How often are you able to share a a story about your own father...... This is my Dad :) This appeared in the Lima News (hometown newspaper on MLK Day)
1: So today is the day we celebrate Martin Luther King's dream. How are we doing so far?
I think we're doing fairly good. When I was in the service I was down South, I can remember taking the train from Kingsville, Texas, to Jacksonville, Fla., and not being allowed to go into the dining car. I always said black folks invented the box lunch. But that happened all over, it doesn't now. So yes, I'd say we're doing better and a lot of that is because of what Martin Luther King did.
2: You've lived in Lima for a lot of years. How has the experience of being an African-American man changed from the way it was when you first came here?
I think it has changed quite a bit. Just look at the kind of jobs that are available now. When I first came here in 1974, Oscar Marshall and myself were the first black principals in the city schools. Now there are all kinds of high-level jobs available. It's different.
3: You spent 30 years as an educator and administrator. Are the schools ahead of or behind the rest of society when it comes to racial equality?
They're right up there with what should happen. Sometimes they're ahead. I can remember Dr. Earl McGovern [former Lima City Schools superintendent] going down south to recruit black teachers for the city schools. He was ahead there. He led the way on integrating the teaching staff.
4: You spent all those years in the schools, you carried the Olympic torch, you even had a radio show with your wife [Beverly]. Does that make you officially famous?
I don't know about famous but I can't go anywhere without somebody knowing me. I was a greeter at Meijer for awhile and I'd see people I knew all day long. I guess after all this time I'm known.
5: All those achievements we just tossed out there, what one thing are you most proud of having accomplished?
Being a principal at the four elementary schools in Lima. I still see my ex-students, some of them are grandparents themselves now, but they remember me and always say "hello." That's what I'm proud of.
6: Finally, experts and laymen alike agree the Volkswagen Thing is among the ugliest cars ever made. You drove a bright yellow one for years with some degree of pride. Explain yourself.
I've had three different types of Volkswagen over the years. I actually had an orange one before. But last June I had an engine fire so the Thing is gone. While I drove it so many people made comments about it I just had to hang onto it.
