Darwin Turner and others speaking at Prince Hall, Masonic Lodge, Indiana Jurisdiction, October 27, 1963

Henry Walker: Would you remain standing, please? For the invocation by the Reverend Robert Lowery. Rev. Robert Low...: Almighty God, our heavenly father cast thy blessing down upon us. And we give thanks for thy creative spirit that made possible such a depth of fellowship of brotherhood and a sister is so deep that men and women have played themselves to it. And out of it have been rocked great characters, and out of it has come the depth of fellowship, like underline on with our children and have given a service to mankind. Deep on their conviction that by coming together, they may better serve one another. As we come together this evening, let us draw closer together to the end that men might not only build a kingdom on earth. You look to that kingdom beyond these blessings, we ask him by name and for the sake, amen. Henry Walker: Thank you. And we've made the program so long that my speeches have to be short and my jokes non-existent I think maybe I'll deserve your applause again. I hope that we have brought you an interesting program up to now, and I assure you it will grow more interesting and more beautiful as the evening progresses. We want you to relax and have a good time. Many of you have got letters while we indicated that our speaker of the evening was to appeared on [Cubs'] show last night Mr. Cubs, with the UNESCO, convention in Chicago decided to take the show while he had all of those celebrities in town and it was taped Thursday night and our speaker couldn't get here for that. And if you stayed up late and didn't see him, we apologize not being able to let you know why until now. We're going to have to go a little out of order. Our very eminent. Yes, Mr. Jackie Robinson has to get a plane out of here. Henry Walker: He tried unsuccessfully to get one at a later hour, but you'll have to be on the 845 back to New York and so we're going to come up a little out of order. Before we get to him, however, he gives me a great deal of pleasure to introduce to you the headman of the organization, been around a pretty good while he raised most of us on this committee of 100. Gives me a great deal of pleasure to introduce to you the grand master of the Prince hall, Masonic lodge of Indiana Edgar J. Davis. Edgar J. Davis: Pastor, distinguished guests and friends. In order to make the program short. You'll find my greetings on page two and you could read them. But I couldn't sit down without expressing my thanks to those of you who have turned out to make this banquet such a tremendous success. I wanted to express my thanks to my Masonic brother who come here from all parts of Indiana. I want to express my thanks to our special guest, Jackie Robinson, Dr. Spencer, Dr. Turner, Cassius Clay, and Ernie Banks. Men who are making their way and who have made and who are making their way in to Americas hall of fame, not as Black America, but Americans who are Black in color. I want to thank this committee whose done such a tremendous job. This predictive these eight lodges in Lake County who have undertaken this burden to make this a program such a success. To my minute friends in Indiana who called Lake County, the 60th state. I want to say to you, [inaudible] Cassius' favorite phrase, you're the greatest. Thank you. Henry Walker: Maybe you wonder why we do this. We're not doing this just to provide you with a meal or to let you meet some celebrities. We felt that there is a growing amount of juvenile delinquency, not just to Lake County, but all over the United States. We know that there are doors being pushed open every day. And there are many youth who cannot go through these doors because they didn't have nothing to carry in there. And so decided to emphasize education. The theme of our program is continuing education and we are hopeful that our youth will take every advantage of this opportunity to receive education. We're going to go out of turn right here. And we have an award to present to Mr. Jackie Robinson for a very special reason. I called him up at his home in Connecticut to ask him to come down for this program. Henry Walker: He said, "Well, I've got another engagement on that same day." I said, "well, you cancel that other engagement because we want you down here." And he asked me what it was all about. And I explained to him that we are encouraging more and better education among our youth. And we explained why and I said, "Jackie, you are a symbol that we want many of our youth to emulate. We have many boys of athletic eminence who feel that athletics alone is the end they desire, but you have demonstrated that education combined with that athletic ability can carry over into later life as you have done. And you are just as successful as a businessman, as a writer and as a an advocate of human rights as you were as an athlete, and we've got to have you." He says, "I'll call my agent and he'll call you in 10 minutes and we'll see if we can't be there." and he is here. What he represents to America and to America's youth. I'm asking Dr. [Brooms] to come forward to present Jackie Robinson with an award as our athlete of this century of emancipation, Dr. Broom. Dr. Broom: [inaudible] has already given you the salutations. However, the theme and the spread- Henry Walker: Talk in to the mic Dr. Broom Dr. Broom: The theme and the spread of this evening's gathering is the age of new dimensions. To us you are the foremost [inaudible] to blazing the pathway into what is for us an age of new dimensions. I'm going to read the words written on this scroll. The accent would be my own contribution. This award given by the Prince Hall, Masonic Lodge, Indiana Jurisdiction, that Jack Lewisburg Robinson this 27th day of May- Henry Walker: October. Dr. Broom: October 1963 here in Indiana. I can't even read in accent... For the outstanding symbol, he represents to our youth that athletic perfection should be [inaudible] by educational achievement in order to prolong the years of creativity and useful production for the benefit of mankind for its excellence in athletics and education. We salute him as Athlete of the Century. [E.J. Davis], Grandmaster. W. Henry Walker, Chairman. Jackie Robinson: Thank you very much, Dr. Brooms, first of all, let me apologize for having to leave. I honestly wanted to stay in and hear, Dr. Turner, because as I read all of the achievements that he has made in his young life, as far as education is concerned, I certainly wanted to stay here and hear him because it was so many of the young people here today. I think that what he is going to say, it will have a great bearing on our youngsters especially in as far as their future is concerned. So I really am sorry. And I just want to say to all of you here, all the honored guests that I wish I could remain throughout the to see you receive your awards and honors and to let you know that it is certainly an honor for me to share the program with such greats as the greatest Cassius Clay, and with my old friend, Ernie Banks, and I have met [John Baroda] here tonight for the first time. Jackie Robinson: And there's been so much talk about Dr. Turner as well as... I mean, Dr. Spencer, I'm sorry that I wasted, I could be with you throughout. And during the reception I had to agree with Cassius Clay when he said, what a beautiful bunch of people we are he was looking at the young ladies while he was talking. He kept talking about the fact that there is so much beauty in our race. And I just would like all of you I agree completely with this thinking. And I only hope that we use this tremendous beauty that we have as this Masonic age of new dimensions tries to inspire our youngsters and we adults pick up the battle that the lodge has started here. And we've had a wonderful evening. When we go home, we talk to our youngsters about the importance of education. We don't care what part of the activities you intend to go into today. Jackie Robinson: People are constantly asking, did you get a high school education? And they come into our office. And the first questioning they ask, and all we're looking for is people who can count from $1 down because our meals are quite an expensive, but we want to know if you have an education, you have a big plus. So when we leave here tonight, I urge each one of you to go and talk to our youngsters and explain the importance of getting that high school education, the importance of going on to college. Because by the time our youngsters get out of college today, they are going to be able to go into any field of endeavor that their ability would allow them to go into. And this is so important that they not figure that just because my mother and my father, even though they had an education, couldn't go on and do the kind of things that they were prepared for, that it's going to happen to them. Jackie Robinson: We are working hard today to pave the way so that our youngsters can go, as far as their individual abilities will allow them. And I keep thinking about Dr. Martin Luther King's dream. And I'm sure all of you remember it, the March, when he kept saying to the audience that he has a dream, that his children will be judged, not on the skin or not on their skin coloring, but on the contents of their character. And I sincerely believe that this is what's going to happen and a few years to come. I am pleased to be here for another reason. A few months ago, I was on a program in Chicago and we had a discussion about Gary, Indiana and a young man who was on that program, led me to believe that a lot of things are happening here in Gary. That I certainly doubted, even though he kept talking about, I couldn't dispute him because I didn't know, but I think the indication here today, the nature of the audience, both Negro and white kind of tends to, dispute much of what this young man had to say about this particular city. Jackie Robinson: And that's why I'm pleased to have been able to come back here. And I think all of you should be tremendously proud of the job that you're doing. And I just want to thank Mr. Walker for insisting. And that's exactly what he did that I come here. It has been an inspiring day for me. I only have, as I said at the start one regret that I do have to leave because I have nothing but the greatest admiration for the fellows that I know Ernie and Cassius. And from what I read in our program here of the others who are going to be on the program, it has been a real pleasure. And an honor for me to share it with them and above all, to share it with all of you, I will hope that the people here in Gary continue to push, continue to work, because this is what's going to help also our youngsters. Jackie Robinson: Your drive today has to be an inspiration to the kids. They inspired us a short time ago when they went in to the restaurant in North Carolina and refuse to leave. And from that day on, we've been pushing forward. Now it's our turn to kind of push and encourage our youngsters more and more because their day is coming and it's got to be a wonderful one because we have a job to do today. And I'm sure we're going to do it. That's why you're here tonight. And I'm grateful for the opportunity of sharing with you. I'm sorry. I really do have to leave. Henry Walker: Mr. Davis you will recall said that his speech was on page two. They biographical sketch of our speaker is on about page six. And if you read it or if you have read it. It takes away the need for me to tell you of the wonderful speaker we have. I had the opportunity last night to meet and talk with Dr. Turner into the wee hours of the morning. And one thing that was very interesting to me is that I think he's about as much of a baseball fan as Jackie is. He's down to earth. He's going to give you a message that you can take with you. It's going to be very inspirational. I'm not going to repeat what is on this program about him. You will take your souvenir program home with you, and I'm sure you've already read it. Merely permit me to say that we have a man whose destiny was precast. He tells me that his grandfather was an entomologist, who had a PhD at... Henry Walker: He got a little easier than he got his at the University of Chicago an he comes to us with humility imminently prepared and with something that we want you to carry with you. It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you our speaker of the evening, Dr. Darwin T. Turner, Dr. Turner. Darwin Turner: Thank you, Mr. Walker, for that excellent introduction. I'm always somewhat embarrassed. When I stand up before a microphone to begin speaking. I was precast as Mr. Walker pointed out, but the pre casting that I worked out made me six feet tall my parents didn't cooperate. Seriously, if I seem somewhat nervous tonight, please forgive me. I have at least two reasons. One, despite the fact that I've been making these little talks for over a quarter of a century now my father and my aunt have never had either the opportunity or the foolishness to be present at one, since both are here tonight, I feel somewhat as the rookie who is relative show up for his first game in the majors. I have yet another reason this may be the end of what was a very good friendship. I was sitting in East Chicago that summer. I just finished playing ping pong and was minding my own business. And my very good friend Aster Tillotson informed me that he had committed me to speak on a program. I do not know whether he will want to have that known after this program. Darwin Turner: We've talked tonight about opening doors, and this is an age of opening doors. Some are being open from within some we are pushing open, but if these doors are opening and if, as we've heard tonight, the time will come. When these doors will stand wide open, then we need to be ready to walk through those doors. And it's on that subject that I'd like to talk to you tonight briefly, what we need to do about education. Now, it's possible that I may tread on some toes tonight. I'm not here to speak platitudes. I'm not here to tell you what you may want a teacher to tell you, but to speak a few facts that I believe. First, I think we need to stop blaming everyone in the world except ourselves for our condition. Darwin Turner: Segregation is bad. That's an understatement. Segregated schools are evil. No one, except the Judge Wallace's of the world would deny that. But segregated schools are not the only reason for the limitations which we have as Negroes. And I frankly, fear that we are using our handicaps, our limitations to excuse our present laziness. The average Negro student is very weak in his vocabulary. America is a verbal society. That is one in which the average individual who succeeds, succeeds by being able to use words effectively, to persuade someone else to believe what you want, that person to believe. Words are so important in our society. That psychologists argue that if any single test is to be the measure of the intelligence of a man, living in America, that test should be a vocabulary test, and yet we are weak in vocabulary. Darwin Turner: And we use that very weakness to argue that the intelligence tests are unfair because they do not measure our intelligence, true enough. They do not measure our intelligence adequately, but they are the standards which are used to judge the intelligence of Americans. And if in this day, we are saying that we belong to this world of America, that we should not be set apart then it is our responsibility to overcome the limitations and to meet the standards of this world. It is true also that we are weak in speech, I was in Chicago during the day of the match on Washington. I listened to the program regretted that I could not be there and swelled with pride to see the demonstration of determination and unity by Negroes of America. Darwin Turner: But as I listened, I heard someone say what I as a teacher of English would not have dare to say, thank God that most of them speak satisfactorily. But why do so many of our leaders speak so much worse than the white leaders? I couldn't answer that question. I thought about two years ago, a time when I was speaking before a group of college English teachers in North Carolina, after I finished speaking, a white professor rushed up to praise me for what he called excellent enunciation. My first reaction was to want to say to him, well, perhaps this is not too extraordinary. After all, I have been talking American for almost 30 years now, but I didn't because I knew that he was trying to praise me. And I knew that possibly he had heard some of the intellectuals, some of the leaders, some of the college professors, I had heard some who mispronounced the most simple words, who destroyed grammar, who misused words in such a way that it became obvious that they did not know the meanings of those large words they were using. Darwin Turner: As long as dictionaries are being published, there is no excuse for these kinds of limitations. We cannot blame them solely on segregated schools. There are many men in the past of different races. Men who lived in America, who could have complained about their limitations. Abraham Lincoln, for instance, could have complained about the limitations in his education. Or if we look at another country. Demosthenes, he was one of the greatest orators of all times. Might've complained that as a youth, he stuttered. But time is running, time is running very rapidly. The world is moving fast. The world does not care what limitations, what handicaps we've had. The world is concerned only with the question of what the Negro can do today. And ladies and gentlemen, the world simply has no time for the Negro who sits in the corner of the dance of life sulking because the music is not his tune. Darwin Turner: Second, we need to decide whom to educate and why. As Jackie Robinson left, he was talking about the importance of a high school education. To the Negro education has represented an opportunity to enter a vocation. The Negro child has heard since he was old enough to understand anything about life, that in order to succeed in life, he needed a better education than his fellow American. This has been true in the past in world war two, an aircraft factory was stationed in Cincinnati that aircraft factory I wager had the best educated janitors in America because of a Negro with a college graduate applied for a job. He was given a broom while, his fellow Americans who had only high school educations were put behind the machines, but times are changing. Jackie Robinson just talked about the fact that in time all doors will be open and as those doors are being opened, we need to decide why we are trying to educate people and for what we're trying to educate them. Darwin Turner: Now, if our concern primarily is to educate them in order to obtain a job, we need to decide exactly what kind of job we're training them for. I'm a teacher at a State supported institution. And I suppose that I should be happy to see the dormitories filled, but quite frankly, I think it is a waste of time and money for a student to try to go to college for four years to study trigonometry, algebra, physics, chemistry, logic, philosophy, foreign languages, art music, literature. If at the end of those four years, he will be trying to get a job merely sorting letters in a post office. Doors were closed in the past, they're only half open today, but as they're being opened, we need to decide, not to over degree, our students, I'm not talking about over education. Darwin Turner: In high school a student is exposed to humanities, social studies to the natural sciences. But that high school education, maybe the education, which he really needs For the kind of occupation which his going to follow. Now, there's a very simple fact of, which I am a... As a teacher in a state supported institution and painfully aware, there are thousands of youngsters in America, Negro and white, who cannot benefit from a college education. Perhaps, it's not quite as serious for the white person. Perhaps he more fully realizes the can kind of education, which will fit him for the job which he desires. But if we continue to try to send every Negro student to college, I think we will damage the student and the college in two ways. First, we will call some of these individuals to suffer serious emotional frustrations. As we try to tell them that they must to do that, which they cannot do. Darwin Turner: And second, if we fill the institutions with a majority of skilled individuals who are incapable of benefiting from this education, then all we will really do is to lower the standards of that institution and make it impossible to train adequately. Those very promising, talented youth who are in the institution. I have seen these individuals compete against standards of mediocrity and sub mediocrity. I have seen them become bored, frustrated, and I have seen the most promising individuals drop out at the end of the freshman year, the sophomore year. These are the ones we must save. Now, I promise not to talk platitudes to you, but to tell what can be done, what we can do is this. Darwin Turner: First if our major concern, is a job, if the doors have been closed, then we need to open those doors. We need to open the doors through the courts. And if necessary in the streets, we must open the doors and train the individuals to go through those doors. But after we've taken care of that majority, then we need to concern ourselves with the individuals who should go to college. This standards for determining who should go to college should not be arbitrary. They cannot be based on the question of race, color, blood, economic position, social status. Darwin Turner: These are the minimum qualifications for the individual who is capable of benefiting from a college education. He must be capable of learning. He must be able to read with understanding. He must be able to think. He must be able to work independently. He must be able to communicate his ideas. And finally, he must know something. These individuals we must send because they are our leaders. We must do as you are doing tonight, provide funds for those who do not have money to go, we must encourage them, seek them out, put them in the colleges and help them stay until they finish, they are our leaders. Third, we need to create an atmosphere which is essential to incidental or informal learning. I believe that we, as a race, tend to believe that education ends at 3:30, when the classroom door close. This is not true. Sometimes the most significant education in life can be incidental education. Let me merely site one or two examples. Darwin Turner: One is that of a young boy who came from what would be considered a good Negro family. He was excellently educated. He attended formal school. He attended integrated schools where he received his formal instruction. He received a scholarship to a large Northern university. He attended the university and made very good grades, but he confided in me the fact that he didn't feel really at ease in the bull sessions in the dormitories, because they were talking about things that he didn't know anything about. Now, somewhere along the line, we as a group, missed the boat with that youngster. He had the best possible integrated education. He attended one of the best high schools in the country, but when he returned to his Negro friends after school, he was not learning as these other white children who attended the same Northern university were learning. Let me cite another example. Darwin Turner: I studied no courses in music history. I studied no courses in art history, but at the end of four years of college, I was required to take an examination called a graduate record examination. On that examination I found questions about art music history. I was surprised to find out how much I knew about those questions. I don't know where I learned the information, frankly. I think part of it came from the fact that I used to go over to the home of a white friend or we'd play some mechanical sports games that once were popular among teenagers. And while we played, he would play classical music because he liked it. And I listened and I liked it. And I learned quite a bit about classical music while I was playing. As a child I read classical myths. Not because I felt I should, but because they were amusing stories. As the adult head of an English department, I have been forced to put a course in classical mythology into the curriculum of the graduate school, because I discovered that most Negro adults do not know these stories on which our culture is based. Darwin Turner: Incidental, informal learning often is the most important kind of learning. I had two friends, two white friends, one was a tailor. The other was a housewife. These were two of the best educated individuals I've ever known. Neither one of them got past the freshman year in college, but they read incessantly afterwards. They read psychology, sociology, philosophy, history. They wanted to think this is what we, as a race need to learn. We need to provide for these youngsters, we're sending to college, the type of atmosphere in which they will be able to learn outside the classroom. We need to provide in that atmosphere. Studies in humanities experiences in philosophy in art, music, literature. Now I think that we have tended to ignore these studies because we regard them as impractical. They are not as immediate value to the individual who wants a job, but once again, these appear on examinations. Darwin Turner: Therefore, we must know these studies. I attended a gathering of white professors once and was asked about the impact of existentialism as a philosophy on the Negro intellectual. Existentialism is a philosophy which emphasizes the existence of the individual. And this professor thought justifiably that Negroes who feel themselves isolated might benefit from a study of a philosophy in which many of the individuals who propounded the philosophy considered themselves outsiders to. The question was asked I mumbled something and changed the subject. Now how could I tell this person that in most of the gatherings of Negro intellectuals professionals that I had attended, the common activities were drinking, dancing card playing the general subjects of conversation were not existentialism, but who was buying what, who was wearing what and who was getting whom. We as a race, have a very grave responsibility we have in our protection, the minds of many young students. Minds which can be trained to grow into the stature of Einsteins. But if we put these minds in a desert of ignorance of indifference, they will wither, they will rot. Darwin Turner: Fourth, we need to let our scholars be scholars. We have a tendency to criticize the Russians. We say that they force all the artists in that society to preach the communist line. But we do the same with Negroes. Many intellectuals have criticized Frank Yerby because they say he doesn't write about the Negro course. Last spring, during the demonstrations in Greensboro, one of the most promising students I've ever taught lost cast with the student body, because he was not participating actively, now there is a dilemma here. Personally, I do not see how any Negro can isolate himself from the current struggle. I do not see how he can remain inactive, but that's my personal reaction. If there is such a Negro who can detach himself emotionally, I believe that he deserves the right. I once heard a Negro historian say that maybe the reason that our race has not produced philosophers is that we've never had time to sit and think we've always been too busy, earning bread. Darwin Turner: And perhaps it's true today that we're forcing our scholars to become spokesman, to get out of their fields. Now it's understandable why we're doing it. Once the Negro had very few educated people in the race, he looked toward each individual with education as a man who could save the race. But we have many today who have intelligence who have talent, who have ability. Some of these surely should be permitted to work as scholars, apart from the race. W.E.B Du Bois, one of the greatest intellectuals ever produced among Negroes once wrote, the Negro race like all races is going to be saved by its exceptional men. The problem of education then among Negroes must, first of all, deal with the Talented Tenth. It is the problem of developing the best of this race that they may guide the mass away from the contamination and death of the worst in their own, and in other races. This is what we need to know about education. What we need to do. We need to stop blaming ourselves. We need to determine whom to educate and why, we need to create an atmosphere conducive to intellectual growth. We need to let our scholars be scholar. Darwin Turner: Reality has been called yesterday's dream. We live in a world that we call the present reality, a world of half open doors, but this world represents the dreams of our fathers and our grandfathers. Before who's faces those doors remained locked. Martin Luther King, as Jackie Robinson pointed out. And as everybody in this room remembers Martin Luther King recently talked about a dream, not to imitate King, but to dream along with him, I would like to add that we, like our fathers and grandfathers, we who live in this present reality of half open doors, have a dream of a time when those doors will be fully open. A dream that in time, just as the Negro is recognized for its excellence in athletics and in music. So he will be recognized fully for his excellence in intellectual achievements. We have a dream of a time when if a Negro has as appointed to a high position, there will be no one to snicker and say that he merely represents token integration because everyone will recognize that he has been appointed only because he is the best qualified person in America to hold such a position. Darwin Turner: We have a dream of a time when our race will produce men who were ranked with the Einsteins and the Isaac Newtons and the Immanuel Kants of the past, but we are still living in a present reality of half open doors. We're living in a present reality in which we run as fast as we can to stay where we are. And we have to run twice as fast as we can to get anywhere. In such a time when we're running to squeeze through the doors, before they close in our faces, we've had letter time to learn how to live and to sit quietly and think. Most of you who are in this audience are of a generation which give or take a few years I represent, and we are aging. In time we will join others in the past. Perhaps then you here tonight are not my real audience. Darwin Turner: Perhaps I'm really talking to your children and they're yet to be born children, but we're living in a time of wide open doors and who will need to know what to do about education. As Jackie Robinson was saying, they are the future of our race. We of this present reality must continue to work and to run in order to maintain this as a world in which Negro men can hope and can dream, dreams they must determine whether our dream will remain a dream would turn into a nightmare or will become the new reality of the new Negro. Henry Walker: Any comment I might make I think would be anti-climactic. I know that you enjoyed the remarks of the speaker of the evening. One more out of order because of another engagement honoree as Mr. Cub, Ernie, Bank's. I call Dr. Rochelle to make this presentation, Dr. Charles Rochelle of Evansville, Indiana. Dr. Charles Roc...: Mr. Toastmaster, honored guests, ladies and gentlemen, I feel highly honored tonight to have this opportunity to present this award, to this very deserving individual. Many of you as our Toastmaster has said, have known this individual as Mr. Cub, because he has carried the burden, one of the greatest baseball teams in our country. I'm happy to make this award to Mr. E. Banks was Texas born now a resident city of Chicago during time that he has been in baseball, you have become symbol. The reality of a dream, many youth of our nation, both white and colored. It won the most valuable award, twice during the time that he had been playing professional baseball in 1958 in 1959. One of those who has had the honor privilege to do this. He had over 350 home runs to his credit in his career. Not only is he a great baseball player, but the individual who is to receive this award at this time is also an inspire of our youth. Dr. Charles Roc...: Not only is he an inspire of our youth, but he is a great American, gives me a great deal of player. And I feel highly honored to present this award to you Mr. Banks. And may I follow the example of my predecessor presented your word to another great individual of our race and read this. This award it's given by the Prince Hall, Masonic Lodge, Indiana Jurisdiction, to Ernie Banks, this 27th day of October, 1963 at Gary, Indiana are his exemplary sportsmanship and conduct both on and off the athletic field. Why is recognition of the fruits to be reaped from education and for his outstanding work among the youth, urging them to continue their educational pursuit, Edgar J. Davis, Grandmaster. W.Henry Walker, Chairman of the public relations committee. Ernie Banks: Thank you very much, Dr. Rochelle for the fine introduction. And it seems as though we baseball players are always on the run here and I hope Cassius Clay isn't like that when he faces Sonny Liston in February. But anyway, I'm very proud and honored to be here tonight to celebrate in a wonderful occasion. As all of us know an education is something that nobody can take away from us. And I think every boy and girl should have an education and baseball or any other sport. We find that when we can get an education and we have an opportunity to continue our education, we do that. We have many players on the Chicago Cubs baseball team that are continuing their education. And, this is something that's very good. And we know that many youngsters throughout America follow baseball players, their lives and other athletes, and we want to inspire them and do the right thing and try to help them in many ways throughout the country, as far as little leagues is concerned and other organizations, and these are the things that we must do. Ernie Banks: And we are responsible for these youngsters who come to the baseball parks and see the games and ask for autographs, and things of this nature. And we want to help them and encourage them and inspire them to go on for an education. I want to thank each and every one of you for this fine award. And I do hope that I can live up to all the things that is said about me here in Chicago and in Gary and many other places. And I'll be working hard and trying hard to do that and I would like to see all of you at the world series in 1964 at Wrigley Field. Henry Walker: Well, let's give another hand for Wrigley Field. Ladies and gentlemen. Now we're going to ask you with us to view perhaps one of the most beautiful things you've ever seen. And I call on Mrs. [Josephine Reagan] and Mrs. [Patty Leonard], who will do the commentary on the beauty pageant that you are now about to witness. Josphine Reagan: Honored guests, ladies and gentlemen, at this time, we wish to present to you those young ladies who are vying for the title and the crown of Miss Mason of 1963, Miss Lou Audrey Beasley. Part of the program, which we feel is a fitting climax for an evening of entertainment, dedicated to the purpose of aiding students and achieving goals commensurate with their abilities. We take great pleasure in presenting to you at this time, we would like to introduce now the group of young women who represents the principle that ambition coupled with industry can and will bring success. These young women portray the axiom that selection of worthwhile goals brings continued school attendance and advancement towards future rewarding careers. Not only have they shown exemplary mental acumen, but they also embodied the social graces. So characteristic of genteel women of all nations. In these young women can be found the ambition, poise, mental ability and leadership qualities that are necessary attributes to successful future accomplishments. Josphine Reagan: A glance at the hobbies and interests will show these women to also be participant in activities that require physical stamina and wellbeing. Among the contestants this evening, we note that three are high school seniors who are maintaining scholastic averages acceptable to future enrollment in college. Four have completed high school careers and are presently attending institutions of higher learning, or have completed such training and have embarked on the chosen career. First, I present again to you, Miss Lou Audrey Beasley, a senior at Tolleston High School, Gary, Indiana, Miss Beasley is a member of Pilgrim Baptist Church. Reverend F.W Coleman pastor. She is president of the Coleman Youth Singers and Sunday school pianist. In school she is advertising editor of the year book, The Pioneer. She's a member of the Future Teachers of America and past vice-president of her freshmen class. Sports and music are her hobbies. She plans a career in nursing. Miss Beasley will tell you why nursing is important to her. Lou Audrey Beas...: Good evening. Ladies and gentlemen, I am indeed glad to express to you why I chose nursing as a career. First of all, why its interesting, helping other people, regardless of race, creed, or color that he will probably choose the career, which affords him the satisfaction. This is why I have been attracted to nursing. My first concern as a fully qualified [inaudible] nurse is to help other people. Furthermore, there are so many fields which are open to nursing. They're almost unlimited opportunities for young people who wish to become nurses. I'm usually attracted to activities which are challenging and in my nursing career, I'm sure there will be many situations, which would be indeed challenging. I must be, and I will be fully qualified to meet these challenges. As anyone must be if he has to make the most out of his chosen career. Lou Audrey Beas...: Besides, some of these primary facts, there's also a secondary fact, which I should refer to as a salary is only understandable that when choosing a career, I would also consider salary as a means of security. However, I realized salary isn't everything. As I go on my way each day, knowing that I can help people and showing these people that I care by show my willingness and capability of helping them is what really counts. These things way more than salary could ever weigh and how the things which influenced me in choosing nursing as a career. Thank you. Josphine Reagan: Miss Joyce Cherry, a senior at Tolleston High School, Gary, Indiana, Ms. Cherry is a member of Christians Valley Baptist church, Reverend C.H. Taylor pastor. She is a member of the choir. In school she's a member of the Girls Athletic Association, the Future Teachers of America, the art club, the drama club and the acapella choir. Dancing and skating are her hobbies. She plans a career in medicine. Miss Cherry will tell you why she selected the field of medicine for her career. Joyce Cherry: Dr. Turner, other dignitary guests And Grandmaster, I would like to say briefly, my reason for wanting to become a medical doctor. Why do I want to become a medical doctor? I have asked myself this question so many of times. The reason is because I asked myself, by saying, why does the sun rise? Why does summer follow winter? Simply because it must, but it goes far. Far deeper than this within I became aware of this as a child, I would visit the doctor often with my mother. I could look around me. I saw people that were dremished in pain. I could see a child whipping in his mother's arms. I could look around me and I became more aware of human suffering. But yet in still, I felt more helpless when I couldn't reach out and help the ones that were in pain. So it was my reason for wanting to become a medical doctor. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Josphine Reagan: Please car 45R5 has Ernie Banks blocked in. A graduate of Hammond High School, Hammond, Indiana, the first Negro teller and the Cayman National Bank. Ms. Gillespie is a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church. Reverend A.R. Barns pastor. She is a member of the Young Adult Fellowship Club. In school she served as secretary of the Hammond area get Junior Red Cross. And also as secretary of the school chapter, she was a student government representative, librarian assistant and school bookstore clerk. She was a bit member of the business occupation club. Tennis and bowling are her hobbies. She plans to enter a DePaul University to pursue a career in business. Miss Gillespie will tell you why she thinks business is an important career. Miss Gillespie: Ladies and gentlemen, and honored guests. I have chosen business as the field in which I plan to major in. As you know, I work in the Cayman national bank. This is a very exciting job but of course, many difficulties arise. Business is a very challenging and lucrative profession in business. You run into many types of people, but of course, this is expected in business. Thus I have chosen business as my profession. Therefore, I feel that I can serve myself, my people and my country.Thank you Josphine Reagan: Miss Barbara Hayden, a senior at Tolleston High School, Gary, Indiana, Miss Hayden is a member of Christian Valley Baptist Church, Reverend C.H. Taylor pastor. She's a member of the Nurse's Guild at the church and a past member of the American Woodman. At school she serves as office typist, varsity cheerleader, a member of Future Business Leaders of America, president of the Girls Athletic Association, member of [Y Teens] and member of the Future Teachers of America. Basketball and baseball are her hobbies. She plans a career in nursing. Miss Hayden will tell you why she selected nursing as her career field. Barbara Hayden: I feel like nursing as my career field because I believe that nursing is a humanitarian service based upon the scientific principles and should be changing to meet the needs of society. Nursing- Josphine Reagan: Miss Orlie Simpson, a graduate of Washington High School, East Chicago, Indiana, and a junior at Ball State College, Muncie, Indiana. Miss Simpson is a member of Zion Baptist Church, Reverend T.H. Rankin pastor. In high school she was a cheerleader and member of the National Honor Society and received a scholarship to Ball State. Here she is the first Negro cheerleader and captain of the squad. She is secretary of the junior class, president of Capital Sigma sorority, councilor of Woodhall, member of the judicial board and has made the Dean's list for six semesters. Tennis, bowling, horseback riding are her hobbies. She plans a career in the science field. Miss Simpson will tell you why she feels the scientific field is an excellent career choice. Orlie Simpson: Ladies and gentlemen, honored guest, and esteemed judges. Often when one thinks of a scientist, he deals in generalities and stereotypes. The inquiring mind is many times pictured as an integral part of an out of date machine, a machine that requires little sleep, less food, and sometimes stifled under adverse criticism. Why then is such a career? Why should I feel it's such a career as appropriate for me? The answer to this are many and varied, no longer do we live with ignorant, savages and caves or med hats. We don't eat dog meat or feast on the flesh of our enemies. Science today is not a circumscribed field. It rushes into the most quiet corners of our lives. We can see, feel, hear as well as taste and smell scientific achievements. Orlie Simpson: And now it is even peering into our subconscious in an effort to identify man, not one of us could hang suspended in this world. Free of sciences for each in his own small way is to some extent, a scientist for science is merely the extended inquiry of common sense. In this civilized democracy where automation reigns supreme and the threat of annihilation is ever present. The scientist emerges as a symbol of strength and hope. And it is this symbol of strength and hope that I someday wish to portray. Thank you. Josphine Reagan: Miss Patricia Smith, Reverend W.H. Robinson pastor. She is church clerk, a Sunday school teacher, president of the youth choir and vice president of the Baptist Training Union. She received a scholarship from the National Baptist Convention and cooperated and a social chairman of the social committee and student representative at Indiana University center. Sewing is her hobby. She plans a career in psychiatry. Miss Smith will tell you why she plans such a career. Patricia Smith: Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests assemble here. As I view this philosophical world in a psychiatrist point of view, I hear the cry of freedom, not only in the South, but around the world. The fire is lit in every corner of the globe witness each night as you turn on your televisions. I hear revolt in Vietnam among the Buddhist priests protests marches in Europe, revolutions in South America. This is the clearest evidence that I need that not only is this the space age, it is the age of enlightenment in the human relations. It is the age when man wants and demands a free wall right here before he attempts to inhabit the moon. Ladies and gentlemen, the tide can not be Steed justice, Liberty equality, fraternity, and freedom must now become words which mean what the dictionary says they mean. Patricia Smith: If they remain thoughts, ideas manipulated at will by the powerful and the almighty God, our cities shall soon crumble in dust. And man... I see man as one with the dinosaurs and there shall be no heritage at all. For our children are the future world to come. If I, as a psychiatrist can get man to practice the theory that it's in his heart, to love one another, and to do onto others as you would have man to do also on to you, then I feel that I can accomplish something as a psychiatrist and above all, help men to realize that the Bible will stand. The Holy Bible will stand through all generations. Thank you. Josphine Reagan: Miss Bonnie Whitley, a graduate of Froebel High School, Gary, Indiana. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, and the social caseworker presently employed by the Cook County Department of Public Aid. Miss Whitley is a member of St. Monica's Catholic Church father [Neuhan] priest. In high school she was a member of the Future Teachers of America and the Girls Athletic Association. At Indiana University she was an active member of the social service club, the Spanish club and Delta Sigma Theta sorority, before embarking on her present career. She was a substitute teacher and the public schools of Gary. Swimming, dancing, roller skating, reading and music enjoyment are her hobbies. She plans a career as a social worker, Miss Whitley will tell you why it is important to her, to become a social worker. Bonnie Whitley: Grandmaster and members, distinguished guest, ladies and gentlemen, and my fellow contestants. I am a social worker and I hope someday that I will work my way out of a job. For if all of the problems that exist today resolved, there'd be no need for me or any social worker for that matter. This is the ambition of every social worker to solve the problems of the world. As long as I can remember, I have always taken great pride in attempting to help my fellow man solve some of their problem. As time passed I began to realize that many people had problems of various aspects, such as emotional, social and economical. And they were unable to solve them themselves, therefore, upon entering college and after exploring the many fields in which I could vendor my services to mankind, I realized that social work was the only area in which I could fulfill this desire and feel gratified as a result of what I have done. Bonnie Whitley: Now that I am in this field. I just can't express in words, how challenging and rewarding it has been to attempt to solve some of the many problems that exists today. And if I solve one problem, be it small or large, then I feel that I have made a contribution to society. Thank you. Josphine Reagan: And now ladies and gentlemen, you have been introduced to, and you have heard the pageant participants and you have heard them discuss the reasons why they have chosen their careers. We now turn you over to Mr. Walker and await the final decision of the judges. Henry Walker: I thought I had a hard job, but I'm glad not to be one of the judges. While, they're out we're going to do something that we voted one year ago to do. We voted that the top coach in the nation and for the past 100 years, as far as we can see, not for just his coaching, but for those things over and above his coaching was John Baratto. And we have a call upon one of his outstanding students to come here to make this presentation. I call him at St. Louis and he didn't hesitate. He says, count on me I will be there. I remember our Dr. Andy Spencer. I must admit from the day he was born. I remember him most distinctly from the age of three. And I had to chuckle, I was reminded that when Dr. Turner spoke so eloquently about vocabulary and enunciation in our speaker as a Phi Beta Kappa man, too. And I guess we recognize that at age three, he was going to be because he had a very extensive vocabulary, which he annunciated flawlessly, but it was unprintable. Henry Walker: I present to you are esteemed and beloved East Chicago's greatest pride and joy Dr. Andrew Spencer to make this presentation. Andrew Spencer: Thank you, Mr. Walker. I hope all of you realize that what he has said. Let's say it out of a long for the area with me and my family, and regardless of how extravagant the free might've been, it was done out of kindness for that. Thank you, sir. Mr. Chairman, distinguished platform guests arise this evening to do honor to a man and to the life you've lived among us here in Northern Indiana. A life among us, which I hope he will not bring to an end too soon. I arise to do honor to a man who among other things have been and is a teacher of boys. When Mr. Walker called me in St. Louis a few weeks ago and asked me if I would come here to make this presentation, there was no hesitation in my mind about whether or not I would do it. You see, as a surgeon, we put great store in the value of our teachers. Because surgery is both an art and a science. Andrew Spencer: A scientific portion of it may be learned from books, but the art must be taught to us by teachers. And for that reason, we have great reverence for our teachers. And it is to this facet that John Baratto, that of teacher, that I will address my remarks this evening. Personally, I think it'd be fine and proper act that we, as citizens should stop and publicly recognize this man who by the force of his example have influenced for the better the lives of hundreds of young men. There is no better measure of the greatness of a teacher than the abiding influence that he has upon his pupils long after they have left him. All too frequently, boys do not recognize nor do they understand the lessons that they are being taught. But when the boy has grown to manhood, he sees with a mans eye. And looking through the perspective of time, the important lessons then stand out in bold relief. What then were the lessons that John Baratto talked to me and to so many other of his boys during the near 20 years, he has lived among us here in Northern Indiana. Andrew Spencer: He has taught us that through athletic competition character can be built. Or it is in athletic competition, that a boy faces the fundamental tests and trials that he will surely meet in life. He has taught us the importance of totally committing oneself to the pursuit of an honest and the worthwhile goal. He has taught us the value of patient tireless preparation, so that we may be ready to see that a seconds notice an opportunity that presents itself. And the more important he has taught us that there is no shame in defeat when we have given the contest the best that is in us. It is no accident, ladies and gentlemen, that an athlete sits upon the bench of the United States Supreme court. It is no accident that successful athletes become successful men in other pursuits. The lessons I have mentioned, they had to have learned from men like John Baratto and these lessons are responsible in no small measure for their success in life. Andrew Spencer: You show a boy that perseverance and determination will make up for his many other shortcomings, intellectual or otherwise is to my mind, a noble contribution to his education. No better lesson can be taught to an adolescent boy. When boys first come under the wing of their high school athletic coach, they are unsteady and unsure of themselves as individuals. The high school athletic coach ushers these untried yearlings into their first confrontation with serious, purposeful, and organized competition. And for time, the world for the boys will be seen and interpreted through the eyes and mind of that coach. The responsibilities of a coach then are considerable and only the most sincerely motivated individuals are worthy of that responsibility. Coach John Baratto has, I submit, has proven himself more than worthy. The boys who have come under his tutelage have come from varied backgrounds. Andrew Spencer: All of them did not have parents who were interested in their progress as mine and yours perhaps even ours. And Coach Baratto often represented the sole individual who took a real and abiding interest in such boys. Came to their aid read when they were in trouble and showed them that they did have personal worth. And what's more, he taught them how they could carve a place for themselves in life. How did he do this? By mollycoddling them, by making excuses for their failing, by helping them wallow in self-pity nobody who knows John Baratto would believe that at no, he did it by making them strive to do the best they could with whatever the talent the Lord has given them. Regardless of how meager that talent might've been. He did it by demanding of them, the same interest and enthusiasm for the task. At hand that he himself possessed. He did it by showing these boys that each of them could make a contribution to an effort that was larger than any one of them individually. And that by so doing they could lay the groundwork for a life of purposeful achievement. Andrew Spencer: The success of John Baratto as a coach of winning basketball team is beyond the question beyond dispute. The numbers of his victories are set down in the record books for all to see the dates, the time, the place of all are there, but in the grand scheme of things, these records of victories are about a small part of the impact that John Baratto has had on this community the lessons in individual and shared responsibility of perseverance and determination that he has talked to the boys who helped win those victories would influence the lives of all boys long after the basketball victories have been forgotten. No. If John Baratto were only a winner of basketball games, we would not be here this evening to do him honor his far more. He is not only a teacher of boys. He is, and will continue to be a molder of men. Andrew Spencer: John Baratto cognizance have been taken of your deeds and the grand lodge of Indiana Prince hall masons in grateful appreciation presents this award, which reads as follows to John Baratto of Washington High School of East Chicago, Indiana, for his untiring efforts far beyond the call of duty to make the fruits of American men who by any standard a reality for all boys of all creeds, from any precinct without expectation of material reward and whose efforts will carry over vigorously and beneficially into the next century presented by Andrew Spencer, who in representing the hundreds of boys now going into manhood who were privileged to come into association with you, which used to say before this assembly, our lives have been enriched by association with you. John Baratto: Thank you Dr. Spencer or better still Andy, and ladies and gentlemen I feel a little bit like Casey Stengel now. How could I lose having such products as Andy here and a couple of girls that I saw there nowhere around when we won our state championship. And I certainly want to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the friends hall, Masonic lodge for honoring me here this evening. I want to say that I feel that my work with the colored boys and this area has been no more than what a duty of any coach should be. I think that I have had the opportunity of working with a lot of fine boys. And I think that they actually you know, the old story is it takes a pretty bad cook to spoil a good steak. And I think that the reason that we have been so successful is that we had a pretty good product to start with. And I really think too, that there's several people there in the audience that I noticed that I owe a lot to Mr. Walker, I saw Mr. Hunter and I know I saw Mrs. Dow and several other people here that along the way have helped me. John Baratto: And I certainly feel really delighted that the likes and these people have felt that I've done something and they appreciate it. And I'm really happy. And I certainly want to thank everybody that came here in my behalf. Henry Walker: I have a little organ interlude as the judges tear each other's hairs out. There's a winner I'm not going to open it. I'm going to introduce you now to the Latin Queen Miss Toni Lopez. [inaudible] is going to escort her up to the stage with the name of this winner and with the crown. And in a very few moments, we'll know who the queen, the Masonic queen for 1963 is. Toni Lopez: Miss Orlie Simpsons. Orlie Simpson: At this point all I can say, thanks. It's very much extemporaneous. This has been indeed an experience. It's the experience that I shall never ever forget. And I'd like to thank all of you for being here and making this occasion such a memorable one for me that's all. Henry Walker: [inaudible] I mean judges, I want to say this, that we thought of a lot of other categories for awards. We thought of the guy who smiled all the time. We ought to give him an award. Someone who had church, we felt that he ought to have an award personality that was unmatched. We felt there should be an award for that for genuine friendliness, humility, kindness, cheerfulness We thought that someone who represented all of those should get an award, and we would call him the greatest. So we have an award for the greatest Cassius. Here is this award and grateful appreciation to the greatest encourage, personality, perseverance, friendliness, achievement, humility, kindness, cheerfulness- Cassius Clay: Bill [Cashmore]... Why would you make me come all the way from Detroit, Michigan into here as great as I am, and then called me up here and offer me something in my name. And I said, who's Bill [Cashmore]. Who did he ever beat? Henry Walker: Bill [Cashmore]. We want all of you pretty hostesses to gather around the King while we have the benediction from father [inaudible]. Father: Heavenly father, we have humbly invoked thy name. And in the presence of this illustrious company here assembled on this festive occasion have made bold to invite thee as our unseen guests to witness the purity of our intentions, that no thought word or deed would transpire here, that would offend thee and to put the seal of thy spirit and thy love on the fellowship here, proven by the breaking of bread. That was given us this day, our daily bread and we give thee thanks to the Lord for the benefits we have received through thy bounty. We pray that we may use them on to thine own greater glory and honor, and to our own physical and spiritual welfare. And we pray that we might be inspired by thy love and wisdom to have the courage we need in this time of crisis. For we know thy truth shall make us free, and we shall be free. Amen. Henry Walker: Thanks for coming. We appreciate everything you have done. And I want to say that the Queen has gifts that she's going to distribute to her court. Speaker : May we have your attention please. Just a minute please.