions. It certainly does seem as though you
EE EE• • are taking steps to correct past discrimination against women and minorities.
<<<<<< Grap evi ne
20
1976

I would llke to know why, I, Henry E. Jules, Jr., Vice-principal at Carver
Elementary School and current Summer School Principal at Carver, was not
promoted to an elementary prlnclpalshlp during the last promotional process
when 10 elementary prlnclpalshlps were vacant.
On Friday, July 9, 1978, the Fresno Bee pointed out that the most qualified
persona were promoted. Members of the Board, do you think the moat
qualified persons were promoted?
I am sure you are aware of this country's blatant disregard of human rights of
Black men. I am a Black male American and I must llve with the atrocities
perpetuated by slavery, but I don't Ilka these atrocities and I feel that It would
be remiss of me to accept them without speaking out against them .
"

Members of the Board of Education , you are the responsible agents for
education In Fresno. You are the elected llables for all educational decisionspertaining to promotions. In the ultimate analysis you must provide the
answers and reactions.
The business of educating people Is sacred to me. I would be derellc In my
citizenship If I did not bring these concems to your attention.
The promotional prosesses In FUSD are not clear. It Is difficult for employNs
to know where they stand, how they got there, or where they are going . These
conditions are not good for the morale of people and they are not good for
education .
Tonight, however, I do not speak for others. I can speak only for myself. I am
tired of being by-passed. I am tired of waiting. I am tired of being overlooked.
I am ti red of being denied. I am tired of discrimination . I am tired of racism. I
am tired of building my hopes and dreams on the promotional processes
employed by FUSD.
I am tired , but I have faith. I have faith In myself, faith In the common good
and faith In my God.
There Is somet~lng wrong with the promotional processes being used by
1976

21

Grapevine

FUSD. I don't know what Is w rong, but I suggest that It Is your responslblllty
to make it right .
I further suggest that there Is a need for a revised district policy of promotion
which spells out specific criteria for promotion.
Members of the Board, you have the power. Often power does not llke to hear
that which can be construed as criticism . But I believe In the First Amendment to the Constitution. "Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances."
I have often stated and I stlll maintain that Fresno Is a good place to llve and
that it has the potential to become a model city In America. Perhaps the
reason for my contention Is that there Is progress to be made. As long as I am
here, and I plan to stay, I wlll maintain this belief and I will continue to work
for progress, with major emphasis on education of all people In Fresno,
including the Boards of Education.
There is no glamor in this deliberation for I feel that I have been unnecessarily
by-passed , and disregarded as a Black male minority by the promotlonal
process .
Members of the Board, you have sanctioned a new administrative structure In
Fresno Unified School District. It seems as though you have ratified one
which excluded the Black male minority from promotions to prlnclpalshlps.
I request that you review the policy of promotion In FUSD and Insure that all
employees, regardless of race, rellglon, color, creed, national origin or sex,
political persuasion or party affiliation , are Judged by a yardstick that has Its
measurements with objective factors.
Let me close with these thoughts ; Justice delayed Is freedom denied. That
which is most expedient, that which Is less controvellllal, that which w lll
cause least resistance is often that which Is most unjust.
Members of the Fresno Unified School District Board ol Education, I thank
you for letting me speak and I would appreciate a written response to my
questions and concerns.
Respectfully ,
Henry E. Jules , Jr.

Front row - I to r - Bernice Whittle, Carmen Apolinar, Debra Butler, Kesha
Rosemond, Pat Ybarra, Cystal Hannah; Second row - Scott Graves, John
Tucker, Brenda Grant, Maxine Whittle , Pamela Grayson; Third row - Steve
Parish , Dennis Frazier, Manuel Graves ; Fourth row - Arthur Warren, Mike
Harris, Willie Tate, Eric Johnson, Dale Clark, Tino Gomez; Top - Joe MIiier,
band director.

GRAVES LIQUOR STORE

~
.? "

LIQUOR

b

WINE

-·-

IVY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL BAND

BEER

The Ivy Junior High School band of West Fresno has been organized for only a
year and already has received awards and honors from a marching contest in
Fowler and a jazz festival in Vi salia, Calfiornia . Joe Miller, the band teacher
says, " Ali the stud~nts work hard and enjoy playing music We hope to continue to play , to improve, and to grow."

233-3601

2583 S. ELM

FRESNO

1976

Grapevine

22

1976

23

Grapev ine

DESIRE

I want a poem to wrap around me ,
To make me feel good,
I want a song to sing and shout .
I want a dance to whirl and sway to.
I want a tambourine to roll and rattle.
I want a star that glimmers.
Most of all-I want a poem to wrap around me
To make me feel good.
Connee C. Bowman

HUSH HUSH DRUMMER BOY
Hush hush Drummer boy
I'm trying to read
Nikki Giovanni
and I can't
drink of her beauty
with your rat-a-tat-tat
drum roll
steadily going on.

Connee C. Bo'#IIICln

Dorothy Williams

A program on black poetry,
sponsored by the Fresno County
Public Library, was held recently at
the library's main branch in Fresno.
During the program, titled "TomToms," Connee L. Bowman and
Dorothy Williams read selections of
their own poems.
Mrs. Bowman is a speech language
teacher with the Fresno Unified
Sc hools , has taught in both
elementary and secondary schools,
and has written magazine and
newspaper articles and presented
several radio series on Afro-American
culture .
She also read selection s from the
works of Langston Hughes, Linda

Brown Bragg, Nikki Giovanni and Dod

L. Lee, all publ is hed black poets. Anlf
she played a tape recording of herse
reading more of Hugh~s' poemJ,
accompanied by the music of B. ·
King.
Mrs. W illiams has
poetry as a hobby for
poems have been
"Grapevine "
and
magazines .

Hush hush Drummer boy
I'm trying to capture a feellng
but I think
the drums I hear drumming
are undemeath my breast
within my body
lost In my soul

been wri¼:~
12 years. in
published ,,
" Seventeen

She has worked with children id
reading programs in elementa7 :~o
junior high schools for the rewill
Unified Schools, and this fall shellege
1
be attending Fresno City C\1ng.
classes in English and creative wri

I'm trying to be Black
proud and beautiful ,
like Nikki
So that I won't care
that your father is out
Rat-a-tat-tatlng, all over town
with another woman.
Dorothy Williams

Grapevine

24

1976

25

Grapevine

Charlie Jackson . . . 'Where The Lord Wants Me'

confidence : " I'm right where the Lord
wan.ts me. The Lord has really blessed he says , punctuating each syllable, "of
me."
meeting the I ord. But I did and my
As a preacher who "moves around life\ changed since then."
a lot," there are days when Jackson
Jack on doesn 't force his beliefs on
leaves his stand to officiate at a his rn,tonwr, , instead he tries to uplift
funeral or special service.
thf'm in ,ome way.
On those occasions, he brings a
" Many times people will come in
change of clothes to work with him hf'rf' with thf'ir heads bowed down
and astonishes customers by walking and I try , before they leave, to get
into the Men's Room a shoe sh ine man thC'ir hf'dd raised up.
and walking out a preacher, complete
" I try to say something to uplift
with suit tie shiny shoes and his well- them . So many people are lonely and
used Bible. '
just want somebody to reach out and
Born in M arshall Texas and still touch them ." Jackson tries to show
retaining some southern tw~ng in his kindnE'ss and love and, if the opspeech, Jackson is retired after 20 port unity comes up, he shares his faith
years in the US Army.
with them.
The ease with which he whips and
·:1meet a lot of toughies here who
snaps the cloth around as he shines don t want to smile or talk. I try to say
and buffs shoe after shoe belies his something pleasant to them"
real strength, which comes after years
_ He admits he's not in the shoe
of physical fitness.
shine business for the money.
"I
ran
track
and
field
''I'm not trying to strike it rich. You
professionally," he recalls , pausing to never know what you 're going to
put a date on it. "The last year I ran make . It depends on the mood they're
was, uh , '58 in Okinawa. I've won 111 or how much they have." The sign
awards in the mile two mi~ and 440" behind the customer's c hairs indicates
he adds with pride. " I also fought the prices: shoes 75 cents; boots one
professionally - heavyweight and dollar.
lightweight. I fought in New Jersey,
"We do get a lot of ladies too,"
Pennsylvania, Oregon, Vancouver, Jackson says. "They sit up in the chair
BC. I've been all over the world."
if they have slacks on.
Jackson has not always been a
"But if they have a dress on, they
Chri tian . " I came to the Lord in 1%4 sit over there in the waiting room (of
and it was a miracle. I left New Jersey the car wash) and I take their shoes off
intending to leave the old devil there and do them over here."
and come out to California to become
But wherever he's working, he's
a new devil.
sure it' ll be because, "that's where the
" I had no intentions what-so-ever," Lord wants me."
Bee

CHRISTIAN UPLIFT WITH EVERY SHINE
"This is where the Lord wants me.
YOU GET MORE than a shoe shine
when Charlie Jackson shines your It gives me a chance to meet a lot of
people, most of them unsaved .
shoes.
This kindly man, a gentleman to Shining shoes gives me a chance to
the core, who ends each phrase or witness to them," the 55-year-old
sentence with a polite, "Yes'am" or Jackson says, putting a coat of natural
"Yes'ir," shines shoes to the "glory of cream on a pair of soiled, white pa tent
God ."
leather loafers.
Jackson looks out of place
But gently, with no hint of the
gospel preacher he is most Sundays at cleaning someone's dusty boots .
He shakes his head and says with
St. Rest Baptist Church .
Grapevine
26
1976

A HERITAGE of
STRENGTH

UARAXTEE

SECURITY

SAVINGS


EXPERIENCE

I. O AN

A b.bOC I ATI O N

5 Offic es in Fresno

Main Office: 1177 Fulton Mall, Phone 268-8111
Blackstone and Ashlan
Cedar and Shields
Shaw and Sixth
West Shaw and Van Ness Extension

1976

27

Grapevine

WHITTEN'S TV
• COLOR AND
8/WTV
• STEREO REPAIR
• ANTENNA REPAIR
• NEW ANTENNAS
INSTALLED

) 486-1646

I
FRESN O

2295 W. JENSEN AVE.

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER
Dear God, somehow please help me kee p

The spirit of this day
To lead me through the brand-n e w yea r,
Though rough may be the way .
Please help me keep thi s shining joy ,

This day ' s great g ift of peace ,
That I may leave along the way
Some good that w ill not cease .
Please let me not forg e t, dear Lord,
That star so bright and clear
That's always there to guide my steps
Throughout the coming year.
-Josephine Millard .

1976

29

Grapevine

BABY BEAUTY
PAGEANT
Little Earl R. Meyers, Ill, 2 ½
year old son of Earl and Shirley
Meyers won the Baby Beauty Pageant of Fresno last Sunday, October 17, and was awarded the trophy for Master Beauty of Fresno .
The event was sponsored by the
Navy Mothers Club No. 48 for the
hospitalization and rehabilitatio n
of veterans, and was attended by
well over 700 people. Little Mr.
Meyers also won a first place trophy in ticket sales (thanks to his
mother) and another first place
trophy in beauty.
Little Earl's parents are extremely happy over this event, not to
mention his grandparents Mr. and
Mrs . Robert Slade, Dr. Earl R.
Meyers, and Mrs . Mattie B
Meyers.

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221 Fresno St -

Fresno, California
Phone, 268- 1466

State Licensed
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Credent1a led Teachers

1444 ''0'' Street

Fresno, California

Member of the Notional Assoc for the Education of Young Children
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Grapevine

30

1976

1976

31

Grapevine

~~

~,,

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.

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1976

1977

'Pi.t ~eta,
SitJM"'

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TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU
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JOHN GAROFOLI
1976

485-2564
3

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2049 Broadway
Fresno, CA
Grapevine

Special Announcement

MAGAZINE
GRAPEVINE CORP.

The Grapevine Magazine will publish four editions during

Fresno, Calif.
1012 S. Trinity
Phone: 486·0273
or 233·1346

the coming year. Each edition wll feature a special subject start·
ing in February with the Black History edition which will feature
new and informative information concerning the history of Blad<

Vol. 8

No.4

November-December, 1976

people. Each edition will also feature more pages to increase
the magazine's news coverage. Other editions will be published

FRANK J. JOHNSON
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER

in May, August, and November in 1977.

CLEO JOHNSON
ADVERTISING EDITOR

Think Coffee's for Your Gifts -

JERRY C. JOHNSON
DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION

--

MATTIE MEYERS
Staff Writer

The Coffee Label-Ad
Value to the Gift

·······•··· ..

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:
Single
year
order
IO12

copies 50¢; $6.00 per
Send check or money
to Grapevine Magazine,
S. Trinity, Fresno, California 93706.
All rights reserved for material
contained in the publication .

•••••••
•••••••
•• ••••
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• •••
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•••••
•••••
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DOWNTOWN
Grapevi ne

Advertising Rate Card
available upon request

FASHION FAIR
4

BAKERSFIELD

Copyright 1976
by Grapevine Corporation

Education ·····················-··········· 6
Youth ·············-······················---- 7
Black Postmaster ...................... 8
Our Little Miss Pageant ............. 9
People ··············-······················· 10
Travel ...................................... 11
Social Scene ............................ 12
Sports ···-··········· ....................... 13
Former Fresnan ........................ 14
Education .. ........................... ... 14
Library .................................... 15
Sweetheart Candidates .......... 16
Disc Jockey .......... ... . ................ 19
Vice Principal Claims Racism .. 20
Ivy School Band ....... ___ .. .... .. ... 23
Black Poetry __________ _....... ... ....... 24
Christian Uplift ........................ 26
Baby Beauty Pageant .. .......... 30

*****

Photo Credits:
Fresno Bee Pg. 6, 7, 8, 13, 15, 26
California Advocate Pg . 9, 19
Earl Bradley Pg . 12, 16, 17, 18 - Cover

1976
1976

5

Grapevine

Elizabeth Johnston

Rae Mims
New Principals

LOIS

Hams

EDUCATION
Dr. Joe H. Lee, at 34, has become
the highest ranking black in the Fresno
City School system upon being named
assistant
superintendent
of
educational services.
At the same time the school board
ratified 71 promotions ranging from
leadership trainee to associate
superintendent, which included
appointing the first black assistant
superintendent, the first woman high
school principal, three black women
elementary school principals and two
Mexican-Americans as principals .
Lee, a native of Fresno and former
North Avenue Community Center Boy
of the Year, was named as top
educator by the Fresno Jaycees in
1973. He has held positions as acting
principal at two city schools and
served as principal at the Martin
Luther King School.
The
three
black
women
elementary principals are Rae Mims,
I 11 1 Elizabeth Johnston and Lois Harris.
ff f If ff, Ms. Mims will become principal at
' ' ' ' ~~ : Starr School, Ms. Johnston will be
rap evine

6

principal at Columbia and Ms. Harris
will become principal at Martin Luther
King School.
Betty Simpson, a black woman,
was promoted to assistant administration
program planning
development and implementation for
elementary schools .
Marlene Day and Stanley McDonald were promoted to counselor
at Edison High School and Curtis Hurd
was promoted to vice principal at
Lane School.
Fresno Schools Supt. Ger : : A .
Rosander said personnel
: '1els
screened 586 applicants fo ad-:i1
ministrative positions and of ~'.! 71
promotions, 39 are men and 32 are
women . Twenty-three of those
promoted are members of minority
groups.
Blacks included on the recommended list of trainees for district
leadership training are Marvin
Howard , Ronald Fuller , Stanley
McDonald, Irma Mitchell , Richard
Mitchell and Shirley Wiley.

1976

SUMME R INTERNSHIP-Anthony J. Smith, a senior at Fresno High Sc hool, left,
spent the past summer in Washington , D .C., working in the office of Rep. B.F.
Sisk of Fresno as a Senate Page Intern . He is the only black youth in the
program . An artist, Smith has been commissioned to paint posters fo r a specia l
swimming program being sponsored by Rep . Sisk. Anthony's mother is Mrs.
Fay Anna Smith and Grandparents are LaFay and Therber Jay of Fresno.

1n6

7

Gm~~M

REUBEN FORD TAKES OATH AS
FRESNO'S FIRST BLACK POSTMASTER
Reuben Ford was sworn in as
Fresno's postmaster fulfilling a career
goal he set 27 years ago when he
began as a mail carrier in Bakersfield .
Ford's new job places him in
charge of 1,250 employes spread over
five counties .
Ford, 50, replaces Roy W . Johnson,
who is retiring after five years as
postmaster.
The Fresno postmaster also serves
as manager of the sectional center,
which places him over 53 other
postmasters in portions of Fresno,
Madera, Merced, Tulare and Mariposa
Counties.
Ford said he plans no major
changes in the way the Fresno office
will handle the some 250,000 pieces of
mail it receives daily. But he does
foresee greater mechanization of the
proce~sing in the future .
Nor does Ford expect any
significant rise or fall in the number of
employes under his direction .
In his former job as district
director of mail processing in Santa
Barbara, he often worked with Fresno
office.
Though a native of Seminole,
Okla., Ford was reared for the most
part in Bakersfield . He attended
Bakersfield College and took graduate
courses at the University of California
at Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Reuben Ford Takes Oath

SPECIAL

SECURITY PACIFIC
Grapevine

8

Youth and Ta lent

Wendi Wright, Fresno's Our Little
Miss, won the right to travel to Baton
Rouge, La., to compete in the World
International Our Little Miss Pageant.
She won the right to do so by
placing among the top 10 at the Our
Little Miss California Pageant in Palm
Springs.
A total of 110 youngsters from
throughout California were competitors in the state contest.
During the competition at Palm
Springs Wendi was selected for a
special audition by the Walt Disney
Productions. The results of that
audition will be announced later .
Wendi, a student at Columbia
School, was named as one of the
school's top students during June.
Wendi has won several local and
state contests in the past.

CO GRATULATIONS to Shuanta
Renne Whiteman, 7, the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Tommy E. Whitemon of
Fresno. Shuanta was crowned Miss
LaPetite 1976-1977 in Fresno's Our
Little Miss Beauty and Talent Pageant,
aworldwide contest. Shuanta won her
crown and went on to compete in the
state finals in Palm Springs . Shuanta
had a week filled with fun and
laughter during the competition . She
didn't bring back the State Crown, but
she did bring back an award and lots
of fun-filled memories.

YOU'VE GOT

5)

Our Little M iss

I 111 I

i,--■ SOMETHING

&

YOUTH

BANK

1976
1976

9

Grapevine

TRAVEL

CAR IBBEAN CRUISE Mr. and M rs. Henry
Hayes of Fresno recent·
ly returned from an enjoyable tw o-w eek v acat ion cruise of nine Ca ribbean Isl a nds. M ika mi
Travel Service located
in West Fresno made
the arrangement s fo r
the Hayes cruise.

Boley Hamilto n, Jr.

0. C. White

PEOPLE
O C. WHITE has been appointed Sewer Maintenance Superintendent for the
Public Works Departemnt for the City of Fresno. White, promoted from his
position as Supervisor of the Community Conservation Corps, has been a city
employee for 20 years .
BOLEY W . HAMILTON JR., a Fresno Unified School District Teacher, has been
nominated to receive the Masonic Order's 33rd Degree. It will be bestowed
during the annual session of the United Supreme Council of the Prince Hall
Southern Jurisdiction which is scheduled for Oct. 3~ ov. 2 in Washington,
D.C. Hamilton is a member of the King Solomon Lodge 6 .

M r. and Mrs. Henry Hayes

it's not just another

if 1t comes from
EDMONDS
and we have the great selection to prove

1

Just say "Charge if

EDmonos

J),---,/~~

Grapevine

10

_ ,889

WHIRLWIND

264-1564
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1976

ASK ABOUT OUR
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WITH GAS PURCHASE
Grapevine

Thank You For Your Patronage

225 North "H" St.
11

1976

SPORTS

The refreshments were flowing
from a sparkling fountain and the
guests were arriving in delightful
summer array as about 200 Fres·
nans responded to an invitation
of "We're Proud . .. Jackie Hodge
has received her doctorate and
we're going to celebrate." And
celebrate they did just as the
invitation suggested "casual
and cool with dinner by the pool "
in the lavish garden of Betty and
Frank Johnson .
The Hodge fam ily was on deck
proudly greeting the guests and
receiving the hugs and best wishes
from long·time friends.
The highlight of the evening
came after a delicious dinner of
cornish hen, g reen beans, corn·on·
the-cob, salads, several kinds of
homemade cobbler, and more .
Roland Johnson, an adminis·
trator with the Diablo School Dis·
trict in Walnut Creek and a Fresno
State classmate of Jackie 's, was
emcee of a brief time to reminisce.
Rutherford 'Bud ' Gasto n, principal
of Bethune School and Frances
Goodwin, the fi rst b lack school
teacher in the Fresno City Schools,
also remembered the good ole
days with Jackie at Fresno State
University.
The attractive and beaming
Jackie made rema rks as she held
a beautiful bouquet of re d roses
presented he r by Bobby Lee from
the Fresno Colony School District,
where she serves as an adminis·
trator. Her obv iously pl e a sed hus·
band and the ir son Eric had re·
marks too. Eric mentioni ng his
pride and love for both of his
parents.
Frank Johnso n, Supe ri nte ndent
of the Fresno Colony Schoo l Dis·
( ( ( ( ( ( , Grapevine

Former Fresno City College and
Hoover High Sc hool standout Rod
Perry_ is now a regular with the Los
Angeles Rams . Perry was an a ll-state
defensive back at Fresno CC and
played at t h e University of Colorado.
He is in h is second season as a cornerback w ith the Ram s.
Bee p hoto

Dr. Jacqueline Hodge (center) and friend

trict and host of the a ffair, receiv·
ed the big sur prise of the even ing
. . . wife, Betty, glamorous and
glowing in a fl ow ing mu lt i-striped
hostess gown, presented her hus·
band with a huge b irthday cake
in the fo rm of a brown beauty ir.
a bikini . " Good idea " was a ll the
superintendent could stamme r a s
the guests sang Happy Birthday.
Beautiful mus ic was enjoyed
th roug hout the even ing t h anks to
the ta lented and versatil e Edwa rd
Burke on piano.
Young men and young ladies
serving as host a nd hoste sses in
eluded Apr il Ba ins, pretty ni ece of
Frankie Johnson, and three Fresno
beauties Terri Kimber, Tina Sm ith
and Eve Emith.
Several Fresnans with the ir own
00ctorates ca me out to ce leb rate
with Jackie; They includ e d Dr.
Dorothea Coo ley Willi am s, Dr. Jee.
Lee, Dr. Joe Toney, Dr. A lex La rk,
Dr. George Bugg, Dr. Noel Sm ith,
Dr. Gle nn Blomg ren . .. d id I m iss
any??? a nd of course their mates .

12

1976

Rod Perry

1976

JOE HENDERSON is back in the
big leagues. The Former Edison High
Sc hool standout was promoted to the
Cinc inati Reds' mound staff
two
months ago, ending a two-year
period he's been out of the major
leagues. Henderson, a 30-year-old,
right-handed relief pitc her, had a 7-3
record for the Indianapolis Indians
farm club in the America n
Association . He also had 11 saves, a
2.31 earned-run-average (lowest in the
league) , coming off 54 appeara nces.
Henderson's only other big-league
experience during a lengthy sti nt in
the minors came in 1974 when he
hurled five games for the Chicago
White Sox.
13

Grapevine

FORMER FRESNAN

EDUCATION

Philosophy and English Instructor, Rev. Rueben Scott has been
named to top leadership posts in two
Fresno City College faculty groups.
Scott has been elected president of
FCC's Faculty Association for one-year
terms.
The association represents 247 fulltime instructors, counselors, and nonadministrative certificated employees
at City College. It is responsible for
salary and related matters affecting
instructors, as well as providing a
social program for the faculty and
supervising the nomination and
election of members of the senate .
Scott has taught at City College
since 1971 . He received a bachelor's
Ms. Vivianne Moultrie-Hawkins degree in history from Fresno Pacific
has accepted a position with Modesto College and a master's of divinity from
City Schools. Her new title is Human Golden Gate Seminary in Mill Valley .
Relations Coordinator for Modesto
High School and Mark Twain Junior
High School. She is under the direct
superv1s1on
of
the
Assistant
Superintendent of Curriculum and
Instruction of Modesto City Schools.
She is the only woman on the Administrative staff at Modesto High
School and is one of four black administrators out of 110 in the school
district.
Ms. Moultrie-Hawkins
worked as Vocational Counselor
under the Student Training Employment Program with Fresno County
Schools. She has a B.A. Degree in Fine
Art and a M.A. Degree in Counseling
and Guidance in addition to a
Secondary Teaching Credential and a
Pupil Personnel Services Credential.
At the present she is working on the
Administrative Services Credential
which she plans to complete next
summer. Her long-range plans are to
earn a PH.Din Counseling Psychology
specializing in Art Therapy.
Ms. Moultrie-Hawkins is founder
and Co-chairperson of the Central
Valley Kuumba Arts Assoc1at1on
and plans to remain active m the
group after her relocation
Rev. Reuben Scott
14
Grapevine
1976

CHECKING THINGS OUT
Marc 0. Hoffman helps Cashundra Thomas, center, and Valerie Brown
s~lect reading material in the new Bigby Villa library. Hoffman has spent
_hr s weekends since September 1974 soliciting aid for setting up the facility
1n the converted laundry room of the housing complex. The library will
serve approximately 500 children up to age 18 who are residents of the
Bigby Villa area. The library was opened for the children's use recently.
1976

15

Grapevine

p,, ~eta
St'l"'a

s(;(,t eet,ealtt
etuedidatea
The Brothers of Phi Beta Sigma
Fraternity of Fresno will present
their 20th Annual Christmas Dance
at Fresno's Hilton Hotel on Decem·
ber 25, 1976. Highlighting the
evening will be the crowning of
the 1976·77 Sweetheart.
These beautiful and talented
young ladies along with the Broth·
ers of the Gamma Xi Chapter ex·
tend an invitation to the public to
join them for an enjoyable and
funfilled Christmas night.
Whsyeena Flowers

Joy Kelly

Gayle Willis

Toni Flemming

Shelley Porter

'J

Joanne Washington

Cheryl O'Blenis
Grapevine

16

1976

1976

17

Grapevine

PHI BETA SIGMA SWEETHEART CANDIDATES

COUNTRY & WESTERN DISC JOCKEY
"Getting into country music and
relating to the va rious artists proved a
bit difficult in the begi nning," he said,
'but I no longer have any pro blems
identifying the d ifferent artists, what
they are doing and w hy t hey are doing
it."
Starr settled o n radio broadcasting
after t ryi ng out a host of other pursuits .
Among those were attending auto
mechanic sc hool, The International
Business Sc hoo l in Los Angele s and
the Ron Bailie Schoo l of Broadcast.
He had also been employed by Aero
Special Air Freig ht, Dancer-FitzgeraldSamp le Inc., an d KQ ED-TV in San
Francisco as a f ilm man and news
photographer.

Deborah Lee

Cherlynn Stevens

*

FLOYD'S
Body & Fender

Starr said he settled on radio ,
'because radio absorbs your every
talent, it is a cont inuing and innovating busi ness, you are always
making changes ."

*

tl.E~ON*

M ech a nic

Pa inting

* FREE ESTIMATES

* WORK GUARANTEED
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" I d o b ig jobs a nd s m a ll jobs. Chec k my
p roces a n d le t me save yo u mon ey . I gu a ra ntee
all o f my wo rk . Ca ll m e for a fr oc est im at e."

Coll 264-6704 or 486-2514
Floy4 Harris

911 E. Jensen
rapevine

Fresno, Calif.
18

1976

He said he chose country-western
music because it is not an overJ.R. Starr believes his coming to popu lated field, not many blacks as
Fresno was a fortunate trip. It led to artists or broadcasters.
his becoming the only black man in
Starr points out one thin g he has
Central California involved in countrynoticed about country music fan s is
western music broadcasting.
that they are more dedi cated t o their
When Starr arrived in Fresno he idols and the peop le in t he countrychecked with all the local radio western music wor ld.
stations, black, Spanish-speaking and
" For example, Hank Snow and
country, there were no openings.
Hank Williams passed away a long
He felt rather low for he had been time ago, and they are sti II in t he
informed broadcasting positions were minds and hearts of their listeners. Bu t
on the other hand, you might mention
available here .
Jackie Wilson's name and they w ill
However a while later Radio KEAP, say, 'who is he?!"
a country-western station had an
In addition to a new found love in
opening, Starr accepted the offer and
for the past 10 weeks has become a his work, Starr says he has also fa llen
regular on the station 's programming . in love with the people of Fresno.
1976
Grapevine
19

Vice Principal
However, In your ratification of 70 promotions, you made a significant
oversight which must be brought to your attention. It seems to me that you
have failed to deal falrly with the Black male minority, generally, and you
failed to appoint me to a prlnclpalshlp, In particular.

Claims Racism

I address the board tonight, July 22, 1978 at 11 : 00 p.m. to make some
statements, to ask a few questions and to offer some suggestions about the
promotional process.

In Fresno
Unified School

Members of the Board, I am not pleased with the promotional procesSN
employed by Fresno Unified School District, to put It mlldly. I am not pleased
that I am constantly bv-Dassed In the Dromotlonal process and I am not
satisfied with the few answers I have recelvedso I come to you, the employ•
of Fresno Unified School District and request that you get some answers for
me.

District Promotion
Polices
Carver Elementary School vice principal Henry Jules, Jr. has accused the
Fresno Unified School District of "discrimination" and "racism" in its
promotion policies.
.
.
Whi le he praised t he district board of t ru stees fo r its appointment of 23
women and minorities recently in approving a total of 70 promotions, Jules
said he has been "constantly bypassed in the promotional process" because he
is black .
The district has also been accused of sex discrimination by the U.S. Justice
Department.
In the recent promotions, four black women were given promotions, and
one bla6:k male was given an administrative post.
Dist. Supt. Dr. Gerald A. Rosander said the appointments were made on a
nondiscriminatory review basis, but he said the district needs "to constantly
reassess its promotional policy ."
Ro and r called Jules an "excellent employee-he constantly strives to do
his b st."
Board Chairman Keith Chun noted Jules has a "valid request" and directed
Rosander to provide him with a written explanation. Below is the complete
text of Jules' address to the school board .

Address To The Fresno Unified School District
~

BOARD OF EDUCATION
THURSDAY , JULY22, 1976
by
HENRY E. JULES, JR.

Board chairman and members of the Board of Education of Fresno Unified
School District :
111 111 Perhaps you are to be commended for your appointmen t of 23 women and
1111 11 minorities to administrative positions. It certainly does seem as though you
EE EE• • are taking steps to correct past discrimination against women and minorities.
<<<<<< Grap evi ne
20
1976

I would llke to know why, I, Henry E. Jules, Jr., Vice-principal at Carver
Elementary School and current Summer School Principal at Carver, was not
promoted to an elementary prlnclpalshlp during the last promotional process
when 10 elementary prlnclpalshlps were vacant.
On Friday, July 9, 1978, the Fresno Bee pointed out that the most qualified
persona were promoted. Members of the Board, do you think the moat
qualified persons were promoted?
I am sure you are aware of this country's blatant disregard of human rights of
Black men. I am a Black male American and I must llve with the atrocities
perpetuated by slavery, but I don't Ilka these atrocities and I feel that It would
be remiss of me to accept them without speaking out against them .
"

Members of the Board of Education , you are the responsible agents for
education In Fresno. You are the elected llables for all educational decisionspertaining to promotions. In the ultimate analysis you must provide the
answers and reactions.
The business of educating people Is sacred to me. I would be derellc In my
citizenship If I did not bring these concems to your attention.
The promotional prosesses In FUSD are not clear. It Is difficult for employNs
to know where they stand, how they got there, or where they are going . These
conditions are not good for the morale of people and they are not good for
education .
Tonight, however, I do not speak for others. I can speak only for myself. I am
tired of being by-passed. I am tired of waiting. I am tired of being overlooked.
I am ti red of being denied. I am tired of discrimination . I am tired of racism. I
am tired of building my hopes and dreams on the promotional processes
employed by FUSD.
I am tired , but I have faith. I have faith In myself, faith In the common good
and faith In my God.
There Is somet~lng wrong with the promotional processes being used by
1976

21

Grapevine

FUSD. I don't know what Is w rong, but I suggest that It Is your responslblllty
to make it right .
I further suggest that there Is a need for a revised district policy of promotion
which spells out specific criteria for promotion.
Members of the Board, you have the power. Often power does not llke to hear
that which can be construed as criticism . But I believe In the First Amendment to the Constitution. "Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances."
I have often stated and I stlll maintain that Fresno Is a good place to llve and
that it has the potential to become a model city In America. Perhaps the
reason for my contention Is that there Is progress to be made. As long as I am
here, and I plan to stay, I wlll maintain this belief and I will continue to work
for progress, with major emphasis on education of all people In Fresno,
including the Boards of Education.
There is no glamor in this deliberation for I feel that I have been unnecessarily
by-passed , and disregarded as a Black male minority by the promotlonal
process .
Members of the Board, you have sanctioned a new administrative structure In
Fresno Unified School District. It seems as though you have ratified one
which excluded the Black male minority from promotions to prlnclpalshlps.
I request that you review the policy of promotion In FUSD and Insure that all
employees, regardless of race, rellglon, color, creed, national origin or sex,
political persuasion or party affiliation , are Judged by a yardstick that has Its
measurements with objective factors.
Let me close with these thoughts ; Justice delayed Is freedom denied. That
which is most expedient, that which Is less controvellllal, that which w lll
cause least resistance is often that which Is most unjust.
Members of the Fresno Unified School District Board ol Education, I thank
you for letting me speak and I would appreciate a written response to my
questions and concerns.
Respectfully ,
Henry E. Jules , Jr.

Front row - I to r - Bernice Whittle, Carmen Apolinar, Debra Butler, Kesha
Rosemond, Pat Ybarra, Cystal Hannah; Second row - Scott Graves, John
Tucker, Brenda Grant, Maxine Whittle , Pamela Grayson; Third row - Steve
Parish , Dennis Frazier, Manuel Graves ; Fourth row - Arthur Warren, Mike
Harris, Willie Tate, Eric Johnson, Dale Clark, Tino Gomez; Top - Joe MIiier,
band director.

GRAVES LIQUOR STORE

~
.? "

LIQUOR

b

WINE

-·-

IVY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL BAND

BEER

The Ivy Junior High School band of West Fresno has been organized for only a
year and already has received awards and honors from a marching contest in
Fowler and a jazz festival in Vi salia, Calfiornia . Joe Miller, the band teacher
says, " Ali the stud~nts work hard and enjoy playing music We hope to continue to play , to improve, and to grow."

233-3601

2583 S. ELM

FRESNO

1976

Grapevine

22

1976

23

Grapev ine

DESIRE

I want a poem to wrap around me ,
To make me feel good,
I want a song to sing and shout .
I want a dance to whirl and sway to.
I want a tambourine to roll and rattle.
I want a star that glimmers.
Most of all-I want a poem to wrap around me
To make me feel good.
Connee C. Bowman

HUSH HUSH DRUMMER BOY
Hush hush Drummer boy
I'm trying to read
Nikki Giovanni
and I can't
drink of her beauty
with your rat-a-tat-tat
drum roll
steadily going on.

Connee C. Bo'#IIICln

Dorothy Williams

A program on black poetry,
sponsored by the Fresno County
Public Library, was held recently at
the library's main branch in Fresno.
During the program, titled "TomToms," Connee L. Bowman and
Dorothy Williams read selections of
their own poems.
Mrs. Bowman is a speech language
teacher with the Fresno Unified
Sc hools , has taught in both
elementary and secondary schools,
and has written magazine and
newspaper articles and presented
several radio series on Afro-American
culture .
She also read selection s from the
works of Langston Hughes, Linda

Brown Bragg, Nikki Giovanni and Dod

L. Lee, all publ is hed black poets. Anlf
she played a tape recording of herse
reading more of Hugh~s' poemJ,
accompanied by the music of B. ·
King.
Mrs. W illiams has
poetry as a hobby for
poems have been
"Grapevine "
and
magazines .

Hush hush Drummer boy
I'm trying to capture a feellng
but I think
the drums I hear drumming
are undemeath my breast
within my body
lost In my soul

been wri¼:~
12 years. in
published ,,
" Seventeen

She has worked with children id
reading programs in elementa7 :~o
junior high schools for the rewill
Unified Schools, and this fall shellege
1
be attending Fresno City C\1ng.
classes in English and creative wri

I'm trying to be Black
proud and beautiful ,
like Nikki
So that I won't care
that your father is out
Rat-a-tat-tatlng, all over town
with another woman.
Dorothy Williams

Grapevine

24

1976

25

Grapevine

Charlie Jackson . . . 'Where The Lord Wants Me'

confidence : " I'm right where the Lord
wan.ts me. The Lord has really blessed he says , punctuating each syllable, "of
me."
meeting the I ord. But I did and my
As a preacher who "moves around life\ changed since then."
a lot," there are days when Jackson
Jack on doesn 't force his beliefs on
leaves his stand to officiate at a his rn,tonwr, , instead he tries to uplift
funeral or special service.
thf'm in ,ome way.
On those occasions, he brings a
" Many times people will come in
change of clothes to work with him hf'rf' with thf'ir heads bowed down
and astonishes customers by walking and I try , before they leave, to get
into the Men's Room a shoe sh ine man thC'ir hf'dd raised up.
and walking out a preacher, complete
" I try to say something to uplift
with suit tie shiny shoes and his well- them . So many people are lonely and
used Bible. '
just want somebody to reach out and
Born in M arshall Texas and still touch them ." Jackson tries to show
retaining some southern tw~ng in his kindnE'ss and love and, if the opspeech, Jackson is retired after 20 port unity comes up, he shares his faith
years in the US Army.
with them.
The ease with which he whips and
·:1meet a lot of toughies here who
snaps the cloth around as he shines don t want to smile or talk. I try to say
and buffs shoe after shoe belies his something pleasant to them"
real strength, which comes after years
_ He admits he's not in the shoe
of physical fitness.
shine business for the money.
"I
ran
track
and
field
''I'm not trying to strike it rich. You
professionally," he recalls , pausing to never know what you 're going to
put a date on it. "The last year I ran make . It depends on the mood they're
was, uh , '58 in Okinawa. I've won 111 or how much they have." The sign
awards in the mile two mi~ and 440" behind the customer's c hairs indicates
he adds with pride. " I also fought the prices: shoes 75 cents; boots one
professionally - heavyweight and dollar.
lightweight. I fought in New Jersey,
"We do get a lot of ladies too,"
Pennsylvania, Oregon, Vancouver, Jackson says. "They sit up in the chair
BC. I've been all over the world."
if they have slacks on.
Jackson has not always been a
"But if they have a dress on, they
Chri tian . " I came to the Lord in 1%4 sit over there in the waiting room (of
and it was a miracle. I left New Jersey the car wash) and I take their shoes off
intending to leave the old devil there and do them over here."
and come out to California to become
But wherever he's working, he's
a new devil.
sure it' ll be because, "that's where the
" I had no intentions what-so-ever," Lord wants me."
Bee

CHRISTIAN UPLIFT WITH EVERY SHINE
"This is where the Lord wants me.
YOU GET MORE than a shoe shine
when Charlie Jackson shines your It gives me a chance to meet a lot of
people, most of them unsaved .
shoes.
This kindly man, a gentleman to Shining shoes gives me a chance to
the core, who ends each phrase or witness to them," the 55-year-old
sentence with a polite, "Yes'am" or Jackson says, putting a coat of natural
"Yes'ir," shines shoes to the "glory of cream on a pair of soiled, white pa tent
God ."
leather loafers.
Jackson looks out of place
But gently, with no hint of the
gospel preacher he is most Sundays at cleaning someone's dusty boots .
He shakes his head and says with
St. Rest Baptist Church .
Grapevine
26
1976

A HERITAGE of
STRENGTH

UARAXTEE

SECURITY

SAVINGS


EXPERIENCE

I. O AN

A b.bOC I ATI O N

5 Offic es in Fresno

Main Office: 1177 Fulton Mall, Phone 268-8111
Blackstone and Ashlan
Cedar and Shields
Shaw and Sixth
West Shaw and Van Ness Extension

1976

27

Grapevine

WHITTEN'S TV
• COLOR AND
8/WTV
• STEREO REPAIR
• ANTENNA REPAIR
• NEW ANTENNAS
INSTALLED

) 486-1646

I
FRESN O

2295 W. JENSEN AVE.

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER
Dear God, somehow please help me kee p

The spirit of this day
To lead me through the brand-n e w yea r,
Though rough may be the way .
Please help me keep thi s shining joy ,

This day ' s great g ift of peace ,
That I may leave along the way
Some good that w ill not cease .
Please let me not forg e t, dear Lord,
That star so bright and clear
That's always there to guide my steps
Throughout the coming year.
-Josephine Millard .

1976

29

Grapevine

BABY BEAUTY
PAGEANT
Little Earl R. Meyers, Ill, 2 ½
year old son of Earl and Shirley
Meyers won the Baby Beauty Pageant of Fresno last Sunday, October 17, and was awarded the trophy for Master Beauty of Fresno .
The event was sponsored by the
Navy Mothers Club No. 48 for the
hospitalization and rehabilitatio n
of veterans, and was attended by
well over 700 people. Little Mr.
Meyers also won a first place trophy in ticket sales (thanks to his
mother) and another first place
trophy in beauty.
Little Earl's parents are extremely happy over this event, not to
mention his grandparents Mr. and
Mrs . Robert Slade, Dr. Earl R.
Meyers, and Mrs . Mattie B
Meyers.

Arts & Crafts
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Hot Lunches

½ Day Learning Pre-School Program
Ages 2 thru 8
Enroll Now for Fall!!
Transportation to Public Schools

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St•t• licensed

221 Fresno St -

Fresno, California
Phone, 268- 1466

State Licensed
Complete Insured Liability
Credent1a led Teachers

1444 ''0'' Street

Fresno, California

Member of the Notional Assoc for the Education of Young Children
~(?><..,?'M.,?,,.O,,.'°"'°"'°"'°"'°",q,,..q,~,<Q,..O,..O,M,O-..Q><QOQl<Q~"'6>-..:./!

Grapevine

30

1976

1976

31

Grapevine

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Item sets