March 6, 2013
C
The Importance of
Muhammad Ali
Page 1A
Southeast Alabama Gazette
By Thomas Hauser
assius Marcellus Clay Jr.,
as Muhammad Ali was
once known, was born in
Louisville, Kentucky, on January
17, 1942—a time when blacks
were the servant class in
Louisville. They held jobs such as
tending the backstretch at
Churchill Downs (the famous race
track where the Kentucky Derby is
held) and cleaning other people’s
homes. In Louisville in the 1940s,
the highest career goal that most
black people could realistically set
for their children was that they join
the clergy or teach at an all-black
public school. Ali’s father, Cassius
Marcellus Clay Sr., supported a
wife and two sons by painting billboards and signs. Ali’s mother,
Odessa Grady Clay, worked on
occasion as a household domestic.
“I remember one time when
Cassius was small,” Mrs. Clay
later recalled. “We were downtown
at a five-and-ten-cents store. He
wanted a drink of water, and they
wouldn’t give him one because of
his color. That really affected him.
He didn’t like that at all, being a
child and thirsty. He started crying,
and I said, ‘Come on; I’ll take you
someplace and get you some
water.’ But it really hurt him.”
(Continued on page 3A)
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Southeast Alabama
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African Americans Leading
Gordon, Alabama
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The First Amendment
“Freedom Of The Press”
Vol. 10 No. 263
50c
JUNE 8, 2016
By Manuel Dillingham
hen I entered the Council
Chambers in Gordon, Alabama
I beheld a truly amazing sight. As the
newly appointed Interim Pastor of the
historic Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist
Church in Gordon, I felt it necessary
to become acquainted with city officials, the police department and those
who comprised the official leadership
of Gordon. Past experience has taught
me that church and community relationships with city leadership can be
beneficial to all on so many fronts.
I was surprised to say the least,
when I witnessed the entire city council being entirely lead by African
Americans including the police captain, the fire chief and the town clerk
in the person of Ms. Gwendolyn
Howard, who has served the city for
thirty-four (34) years. Needless to
say, this sight stirred up a deep sense
of pride within this African American
pastor. To find this level of leadership
among our people tucked so quietly in
a state that boarders Georgia was By
Manuel Dillinghamquite illuminating.
This revelation came as a result of an
Gwen Howard, City Clerk
introductory meeting with the Mayor
and city council during one of their
regularly scheduled monthly session
arranged for me by Rev. Lorse
Saffold, an Associate Minister at Mt.
Nebo and a city council person.
I was determined to explore this
Mayor Ozell Smith
Retired Fire Chief John Williams with picture of Mayor Frank Mickels
history of the council
and its impact on this
community. To do this,
I interviewed the thirtyfour year veteran clerk
Ms. Gwendolyn Howard
who from this pastor’s
observation, essentially
manages the town. I
found Ms. Howard to be
an amazing woman with
a devoted passion and
compassion for the residents
of
Gordon.
Throughout the interview, residents often
called in with their concerns and issues which
she promptly addressed.
What I witnessed, it
seems really began in
1971 when the first
African American Mayor,
Mr. Frank Mickels was
elected. He was followed
by
other
African
American including C.T.
Graham (1988-1992);
Ozell Smith (1992-2004)
and Charles Dismuske
(2004-2012).
Under these African
American mayors, the
town of Gordon received
grants, a recreation park,
new senior citizen building, van, and water and
sewer grants. Before this
period,
African
Americans were farmers,
share croppers and
workers at the brick
yard, but never held
positions in the Gordon
Government.
I discovered that in
addition to her duties as
town clerk, Ms. Howard
also serves as Executive
Director of the Senior
City Program which
under her leadership has
provided much needed
services to the senior citizens of Gordon. It was
quite obvious to me that
Ms. Howard is indeed a
great asset to the citizenship o Gordon and
deserves much credit for
the work she does. I am
sure that the residents
must have a great appreciation for her service.
The Town’s rich history also includes Retired
Fire Chief John Williams
who serve twenty-five
(25) years. The present
police department has an
African American police
chief and officer. The
present governing body of
Gordon consists of Mayor
Albert Lowe, the only
non-minority, and an all
African American council:
Honorable Vera Smith,
Priscilla Wilson, Connie
Brooks, Michael Peterson,
and Lorse Saffold.
I look forward as
Interim Pastor at Mt.
Nebo to witnessing
progress going forward.
I am sure that as we continue to build our relationships throughout the
community, I will continue to observe amazing
sights among this community quietly tucked on
the boarder of Georgia.