Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 January 1960 — Page 1

The Recorder's Twelfth Annual

HUMAN RELATIONS HONOR ROLL SS’rZt,

REV. RAYMOND T. BOSLER

RICHARD ROSENCRANZ

OSCAR E. BANKS

HARRY OVERTON SCHELLR, DR. RUDOLPH. R. SCHREIBER, MARTIN B. McKNEALLY, MISS NANCY STREETS

DR. FRANK O. BECK

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- Postage Paid at Indianapolis. Indiana, 518 Indiana Avenue, Portal Zone 7 • FOUNDED 1895 • WANT ADS ME. 4-1545

J. CHESTER ALLEN

JOHN J. JAMES

"All who would win joy, must share it; happiness was born a twin." So wrote Lord Byron. Something of the same thought has guided us in choosing our annual lists of 10 Hoosiers to wish a Happy New Year! This is our 12th Human Relations Honor Roll, and so we are now veterans at this game. We have come to appreciate more than ever that the happy Hoosier is the man or woman, boy or girl, who during the twelvemonth past has done something to make Indiana a better state in which to live. Thus as a year and a decade come to an end, we thought of forward-pointing achievements in Hoosierland and wish (not that they need it, because they have ensured it) a Happy New Year to: REV. RAYMOND T. BOSLER, editor of The Indiana Catholic and Record, because the newspaper under his guidance has consistently displayed an enlightened and constructive approach to questions of group relations, and has opposed discrimination and segregation; and particularly this year because it published a series by managing editor Fred W. Fries which challenged the prevailing discrimination against Negroes on the society pages of daily newspapers. RICHARD ROSENCRANZ, Evansville philanthropist and secretary of the board of trustees of Evansville College; because he has carried out through a long life of benevolent activities a glorious family tradition of freedom-loving German immigrants who fought heroically against slavery in the Civil War and then helped the freedmen after the war; the first life member of the NAACP in Evansville. OSCAR E. BANKS, president of the Co-op Civic League in Haughville (Indianapolis), because of his courageous leadership of a community group of working people who have set an outstanding example in the fields of helping the needy regardless of color; obtaining jobs for unemployed family men; defending civil rights, and encouraging the youth to lead clean and wholesome lives. , HON. HARRY OVERTON SCHELL, city attorney of Gary and the first Negro in the history of Indiana to hold that municipal post; because his appointment to that strategic position gives him rare opportunity to demonstrate first-class citizenship in action, and thus set an example for other Hoosier cities DR. RUDOLPH R. SCHREIBER, civic-minded organizer of the Committee for Better Schools in Indianapolis; because, though defeated in its first campaign, his fresh new group contributed toward revitalizing the democratic process by giving the voters a choice and bringing the issues to light; and because the Committee was free of prejudice in its inner workings as well as its public pronouncements. MARTIN B. McKNEALLY, national commander of the American Legion (and thus an honorary Hoosier), because with forthright loyalty to our country's ideals he ordered removal of the 40 & 8's shameful color bar, and when that auxiliary refused to comply expelled it from the Legion; thus restoring public confidence in the mighty organization of America's veterans. MISS NANCY STREETS of South Bend, student at I. U., for obvious reasons (see photo); and, seriously, because her election as "Miss Indiana University" gave expression to the fundamental fair-mindedness of our Hoosier young people who are casting aside ancient prejudices as they move into the future DR. FRANK O. BECK, Bloomington, retired professor of philosophy and religious education who first came to Indiana University (as a freshman) 71 years ago, because his lifelong interest in humanity led him long ago to launch the campaign against discrimination on the campus; because of his authorship of "Some Aspects of Race Relations at Indiana, My Alma Mater" and other works; because he gave his life savings of $100,000 to build the Beck Chapel on the campus for religious worship without reference to creed, denomination, class, type of mind or ethnic group. HON. J. CHESTER ALLEN of South Bend, first Negro member of the City Council there, because his outstanding career of devotion to the law as the shield of liberty has brought his fellow-citizens to place him in a position where, as councilman-at-large, he can protect the rights of minorities and at the same time guard the welfare of the majority in what is perhaps the state's most civilized city. JOHN J. JAMES, executive secretary of the Fall Creek Parkway Branch YMCA, because his deep sincerity and friendly, Christian humility have made possible, a broad united movement that built a new YMCA which is as beautiful in brotherhood of spirit as it is in physical design and structure; a most significant advance in integration in Indianapolis.

65th Year

Indianapolis, Indiana, January 2,1960

Number 1

FAMILY OF SLAYING VICTIM: His wife and five of his eight children faced a bleak Christmas after Siel Davis, 47, 1321 1/2 N. West was shot to death to climax a Christmas Eve row. Recorder Editor Marcus C. Stewart Sr., who went to the murder scene with a reporter, bought the family a Christmas tree and a supply of groceries

HE'S A COOL ONE: Though charged with murder in the Dec. 26 ice-pick death of Robert Dyer, 27, Jerry Robinson, 710 N. West, appears cool, calm and collected as he "drags" on a cigarette while on his way to a waiting patrol wagon. The 27-year-old Robinson reportedly had beat the victim's wife the night before his attack on Dyer in the latter's home, 2402 Guilford. The suspect was arrested in the 500 block of Bernard an hour and a half after the slaying. He was still carrying the blood-stained ice-pick, police said. (Recorder photo by Jim Burres)

in an effort to make their holidav slightly less bleak. James Farley, the accused gunman, reportedly had asked Mrs. Davis to to his home to pick up some toys for the children when Davis started the argument which led to his death. (Recorder photo by Jim Burres) After Christmas Ice Pick Slayer Tells Police 'I Blacked Out'

A disgruntled lover who, because she informed him she was back to her husband, savagely beat his ex-girlfriend with a lead pipe Christmas night as they sat parked in her car in front of her home, then fled in the car, returned the next morning, "blacked out" and stabbed her 27-year-old husband to death. Robert Dyer, 27, 2402 Guilford, who just effected a reconcilation with his wife, Peggy, 24, was dead from 12 ice pick wounds in the head and chest before an ambulance could be summoned. Arrested on a preliminary charge of murder a short time later at 516 Bernard, the home of a friend, was Jerry Robinson, 27, who gave his address as 710 N. West. Only minutes before the fatal assault, homicide officers, Sgts. Roy Higgins and Leonard Dehn, had been at the Guilford address investigating Robinson’s alleged attack on Mrs. Dyer. “We advised her to get a warrant for Robinson’s arrest,” Sgt. Higgins told The Recorder, “and got a description of the car and put it on the air.” While cruising the neighborhood, Sgt. Higgins said, they spotted the car, a 1951 Buick sedan parked around the corner from the house. After they searched the car, the (Continued on Page 3)

Before Christmas Shooting Victim Leaves Wife, Eight Children A 12-yeor-old boy stood by helplessly Christmas Eve as his father was shot and fatally wounded during a quarrel with a former neighbor. When police arrived at the murder scene, in the rear of 1321 1/2 N. West, they found Siel Davis, 30, on the ground gasping for breath. He had been shot in the chest, the bullet piercing his heart. Charged with the murder is 47-year-old James Farley. 515 Minerva, an ex-convict, who was arrested about four hours after the 8:30 P.M. shooting at 36th and Clifton by Sgt. Oscar Donahue. Farley, a member of Eastside Baptist Church, reportedly called Sgt. Donahue, who is a deacon there, and asked him to “pick me up;” He claimed, Donahue said, that he was afraid of being killed if other police officers found him. The boy, Charles E. Davis, a fifth-grade student at. School No. (continued on page 3)

HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS: Little Howard Cantrell Jr. looks pensive as thinks over the future the New Year (and years to come) holds for him. The tyke seems to realize that future of the whole world rests with him and others of his generation, but shows little doubt that he'll be able to handle his man-sized chore. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Cantrell Sr., 3267 Schofield, he seems confident that he — and all of us — will have a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. (Recorder photo by Jim Burres)

Rev. Burton Wins NAACP Presidency

By CHARLES S. PRESTON

JAMES FARLEY Accused Gunman

Jail Man Who Chased Wife with Loaded Gun William Ivory, 36, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after his wife Velma, 37, complained to police that he had chased her from their home at 126 W. 12th, with a loaded shotgun. Also jailed was Walter Woods, 37, 131 W. 12th, who Ivory said had pulled a pistol Woods was searched and a 25caliber automatic was found in his pocket.

In balloting almost unprecedented in the local NAACP branch. Rev. H. L. Burton swept to victory for the 1960 presidency Tuesday. .He defeated Andrew W. Ramsey, Recorder columnist and Attucks High School teacher. The vote was: Burton — 161 Ramsey — 101 The outcome of the hard-fought election seemed well-designed to mark the end of the decade for the Indianapolis NAACP. A coalition of ministers — who for some reason never have been very active in the local branch — rolled irresistibly over the “Old Guard” liberals who have led the branch during the 1940’s and ’50’s. REV. BURTON’S running-mate. Rev. Alexander Bernard, overwhelmed Gerold Baumann, chairman of the branch's labor and industry committee in the only other contest, which was for 2nd vicepresident. The vote was: Bernard — 147 Baumann — 85 The newly-elected president is pastor of Phillips Temple CME Church, while Rev. Bernard is pastor of Greater St. Mark Baptist. Following the election Rev .Burton said: ”1 am grateful to God and to you for making me president of this noble organization. I invite your prayers that God will be with me and with us

as we work together for the common good." Other officers, elected without opposition, were Earle Barnette, first vice-president; Mrs. Gwendolyn Davis, secretary; Mrs. Gertrude Gibson, assistant secretary, and W. T. Ray, treasurer. VOTERS CAST THEIR ballots for 30 executive board members, out of a field of 43 candidates. But despite a ballot-counting session that lasted into the wee hours, Rev. Ford Gibson said Wednesday morning that all the nominees will be placed on the board. Rev. Gibson, outgoing branch president and also head of the state and Midwest NAACP organizations, said he had obtained permission of the national office to carry the entire group “in order to have a strong branch.” Atty Charles H. Wills of South Bend, state parliamentarian of the organization, presided over the election in the gymnasium of the Fall Creek Parkway YMCA. TENSION WAS HIGH as the large crowd of voters poured past the door, where their credentials were checked, and into the voting area. It early became apparent that the powerful Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance had mustered strong support for Rev. Burton. Mr. Ramsey was endorsed by the 15-member “Committee for (Continued, on Page 3)