COMPLIMENTARY

stlamerican.comVol. 84 No. 52CAC Audited

MAR. 28 – APR. 3, 2013

TYSON ON TYSON – AND DEVONBoxing legend brings one-man show and fandomfor Alexander to St. Louis.

Page C1

Prop P would fund park improvementsBy Rebecca S. RivasOf The St. Louis American

In the past, many African-American families usedto gather in Ruth Porter Park, a nine-block green spacealong Delmar near DeBaliviere that was named after acivil rights and fair housing advocate in 1968.

Later, when gang violence and crime held the parkhostage, residents stayed away.

Recently the public agency Great Rivers Greenway

District gave it a face lift and built the 1.3-mile asphaltRuth Porter Park Trail that connects to the St. VincentGreenway trail system. Soon residents will be able toaccess nine Metro stops from the trail.

At the park trail’s grand opening on Oct. 20,Alderman Frank Williamson said, “Ruth Porter issmiling down on us today.”

Now Great Rivers has a chance to increase theaccessibility and security to even more St. Louis parks– including the Gateway Arch. See PROP P, A6

Initiative on April 2 ballot would raise $780M for city, county parks

Citizensurgeon

By Sandra JordanOf The St. Louis American

St. Louis surgeon Dr. Leslie F. Bond Sr. once toldThe American that he knew at age 5 that he wantedto become a physician.

“My father was a physician, and I enjoyed thewhole time in preparation for being a physician,”

Bond said when interviewedas 2007 Salute to Excellencein Health Care LifetimeAchiever.

“I’ve also had a great fam-ily, great children and greatfriends behind me. I’m veryfortunate.”

And St. Louis was fortu-nate to have Dr. Bond in itsranks. In addition to being aphysician, he was a civilrights activist who supportedefforts to get jobs and politi-cal offices for African

Americans in the region. Bond passed away on Thursday, March 21, 2013

at age 85.Bond started his private medical practice in 1958

in St. Louis after completing a residency in internalmedicine and surgery at Homer G. Phillips Hospital.

“A gifted surgeon and a caring physician, he wasan inspiration for many, including my family andme,” St. Louis American Publisher Donald M. Suggs,said. “I owe a very special debt to him for his patientmentoring of an obscure, bewildered dental intern at

See BOND, A7

Dr. Leslie F. BondSr. passes at 85

� “If we don’t care for the Arch, the federal governmentwon’t. We all have the responsibility tocare for the park andthe river.”

– Susan Trautman,Great Rivers Greenway

Amber Henderson snaps a shot with her niece Savannah Williams Monday afternoon while sledding in Forest Park. OnSunday, St. Louis had a record snowfall of 12.7 inches.

Spring snowPhoto by Wiley Price

On April 2, St. Louis City and County residentswill vote on Proposition P, a 3/16 of a cent sales taxincrease, which would raise an estimated $31 milliona year – or a projected $780 million by the time thetax expires in 20 years.

The tax increase is equal to two cents for a $10purchase.

Great Rivers would administer 60 percent of the

Dr. Leslie F. Bond Sr. passed away on Thurs.,March 21, 2013 at the age of 85.

Feb. 20, 1928 – Mar. 21, 2013

� “We couldalways call onhim and knowhe would beon the rightside of history.”

– CongressmanBill Clay

By Bridjes O’NeilOf The St. Louis American

“Places for People is a community-based specialtybehavioral health care organization,” said Joe Yancey,executive director of Places for People. “We providespecialized behavioral health care treatment to those in

HEALTH SALUTE

Finding placesfor those ‘most in need’Places for People is 2013Health Advocacy Organization of the Year

By Rebecca S. RivasOf The St. Louis American

On March 13, Gov. Jay Nixonappointed Drug Court CommissionerMichael W. Noble to serve as an asso-ciate circuit judge on the 22nd JudicialCircuit Court, which covers the City ofSt. Louis.

Noble will fill the position previous-ly held by Elizabeth B. Hogan, whowas appointed as a circuit judge.

“Michael Noble’s dedication to hiscountry, the pursuit of justice and thepeople of St. Louis will serve him well

in this new role,and I am pleasedto appoint himfrom a panel ofwell-qualifiednominees,” Nixonsaid.

Since 2007,Noble has servedas a drug courtcommissioner withthe 22nd Circuit.As a leader of thedrug court, he

worked to make drug treatment avail-able to nonviolent offenders who donot have access to such resources.

“As a drug court commissioner,

Nixon names Michael Noble as circuit judgeDrug court commissioner appointed to bench in city

Michael W.Noble

See SALUTE, A10 See NOBLE, A6