Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 5 June 1997 — Page 3

The Muncie Times, June 5,1997, Page 3

NEWS IN BRIEF

F. Reginald Lewis estate sued over finances

Carlton Investments, a partnership of former investment bankers at Drexel Burhnam Lambert, has filed a lawsuit against the estate of F. Reginald Lewis, the African American businessman who created the world’s largest black-owned company (TLCBeatrice) in a 1987 leveraged buyout of the international holdings of Beatrice foods. Mr. Lewis died from brain cancer in 1993 and his wife now runs the company. The Lewis estate holds an unassailable majority of all shares outstanding. By many accounts, Reginald Lewis got the best of the deal in the leverage buyout; estimates on the value of the Lewis family shares have been as high as $450 million. The lawsuit alleges that compensation and perks provided to Mr. Lewis were excessive, even though they were approved by the board of directors at the time. In 1992--about a year before his death--Lewis was paid just over $22 million as part of a deferred compensation plan covering the prior five years. The perks included the use of a corporate jet and apartments in Paris and Los Angeles. (The majority of the company’s operations are in Europe.)

The effect of the lawsuit would be to transfer wealth out of the hands of the family and to distribute it to all TLC shareholders. With more than 50 percent of the outstanding stock, the Lewis family would essentially receive the bulk of any resolution in the case. Carlton, however would also see the value of its investment increase. In an effort to settle the case and put an end to the legal fees incurred by the corporation, the Lewis estate has offered to pay $ 15 million to TLC Beatrice over a sevenyear period.

Prostate cancer gene more likely among black males Preliminary research by Dr. William Issacs of John Hopkins University suggest that a mutated gene—referred to as HPC1— may be responsible for triggering the onset of prostate cancer. After studying data on a sample of families in which prostate cancer has occurred. Issacs has suggested that this gene occurs more frequently in African American men than

in whites. In both races, however, victims of HPC1 — inspired cancer are affected about 8 years earlier than other mea Later detection of the cancer may account for a higher mortality rate among those with the HPC1 gene. The sample group studied was small (just over 100 patients) and was not assembled for statistical accuracy. Additional, controlled studies will be required to isolate the effect of the HPC 1 gene from other risk factors.

Tiger Woods reminded of his blackness A little more than 2 years ago, we highlighted golf phenome, Tiger Woods, to our readers. At the time, one reader responded that Tiger Woods didn’t deserve to lauded in our publications because he had disavowed that he was a “black” American. (Tiger’s lineage is roughly one-fourth black, one-fourth Chinese, one-fourth Th&i, oneeighth Native American, and

one-eighth Caucasian.) Tiger’s perceived reluctance to tout his blackness could have been the result of any number of factors including respect and recognition for his mother’s heritage. The point of the reader though was that perhaps Tiger subconsciously thought being black was a “bad thing” and was trying to separate himself from other African Americans. In deed, many blacks cringe when “one of us makes it” and then is quoted saying anything that could even remotely be considered as concession to a white supremacy/black inferiority argument. I can hear the refrain right now. “If one32nd before, then it still makes us black today”. I can’t say I altogether disagree with that position, particularly given the history of what it means to be black in America and the struggle behind it. Having listened to him recently, it is clear from his tributes to the African American that preceded him in golf, that Tiger recognizes he is black in the eyes of most Americans. If he had any doubts, the racist hate mail that he has receiveddriving by his swarthy complexion—should have erased them.

Archbishop asked for racial healing Chicago’s new Archbishop Francis Eugene George has been asked to take a leading role in healing the racial rift in the city. Welcoming Archbishop George to his new post. Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church, said that racism is not just a city or national issue, but a Catholic Church one. Pfleger was speaking after the near-fatal beating of Lenard Clark, 13, an African American by three former Catholic school white youths. The priest said he wants the Archbishop to acknowledge racism in Chicago and the country and put together a plan to deal with it. He said he also hoped the Archbishop would challenge the church’s taboo on women and married priests. Archbishop George succeeds the popular Cardinal Joseph Bemadin who died last year of cancer.

(News in Brief submitted by Andrea Scott)

Editorial from page 2 they were being treated. In reality, they were guinea pigs. Out of that group, 28 died of syphilis and 100 others died of related complications. As if that was not enough, 40 wives were infected and 19 children were bom with the disease. That is shameful. As a Republican National Committee statement noted, “None of this should have

occurred. The U.S. government should have prevented, not sponsored, such immoral activities. We grieve for those victims and their families and we pledge that we will make every effort to see that nothing of this kind every happens to American citizens again.” To that statement, we say “Amen.”

The Consolidated State Senior Women’s Auxiliary will be having our annual Two Hundred Women In White June 7 starting at 10:00 a.m. Hosted by Antioch Baptist Church 1700 East Butler

A Fellowship Luncheon will follow; Donation $5.00