INTERVIEW

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Volume 79 Number 28 May 9 – 15, 2010 | FREE

Weekend

George E. CurryRoad to Memphis

Weekend

Home LivingCreating a Healthy Home Turf

Click on Defendernetwork.comMonday

Marian EdelmanPlayground of Jail

By Kam WilliamsCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Since Haiti’s no longer front-page news,it’s very easy to forget about the fact thatthere’s an ongoing crisis there in the wakeof the devastating earthquake which hit theisland on January 12th. Fortunately, CNN’sSoledad O’Brien stands out as a journalistwho has remained very committed to keep-ing the story of the country’s recovery onthe front burner.

She recently returned to the region toinvestigate the plight of the disaster’s mostvulnerable victims – the kids. Interviewinglocals, missionaries, aid workers, bureau-crats and children themselves, Soledad dis-covered not only that Haiti now has about

380,000 orphans, but that many have beensold into slavery. Their perilous predicamentis the focus of Rescued, Soledad’s shockingspecial report, which is set to premiere onCNN on Saturday May 8th at 8 PM.

Here, she talks about the riveting docu-mentary, which will be voiceovered byWyclef Jean and Edwidge Danticat and toldfrom the perspectives of six-year-old orphanCandy Jeune and a freed slave named MarcKenson Oliphi.

Kam Williams: Hi, Soledad, thanks againfor the time.

Soledad O’Brien: You bet.KW: How are the kids? Last time we spoke,

they played such a big role, demanding yourattention periodically during the interview.

SO: [Chuckles] They’re fine, thanks.

When I go back to Haiti in June and Sofia’sout of school, I’ll take her with me, whichwill be an interesting trip. And, from there,we’ll go to New Orleans, because she’s get-ting old enough to start touring some of theplaces I’ve worked.

KW: What interested you in covering thisstory?

SO: I don’t think you can walk aroundreporting on Haiti and be on the groundthere, and not feel compelled by the storyof the orphaned and abandoned children.When I was there immediately after theearthquake, there was cer-tainly nothing asheart-wrench-ing as seeing the

Soledad focuses on Haiti rescue

By Floyd Alvin GallowaySPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM

THE ARIZONA INFORMANT

WASHINGTON (NNPA) - In the late80’s Republican Governor EvanMecham, set off a bomb that cost thestate of Arizona millions of dollars intourist and convention business when herepealed the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Holiday.

Some protesters of the illegal-immi-gration bill signed by Republican Gov.Jan Brewer believe it will have the sameeffect on an already financially troubledstate. On Friday, April 23, Gov. Brewersigned what is called the most stringentanti-immigration bill in the country. Theyhave likened it to the South African

SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE AFRO-

AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS

WASHINGTON (NNPA) -President Obama has signed intolaw a bill calling for the UnitedStates to take the lead in forgiv-ing debt owed to internationallenders by earthquake-ravagedHaiti.

The bill, signed April 26, urgesmajor multinational institutionsto cancel all debt owed to themby Haiti and recommends that allaid to the country for the nextfive years be provided in theform of grants rather than loans.

“The President’s signature onthis bill is further indication ofthe United States’ support for thepeople of Haiti,”Congresswoman Maxine Waters(D-Calif.), who sponsored theHouse version of the bill, said ina statement. “I authored this leg-islation because Haiti’s immense debtburden would have severely impeded thecountry’s recovery efforts.”

The bill was approved in the House onApril 14 and passed the Senate earlier

in April.Under the measure, the Treasury

Department is required toinstruct U.S. executives at theInternational Monetary Fund,the World Bank and other insti-tutions to use the force andinfluential power of the UnitedStates to cancel Haiti’s debt.

The bill calls for Haiti toreceive aid in the form of grantsuntil Feb. 1, 2015. Followingthat date, multilateral develop-ment institutions may resumeaid in the form of new loans.

The Treasury said at thebeginning of March that Haitiowed $828 million to severalinternational institutions,according to the AssociatedPress. Since then, one of thoseinstitutions, the Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank, said itwould forgive THE $447 mil-lion Haiti owed it, and convert

remaining undistributed loans intogrants.

Other organizations, including theWorld Bank and International MonetaryFund, have also begun to make moves to

★IMMIGRATION, Page 3

★SOLEDAD, Page 2

President Obama signsdebt relief bill for Haiti

MaxineWaters

BarackObama

By ReShonda Tate BillingsleyDEFENDER

The family of a young man who says he was “sav-agely beaten” by eight Houston police officers saythey hope a lawsuit will send a strong message thatpolice brutality will not be tolerated. A lawsuit isexpected to be filed any day now on behalf of 15-year-old Chad Holley, who was arrested on suspi-cion of burglary.

Holley has received the support of a coalition ofBlack community leaders who are calling for indict-ments against the eight officers. Representatives of

DEFENDER NEWSERVICE

Jury selection has begun in theaggravated assault trial of BellairePolice Sgt. Jeff Cotton, accused ofshooting Robert Tolan in his parents’driveway.

Cotton, 40, is charged with aggravat-ed assault by a public servant. Hisattorney said the 10-year veteran offi-cer is looking forward to having all ofthe evidence about the shooting comeout.

“Sgt. Cotton acted as a reasonablepolice officer would have acted under the circum-

stances,” lawyer Paul Aman said.Prosecutors have declined to comment on the

shooting, which sparked complaints ofracial profiling against Cotton and theBellaire Police Department. Cotton iswhite, Tolan is Black. Cotton has deniedTolan’s race affected his actions, and hislawyer said the officer fired when hethought his life was in danger.

A consultant hired by the city to com-pile its annual report to the state on racialprofiling later issued a report, concludingthere was not enough information in

Bellaire officer on trial

★BELLAIRE, Page 3

★BEATING, Page 7

STOP POLICEBRUTALITY

CHANGES NEEDED■ Houston City Council

establish Civilian review board with subpoena andinvestigative power.

■ State Reps. pass legislation to support the civilian reviewboard in Houston.

■ Call the Harris County District Attorney, Pat Lykos to request a speedy and thorough investigation.

Sgt. JeffCotton

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Az. immigrationlaw under fire

Photo: Arizona Informant

Students from Arizona and surrounding states protest newimmigration bill that many say encourages racial profiling.

Photos: Quanell X

Eight Houston police are under investigation for the alleged beating of Chad Holley.

2 MAY 9 – 15, 2010 | DEFENDER

condition of many of the kids, because it’ssuch a massive problem. So, I was eager tocover the story for CNN with a potentialglobal audience of two billion people.

KW: Two things that shocked me watchingan advance copy of the special: the sheernumber of Haitian children without parents,380,000, and the fact that about 300,000 ofthem are enslaved.

SO: It’s incredible, isn’t it? And that esti-mate is conservative. Some people put thenumber at around 1.5 million on the highside. That’s what I heard yesterday, but it’sjust an educated guess at this point.

KW: What is the Haitian government doingabout the fact that they have a situationwhere people are being enslaved?

SO: It’s such a hard thing for those of usin this country to get our minds around, butit’s completely legal. I’m sure you saw inthe piece how the boy named Matthinson’sfather sold him for about $12 dollars to goand be a slave for a complete stranger. Butit’s an indication of just how devastating thepoverty is in Haiti that that’s a viableoption. It’s pervasive throughout the coun-try. And unfortunately, it’s perfectly legal.

KW: Another segment I found compellingwas the one about the missionary work ofBill and Suzette Manazarro. Why did youdecide to include them?

SO: It was such a great story in a lot ofways, starting with Suzette and Bill’s phi-losophy of taking in children not to sendthem overseas for adoption, but to raisethem right there so they can grow up tobecome productive, standup citizens andhelp rescue Haiti. The “Rescue” in our titlerefers not only to the Manazarros’ work butalso the hope that the children might, inturn, rescue their own nation. I thought thatwas a very interesting strategy for a nationthat’s just been through a devastating earth-quake. It also helped that we came across ayoung man who had been shooting at theirorphanage for a few years. His videotapeenabled us to tell their story from 2007 tothe present.

KW: You also said that about three-quar-ters of Haiti’s schools are in ruins. So, arethe children being educated?

SO: In some cases, yes. I’m not sure ofthe latest status on that, because the situa-tion is changing very rapidly. But the offi-cial schools have been ruined. They col-lapsed in the earthquake. In fact, the entireinfrastructure of the children’s lives havepretty much collapsed. So many people, likeBill and Suzette, have set up their ownschools for the kids in their care.

KW: What does Haiti need right now?SO: Well, Kam, how much time do you

have? KW: Then answer this, how can someone

who wants to get involved help Haiti? SO: There are so many churches that have

missions in Haiti. I’d say reach out and findan organization whose work you like andget connected through them.

KW: What outcomes do you hope to haveas a result of this special?

SO: I think one goal is just to keep thestory of Haiti in the news, to keep peopleexposed to what’s going on in order to help

them recognize the depth of the problem fororphans in a really cohesive way.

KW: I understand, because I was tornbetween interviewing a movie star thisweek and this opportunity to talk to youabout Haiti again. I’ll be honest, I seriouslydebated it.

SO: I won the toss-up, then. [Laughs] Ilove to be able to get out an important mes-sage so that another journalist asks himself,“Hmm? Should I interview a starlet with anew hit movie or do an interview about thisimportant story that still needs to be told?” Ilove that you wrestled with that. And that Iwon. So, journalism lives! I’m excited aboutthat.

KW: You previously mentioned the needfor “opportunity” and “real infrastructure”in Haiti. I know it has not been long and itmay be just a few starfish back in the seabut have you seen any improvements?

SO: Yes, I did see some minor improve-ments, but it’ll be more interesting to look

at the answer to that question when I goback next month.

KW: Do you think that a new, strongerHaiti will be a valuable ally to the US mili-tary?

SO: I think the answer is, yeah, probably,but that’s not the big problem right now.What Haiti needs is infrastructural repair,not a new military base or a great jumping-off point for U.S. Armed Forces. They needjobs for the people and care for the children,and a movement to address the child slaveryissue. In my mind, all that stuff comes waybefore any questions about whether Haiti’swell-position to be a viable military base forthe United States.

KW: What did you put down on your cen-sus form? Obama checked off “Black” whenhe is just as Black as white. How do youself-identify?

SO: I find the question really ridiculous.All the schooling I have to do on this topicis wearing me out. Obama is Black. Hismother was white. I am Black. My father iswhite. I’m going to give everybody aHistory 101 lesson. Some Black peoplehave white blood in them. This has beengoing on for many generations, people.Look at any family of Black people. Theyrun a range of colors. This is why.

KW: You and all five of your siblings grad-uated from Harvard, so I have to ask youwhat you think about Stephanie Grace, theHarvard Law student who recently sent outan email stating that she believes Blackpeople are genetically inferior to white peo-ple. Were you shocked by her statement?

SO: My first reaction was, “Well, who’sthe dumb one?” If you’re going to talkabout innate intelligence, maybe sendingout that email is not the smart thing to do.That would make me ask, who’s the stupidone in this equation? But am I shocked?Sadly, no. I’m not even surprised.

KW: Well, Soledad, thanks again foranother fun interview.

SO: Thank you so much for doing thisstory. We’re hoping that lots of folks watch“Rescued,” because it’ll be an indicationthat people want continued coverage ofHaiti.

KW: I’ll certainly do my best to spread theword.

SO: Thanks, Kam, bye.

Soledadcontinued from page 1

Photo: Jonathan Torgovnik

CNN Reporter Soledad O’Brien said she couldn’t help but be touched by the plight ofHaiti’s children. Her special report, “Rescued” airs May 8th on CNN.

The Houston Defender Newspaper published by The Houston Defender Inc. Company (713) 663-6996. The Defender audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscriptions,

send $60.00 — 1 year, to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288. Payment must accompa-ny subscription request. All materials covered by 2009 copyright... (No material herein may be

reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

VOLUME 79 • NUMBER 28 MAY 9 – 15, 2010

PublisherSonceria Messiah-Jiles

EditorVon Jiles

Associate EditorReShonda Billingsley

Art DirectorCale Carter

Columnist Yvette Chargois

Sports EditorsMax EdisonDarrell K. Ardison

Contributing WritersAswad Walker

WebmasterCorneleon Block

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It’s an ultra-competitive market among thesports utility vehicles in the world.

The original Ford Explorer was the precedentthat every other SUV measured itself by, and forgood reason. The Explorer combined style, func-tionality and across-the-board appeal.

With a long list of illustrious predecessors likethe Explorer, Toyota 4runner, GMC Tahoe andChevrolet Trailblazer that hog most of the atten-tion (and sales), it’s a tough road for upstarts likethe 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara Xsport.

But thanks to inspired exterior styling, a com-fortable interior layout and all-around solid per-formance, Suzuki has produced a genuine play-er in the Grand Vitara as a bargain basementoption.

Even at the affordable (as-tested) price of$26,153, the Grand Vitara brings many of theamenities we’ve come to expect from larger,more expensive SUVs.

Let’s begin with the interior. The seating posi-tion provides good sight lines and front legroomis more than ample. Features like a navigationsystem with 4.3-inch touch screen display,power/tilt slide sunroof and leather steeringwheel with audio controls are what you mightexpect to see in larger, higher-priced SUVs.

On the negative side, rear legroom leaves a lit-tle bit to be desired.

The Grand Vitara’s exterior is enhanced by thebold, Superman-like “S” in the middle of thefront grille. Black roof rails and a rounded fronthood add to the vehicle’s sporty presence.

A 3.2-liter V6 engine that produces 230 horse-power and 213 pounds-per-foot of torquematched with a five-speed automatic transmis-

sion is quite competent and makes accelerationon the freeway rather effortlessly.

More than capable of handling off-roadchores, the Grand Vitara possesses a four-modefull-time 4WD system with low range off-roadgearing, hill hold control and hill descent con-trol. A four-wheel independent suspension pro-vides a smooth, un-small SUV-like ride.

Suzuki didn’t cut corners with safety andsecurity features either.

Along with an electronic stability programand traction control system, the Grand Vitara’sbrakes are among the best in its class, thanks to

an anti-lock system and electronic brake forcedistribution.

Other standard safety equipment includesdual stage front air bags, front seat side impactsupplemental air bags, side curtain air bagswith rollover sensor and a tire pressure moni-toring system.

For good measure, the Grand Vitara earnedfive-star ratings from the National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in theside front seat and crash rear seat categories.Four stars were yielded in the frontal driver,crash passenger and rollover divisions.

AUTO NEWSMAY 9 – 15, 2010 | DEFENDER 3

By Darrell K. Ardison

2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara

GRAND VITARA: HIGHLIGHTS

MSRP base price$25,499 (as tested -$26,153)

Engine3.2-liter V6

TransmissionFive-speed automatic

Fuel economy17 miles per gallon (city), 23 mpg (highway)

Estimated annual fuel cost$2,051 (based on $2.60 per gallon)

department statistics about arrests and trafficstops to indicate whether Bellaire officersconducted racial profiling. The HoustonNAACP blasted the report as flawed.

The son of former major league playerBobby Tolan, Robert Tolan played baseballfor Bellaire High School and was pursuing aprofessional baseball career at the time of theshooting.

After getting off work at a restaurant onDec. 31, 2008, Tolan, then 23, and his cousinwere stopped as he parked in his parents’driveway about 2 a.m. Another officer haddispatchers look up the license plates onTolan’s sport utility vehicle, but got wronginformation, leading him to believe the vehi-cle was stolen.

Several officers approached Tolan and hiscousin, who were ordered to the ground. As

Tolan’s family came out to explain the situa-tion, Tolan’s mother was pushed against awall, representatives for Tolan’s family havesaid. Tolan’s attorney Geoffrey Berg saidwhen Tolan rose to protest, Cotton fired sev-eral times, striking Tolan once in the chest.

Berg said he expects Tolan to testify atCotton’s trial. Berg is representing Tolan andhis family in a lawsuit seeking damages fromCotton, another officer, the police chief,mayor and other Bellaire officials. The law-suit alleges a culture of racism amongBellaire police and says police “engage inunconstitutional racial profiling and discrim-ination as a matter of policy.”

Berg said the lawsuit has been on hold asthe family waits to see what happens inCotton’s case. Cotton, free on $20,000 bond,remains on administrative leave with paypending the outcome of the case, Bellairepolice officials said.

Bellairecontinued from page 1

apartheid rule when Blackswere required to carry properpapers justifyING them to be incertain areas or be arrested,beaten or worse.

The governor describes it as“another step forward in pro-tecting the state of Arizona.”But, many in the minority com-munity say it will open the gatesto racial profiling.

“I will not tolerate racial dis-crimination or racial profiling inthe state of Arizona,” she said.

She also emphasized anamendment to the bill that pre-vents law enforcement person-nel from using a person’s raceas the only factor in implement-ing the law. “This protects all ofus – every Arizona citizen andeveryone here lawfully,” shesaid.

The bill, authored by Sen.Russell Pierce, who is also try-ing to eliminate ethnic studies inhigh schools and universities,says this bill will take the hand-cuffs off law enforcement andallow them to do their jobswithout restrictions.

Opponents of the law, includ-ing Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), have said it amounts to“institutionalized discrimina-tion and abuse.” But Brewerdefended her decision as heronly choice considering the fed-eral government’s failure tosecure the border.

During the Bush administra-tion, the president tried to passcomprehensive immigrationreform, but was met by opposi-tion from his own party includ-ing Arizona senator Jon Kyl.Sen. John McCain had at onetime endorsed immigrationreform, but during a tough cam-paign re-election he haschanged his tune regarding it totry to gain more support fromthe conservative side of hisparty.

On Thursday, April 22, closeto a thousand students fromhigh schools around the Valleyparticipated in a hands on civicslesson. They walked out ofclasses, and marched to the cap-ital to voice their opposition tothe Senate Bill 1070. Protestersfrom as far away as California,Texas and New Mexico picket-ed at the capital to try and swaythe governor to veto the bill.

A 24-year-old BlackCalifornia resident came with agroup called the Coalition forHumane Immigrant Rights ofLos Angeles. “My parents arefrom Nigeria and they wentthrough something similar inthe 70’s and I think it’s wrong.All it does is promote hate andfear.” The out-of-state contin-gent chanted, “Arizona We GotYour Back.”

Dory, a Black Arizona StateUniversity graduate student wasprotesting with 125 other peo-ple outside the downtownSheraton Hotel in downtown

Phoenix where the governorwas speaking at a dinner forChicanos Por La Causa.

“I heard about the bill. I thinkit is an embarrassment. I thinkit’s wrong to be racial profilingpeople, and that’s what this billwill do. I’m an immigrant; I justdon’t look like an immigrant. Ithink its wrong and I wanted tobe heard.

Before Brewer signed thebill, President Obama called it“misguided” and said the legis-lation demonstrates whyCongress must act soon to passcomprehensive immigrationreform. He has ordered theJustice Department to look atthe bill.

At a recent Rose Garden nat-uralization ceremony for mem-bers of the American military,President Obama warned thatthe bill “threatened to under-mine basic notions of fairnessthat we cherish as Americans, aswell as the trust between policeand their communities that is socrucial to keeping us safe.”

The bill will make it a statecrime not to carry proof of legalimmigration status and willrequire Arizona’s state and localpolice to ask about a person’simmigration status if there is“reasonable suspicion” that heor she is in the country illegally.There are expected to be numer-ous challenges in the courts tothe bill.

Immigrationcontinued from page 1

Marian Tolan and son Robbie Tolan answer reporters’ questions at a news pressconference.

4 MAY 9 – 15, 2010 | DEFENDER

With five Houston areaschools ranked in the finalregular season state Class5A coaches’ poll, hoperemains alive that two 5Aschools will advance to thestate softball tournament inAustin.

The Woodlands figures tobe a force in Region II-5Awhile Tomball and NewCaney are still alive. RegionIII-5A is wide open withBellaire, Fort Bend Elkins,Clements and Pearland seek-ing the grand prize.

Elkins was beset byinjuries during the regularseason, but the Knightscould be ready for a longforay into the playoffs nowthat pitcher NicoleGremillion is healthy andthe team is on a 10-gamewinning streak. Two ofthose victories came overClements last week tosecure the top seed inDistrict 23-5A.

Second baseman ElizabethArana is the anchor of TheWoodlands stout defenseand she’s also hitting .352with seven home runs. TheHighlanders also boast stel-lar pitching in PaigeMcDuffee and freshmanKristen Clark.

Cinco Ranch found littleresistance in District 17-5Aand were undefeated inleague play (10-0) whilebuilding momentum for theplayoffs.

Clements senior pitcherLiz Paul is one of the

Leadership 101If anyone out there per-

sonally knows soon to bereleased, former #1 overallselection, most disappoint-ing #1 draft pick in NFL his-tory, Oakland quarterbackJaMarcus Russell, sharewith him this portrait ofwhat leadership at the quar-terback position looks like,Vince Young.

While we wait for Russellto keep his weight under290 (consistently) and givethe Raiders a little bit of areturn on their money, hecan take a look at how VYapproaches leadership fromthe quarterback position.

During recent workouts inNashville, Vincentannounced he would be tak-ing a group of receivers,tight ends and running backsto either San Diego orHouston in an effort tobond, work on timing andbetter connect on and off thefield. The players providetheir own airfare and Vincewill take care of everythingelse.

“I feel like it is best for usto get away and get to knoweach other and bond and geton the same page throwingand working out together,”’#10 said. “And then after wetake care of our footballstuff in the morning, we geta chance to relax and talkand hang out together anddo some things.”

Young feels independentefforts of this nature paydividends in the future.

“So when the seasoncomes around and we’re outthere against an opponent,we all know each other fromall that chemistry and rela-tionship and spending timewith one another.”

★ARDISON, Page 6

★EDISON, Page 6

MAY 9 – 15, 2010 | DEFENDER 5SPORTS

Max Edisonon

Sports

Darrell Ardison

on H.S.Sports

By Max EdisonDEFENDER

Long before Aaron Glenn hung up hiscleats, he realized he needed to pre-pare for life after football. Now, after

patrolling NFL secondaries for 15 yearswith five teams, #31 is devoting the majori-ty of his time to his business interests,which are diverse and rapidly expanding.

“I recently heard Pat Kirwan (former JetsGM) say something on Sirius Radio, thatI’ve never said loudly, but I totally agreedwith. ‘The NFL is not a career, it’s an oppor-tunity to get a chance to set yourself up tostart your career’,” Glenn shared. “Three orfour years of your life playing football is nota career. I was blessed to play fifteen. Ialways wanted to make sure I found myniche, to get a chance to meet people in thebusiness world and learn things from them.”

And Glenn has learned well. His businessfootprint is quite diverse. He operates fivebusiness entities under the umbrella 3131Properties. Glennlock Foods, LTD, is a hos-pitality management company that ownsand operates restaurant brands such asFrenchy’s and Williams Chicken.Glennlock Foods also operates a cateringdivision and offers restaurant managementconsulting services. Dallas Sports Agency iscommitted to providing the very best serv-ice to our professional athletes - both on andoff the field. Glennlock Construction, LLCis a turnkey solution for site developmentconstruction services. Bowie Creative, LLCis a creative services company graphicdesign company. Aaron Glenn Foundationwas designed to support and elevate thegreat work and vision of charities in theHouston market and throughout the state ofTexas.

Recently, Glenn announced he is now theproud owner of Velocity SportsPerformance Houston, with two locations,one in Missouri City and one in Cy-Fair.Velocity is the largest provider of sports per-formance in the nation. They offer trainingin a positive, safe and professional environ-ment. Their centers offer training in everysport, at all ages and at all skill levels.

By Darrell K. ArdisonDEFENDER

Bellaire’s Brien Tuffly and RichardJorgensen of The Woodlands have a numberof things in common.

Besides a long-standing friendship, theyboth serve as head coach of one of the state’stop girls high school softball teams.

In the final regular-season state softballcoaches’ poll, The Woodlands dropped to No.5 after being ranked No. 1 the previous fourweeks. The Highlanders dropped their lastregular-season game to New Caney.

Thus, Bellaire jumped three spots in the lat-est poll to No. 4 and became the highest-ranked Houston area school in the state Class

5A classification. Pearland (6), Elkins (8) andCinco Ranch (9) are also ranked in the Top10.

Both Bellaire and The Woodlands beganthe playoffs with impressive 2-0 sweeps inbest-of-three first-round playoff series.Bellaire topped Aldine Nimitz by scores of15-0 and 10-0 while The Woodlands disposedof Klein Oak 7-0 and 11-0.

Bellaire junior ace Gabby Smith improvedto 22-2 on the season with a 15-0 verdict inthe series opener. Freshman Kristen Westwent to the circle in the series clincher andearned her third victory of the season (3-0).

“Gabby is more of a power pitcher withmovement and has recorded over 260 strike-outs on the season,” Tuffly said. “She’s hav-

ing a great career and already committed tothe University of Texas.

“This was the first playoff game thatKristen has ever thrown,” said Tuffly, whohas guided the Cardinals to a 32-4 overallrecord and a second-round playoff matchupagainst the Katy-Stratford winner. “Kristenthrows a lot of off-speed and drop balls so weexpect to play defense behind her and not getas many strikeouts. Although she did get 10today.”

Tuffly says good pitching and a qualitydefense are must-factors in building a teamcapable of a long playoff run.

“We’ve typically been a good hitting team

★BELLAIRE, Page 6

The Bellaire softball team is flying high in the playoffs.

★GLENN, Page 6

Bellaire, The Woodlands chargeinto softball playoffs

Photo: Houston Texans

#31 Aaron Glenn has successfully made the transition from gridiron to boardroom

Aaron GlennBusiness Life Beyond the Gridiron

Titan wide-out NateWashington, who workedwith Young in Houston lastoffseason agrees the timespent together can be bene-ficial.

“We’ve been talking aboutall the guys going some-where to isolate ourselvesand to buckle down,”Washington said. “It is real-ly the mental thing. … Itshould make us all a lot bet-ter.”

Gee, it sounds so simple,maybe Vince can packagethis type of thinking and sellit to JaMarcus. I understandone thing he doesn’t have ismoney problems!Dynamo Charity

The Houston Dynamo are

holding a Champions ofHope event on May 22 withproceeds benefitting theLeukemia & LymphonaSociety. Spearheaded bysenior vice president RockyHarris, midfielder RichardMulrooney, andpresident/general managerOliver Luck, the Dynamohave set a goal of raising$20,000 for Harris’Leukemia & LymphonaSociety Man of the Yearcampaign. DynamoCharities will match all con-tributions up to $5,000.

The cause is near toHarris because his mother,La Verne Abe Harris, wasrecently diagnosed with anincurable form of leukemia.Both Mulrooney, honorarycampaign manager, andLuck, honorary campaign

chair, lost fathers toleukemia.

“When I first got word ofRocky putting together acampaign for the L&LSociety, I knew it wassomething I wanted to be apart of,” Mulrooney said. “Irecently lost my father toleukemia after he battledthis disease for nine years,and I truly believe he couldhave lived longer with morefunding for research by thissociety. I was fortunateenough to have him for thelast half of those nine yearsdue to the medicines thatwere being developed andthe doctors that were beingeducated daily on the dis-ease. But I also believe thatwith more funding andresearch put toward this, myfather could have lived for

years or could have beatenthis disease in due time. Tohelp other people, fundsmust be raised, and I believethis campaign will helpbring us closer to beating itfor good.”

The Dynamo will also beoffering a Champions ofHope game-day package forthe May 22 game againstD.C. United. The packagewill include a ceramicDynamo beer stein, a pre-game drink, and a ticket tothe game, all for $49.99.Items from Dynamo playerswill also be auctioned offafter the May 22 game, withproceeds benefitting theHarris fundraising cam-paign. More information isavailable atHoustonDynamo.com/LLS.

6 MAY 9 – 15, 2010 | DEFENDERSPORTS

Houston area’s top hurlers and she hasrecorded more than 350 strikeouts thisyear. The Rangers swept perenniallypowerhouse Brazoswood 11-4 and 2-0in first-round playoff action.

Among the contenders in Region III-4A, Angleton, Santa Fe, Barbers Hilland Montgomery are all capable ofmaking it to the state tournament.

Tight district races have all fiveschools primed for a state run.

Angleton made the state champi-onship game last season under newhead coach Cindy Rubio. The Wildcatsheld off Santa Fe, Manvel andFriendswood in rugged District 24-4Ato finish as the top seed.

Santa Fe swept El Campo 9-0 and 3-0 to advance to the area round of theplayoffs. Friendswood defeated BayCity in game three of its best-of-threefirst-round playoff series 1-0 to

advance.In the smaller classes, Splendora,

Huffman and defending state champi-on Needville appear to be the favoritesin Class 3A while in 2A Danbury hasbeen ranked No. 1 in the state for thepast seven weeks.Baseball Rankings

Bellaire is ranked No. 10 in the lat-est Baseball America High School Top25 Poll.

Klein dropped two spots and comesin at No. 11.

Ardisoncontinued from page 5

Edisoncontinued from page 5

with good pitching but our defense and team speed have beensuspect,” Tuffly said. “This year we’ve got all facets of thegame. We’ve got good team speed, we’ve got the hitting andpitching and we’ve got the defense. Now we’ve just got to getsome breaks. Good pitching and timely hitting can carry youa long way if you’re solid in the other areas.”

Nimitz (9-15) had few opportunities to make things happenagainst the favored Cardinals.

“Everything they put in play we fielded cleanly and evenwhen they put a runner on base, we take pride in putting zeroson the scoreboard,” Tuffly said. “We tell our outfielders to tryand limit base hits to singles so we can work our way out oftrouble. We haven’t made an error in the last three games andif we can keep that up, we’ll give ourselves a chance to go along way.”

In addition to leading the Cardinals in pitching, Smith ledBellaire in hitting with a .533 batting average in the regularseason. Mackenzie Sher (.482 with nine home runs), VictoriaGranchelli (.408), Elizabeth Caggiano (.392) and MichaelaGranchelli (.351) have also been stellar in Bellaire’s hitparade.

The Woodlands was equally effective in its first-roundplayoff series against Klein Oak. Although Oak wasn’t oper-ating at the same level as last season when the Panthersadvanced to the regional semifinals before being upset by Cy-Fair, Jorgenson and his team were not going to underestimatetheir opponent.

“I have a lot of respect for their program and I know thatcoach (Javier) Vela will always have his team competitive,”Jorgenson said, prior to game one.

The Woodlands won game one (7-0) at Klein Oak beforereturning home to clinch the series (11-0).

Sophomore Paige McDuffee improved to 23-1 on the sea-son as she was the winning pitcher in both games. McDuffee

survived a potential threat in the top of the first inning ingame two when Klein Oak loaded the bases after two outs.

“Paige pitched the whole game (seven innings) in the firstgame and she hadn’t done that in a while because we hadshortened games (mercy rule) in nine of the 15 district gameswe played,” Jorgenson said. “She was in a real groove in thatgame and we didn’t want to take her out.

“Yet we could see that she wasn’t as sharp in the first inningof game two. But she actually gets tougher when runners arein scoring position,” Jorgenson said. “Paige is a sophomorewho has already committed to LSU and she pours it on whenthe other team is threatening.”

Jorgenson said his team may have benefited from a late-season loss to New Caney. The Highlanders improved to 33-2 on the season with the first-round playoff victories overKlein Oak.

“It was a hiccup for us after playing well all season,” hesaid. “We didn’t come out and play real well, we were kind offlat (against New Caney).

“So we had a wake-up call in practice last week and thegirls knew they didn’t play well. We didn’t have to say muchto them,” Jorgenson said. “We’ve got a great group of girls.”

The Highlanders utilized the same formula against KleinOak that had bode well for them during the regular season –great hitting, pitching and defense.

The Woodlands will face the winner of the Cy-Fair-Georgetown series in the second round of the playoffs.

“We spend a lot of time in practice on our defense becausedefense wins championships,” Jorgenson said. “That’s alwaysbeen my philosophy and we expect our players to be perfectin executing defensively.

“We’re a young team (two seniors start) and that’s a bigthing to be good on defense and not throw the ball aroundaimlessly,” he said.

Bellairecontinued from page 5

CLASSIFIED

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONSPROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONSULTANTS RFQ

The Houston Independent School District will receive sealed qualifications/proposals fromProfessional Services Consultants to provide testing and balancing services related to mechani-cal systems for the 2007 Facilities Capital Program. Project Number 10-BP-04-01The Request forQualifications/Proposals will be available beginning Monday, May 3, 2010

TO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT:www.houstonisd.org

Step 1: Select “Doing Business with HISD”Step 2: Select “Proposal Solicitations Download”Step 3: Follow the instructions to register and download a copy of the RFQ.

Copies of the RFQ may also be obtained from the Houston Independent School District at:

Houston Independent School District, Front Desk4400 West 18th Street

Houston, Texas 77092-8501

A pre-submittal conference will be held at 4400 West 18th Street, Board Auditorium at10:00 AM Friday, May 14, 2010

All responses must be submitted no later than12 Noon on Wednesday, May 19, 2010

to the Office of Board Services Houston Independent School District4400 West 18th Street Houston, Texas 77092-8501

Questions concerning this RFQ may be submitted via email to Bill Kuykendall(wkuykend@houstonisd.org)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALSFOR PROJECT 10-05-02 TO PROVIDE TOTAL

HEALTH BENEFIT AND ADVANCED STRATEGIES The Houston Independent School District (“HISD”) will receive Request for Proposals from healthinsurance carriers, third party administrators, and other health improvement vendors on behalfof The Health Care Partnership (THCP) until Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at the Board ServicesOffice, 4400 West 18th Street, Houston, Texas 77092.

The Districts of THCP will select the proposal that offers the best value to the Districts based onthe selection and evaluation criteria. In general, the offering firm(s) will submit best and finalproposals for the specific benefits scope of services for which you are proposing. The scope ofservices requested includes:

• Fully insured and Self Funded Health Care Services• EPOs, PPOs, and Consumer Directed Health plans• High Performance Network• Stop Loss• Health Reimbursement Arrangements• Flexible Spending Accounts• Second Opinion Services• Tele-Medicine• Convenience clinics

The Districts currently participating in this RFP are Houston Independent School District, AldineIndependent School District, and Katy Independent School District.

The pre-proposal conference will be held on Tuesday,May 4,2010 beginning at 10:00 a.m. in HISD’sHattie Mae White Administration Building, 4400 West 18th Street, Houston,Texas, room 2E26.

Proposals may be obtained by visiting and following the instructions on the HISD procurementwebsite at http://www.houstonisd.org/portal/site/materialsmanagement after noon onTuesday, April 27, 2010.

HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOLDISTRICT NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

The Houston Independent School District located in the Hattie Mae White EducationalSupport Center at 4400 West 18th Street Houston,Texas 77092 will accept proposals, until thestated date and time deadlines, in the Board Services Office, Level C1 ‘

• Project 10-04-10 - RFP - Concessions Food Athletics Department – with a deadline of 10A.M. May 26, 2010. The pre-proposal conference for this project will be in Room 2NE32 atthe above stated address on May 10, 2010 at 10 A.M.

• Project 10-05-07 – Kitchen Equipment Plumbing Parts– with a deadline of 10 A.M. May 26,2010. The pre-proposal conference for this project will be in Room 2NE51 at the above stat-ed address on May 10, 2010 at 10 A.M.

• Project 10-05-08 – RFP Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Services 2:00 P.M. May 26, 2010. Thepre-proposal conference for this project will be in the Hattie Mae White Educational SupportCenter, 4400 West 18th Street, Texas 77092, Room 3C12 on March 11, 2010 at 10:00 A.M.

• RFP / Project 10-06-01 – Broker Services for Auto, General and School Professional LegalLiability with a deadline of 2 P.M. June 15, 2010. The pre-proposal conference is at 1:30 P.M.on May 18, 2010 in Room 3C04 at the above stated address

• RFP / Project 10-07-01 – Excess Workers’ Compensation Insurance with a deadline of 2 P.M.July 1, 2010. The pre-proposal conference is at 3:00 P.M. on May 18, 2010 in Room 3C04 atthe above stated address.

Proposals are available on the HISD web-site at www.houstonisd.org.The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, or, to accept the proposal that is

most advantageous to the District.Scwyana Smith

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR HOTEL ASSET MANAGEMENT SERVICES

The Houston Convention Center Hotel Corporation (HCCHC) invites written proposals for provid-ing Asset Management Services in connection with operation of the Hilton Americas-HoustonHotel with the goal of achieving optimal performance from HCCHC’s hospitality investment.Proposals are solicited for these services for the HCCHC in accordance with the terms, conditionsand instructions as set forth in this request for proposal.

The Request for Qualifications may be obtained by contacting Dolores Kerr with HCCHC at (713)577-6153 or by emailing request to dolores.kerr@hilton.com. Proposals should be submitted nolater than 3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time on May 21, 2010. Proposals delivered after such timemay not be considered.

“I am truly excited to be the new ownerof Velocity Sports Performance inHouston,” Glenn declared. “This is theplace I grew up playing sports and it meansso much to have the opportunity to giveback to those athletes that want to go to thenext level. My team and I have huge plansfor the expansion of the Velocity name, aswell as locations. We are thrilled aboutwhat we offer in sports performance train-ing! I invite you to join me and experiencethe finest quality of sport performancetraining available in the Houston area.”

For Aaron Glenn, becoming involved inhis business ventures has helped ease histransition away from football.

“It gives me the drive to compete and bethe best that I can be. It’s just a differentindustry that I compete in now. For exam-ple, with Frenchy’s, I look at other places,competition like Popeye’s, KFC, Hartz andI say what do we have to do to make our-selves stand out, to be better than thoseguys. The result is our fast casual concept atour location across from Reliant Stadium.It’s the first one done in the city, it’s beenquite successful and we’re pretty proud ofit.”

Glenn, now that he has retired, maintainsthe same type of aggressive style in man-agement that made him a first round draftpick and a three-time Pro Bowler. He’smore than just a figurehead or a celebrityendorser.

“If I put my name on it, I’m going tomake decisions on it,” #31 quipped! “A lotof guys stay in the background and theyreally don’t know what’s going on, that’s aproblem for me. When I was still playing, Ihad Jason Medlock, the president of mycompany and a great guy, handle things.Now that I’ve retired, we work as a team toget things done. The way this companygoes is under my call. If we’re going to fall,let it be on me and no one else!”

As an athlete that excelled in a teamsport, Aaron Glenn understands the valueof great teammates and is quick toacknowledge the role of his company’spresident, Jason Medlock.

“It all starts with Jason to be honest withyou,” Glenn explained. “He was the guythat held everything together while I wasplaying. He had a lot of hats to wear. It wasquite a challenge, but he stepped up and gotthings done. Even when it’s things I don’twant to hear, he’s upfront with me. I tellhim all the time how much I appreciatehim.”

When it comes to former athletes andbusiness success, the ultimate role model isformer Laker Hall of Famer, turned busi-ness mogul Earvin “Magic” Johnson.Glenn has been motivated and inspired bythe success Johnson has had and seeks toemulate him in his own way.

“Magic is the guy,” AG proclaimed.“I’ve had a chance to have a conversationwith him and he taught me a lot. Littlethings, like how to handle myself in varioussituations. How to carry yourself in public,

making sure you always have businesscards and are shaking people’s hand. Beingpersonable and friendly in public, notstandoffish and being serious about whatyou’re doing. Because of his insight, I’vebeen able to be a part of something that isfar bigger than I expected. He (Magic) isthe icon when it comes to athletes whowant to be businessmen.”

As successful as Aaron Glenn has been,there is one goal that he still has his sight seton.

“My ultimate goal is to be part of theownership group of an NFL franchise. Inabout 10 years, that’s what I’ll be looking todo. That’s exactly where I hope to be.”

For an undersized kid from the north side(Aldine Nimitz), who attended NavarroCollege en route to Texas A & M, Glennrealizes how far he has risen.

“You can achieve anything you want toachieve if you put your mind to it,” Aaronextolled. “I know it’s a cliché, but if youhave the drive and will to work hard youcan do it, I’m proof of it. I strived for it, butI never expected it (professional success) tohappen as big as it has. Once I tasted it, Iwanted more. I realize I’ve been blessed bythe good Lord tremendously, in a numberof different ways and I never take that forgranted. I encourage every kid out therethat has a dream, whether it sports, theclassroom or business to go for it; don’t letanyone hold you back.”

Glenncontinued from page 5

IF YOU USED TYPE 2 DIABETESDRUG AVANDIA AND SUFFERED

A STROKE OR HEART ATTACKyou may be entitled to compensa-

tion. Attorney Charles Johnson 1-800-535-5727

Photo: Houston Texans

Once an NFL ballhawk, Glenn now intercepts the compe-tition with innovative business ideas.

Advertise in the Defender

MAY 9 – 15, 2010 | DEFENDER 7

the NAACP’s Houston branch, the Nation ofIslam and other groups said they have confi-dence in the legal system and will continueworking to ensure the officers are prosecuted.

“We will not allow anyone to come intoour communities, hurt our families and thenwalk away,” Carolyn Scantlebury, presidentof the NAACP Houston chapter, said at arecent news conference. “We are going tostay on top of this. We are here to fight.”Excessive force?

The case began in March, when Holley wasarrested after authorities say he burglarized atownhouse. Police say they had to brieflychase Holley after he was spotted in thevicinity of the crime. Holley says he surren-dered, lying down on the ground with hishands behind his head. That’s when he saysthe officers began beating him.

“We have a young man who did not resistarrest, who was just brutalized by policemen.We are hoping that when the public does getthe opportunity to learn the truth, we willhave a jury that will convict the police offi-cers that were involved and treat them likethe criminals that they are,” said JamesDouglas, legal counsel for the Houstonbranch of the NAACP

One sergeant and seven officers were sus-pended with pay after the beating.

The Harris County District Attorney’sOffice and the Houston Police InternalAffairs Division are conducting separateinvestigations.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker and PoliceChief Charles McClelland have promised athorough investigation of the incident.

“I want to assure the public we will betransparent and open with our findings oncethe ongoing investigation is completed,”McClelland said in a statement. He said theFBI has been contacted about the incidentand they are actively monitoring this case.

Donna Hawkins, a spokeswoman for theHarris County District Attorney’s Office, saidher office is not commenting on the case. Shedid not know how long its investigationwould take.Caught on tape

Community activists say the alleged beat-ing was captured by a surveillance camera ata self-storage business in southwest Houston.

The video has not been made public, butactivists say it shows officers beating andkicking the teenager, who was handcuffed.

“It’s reaping time in the Houston PoliceDepartment,” added activist Quanell X.“How many brothers have you beat and tasedunjustly and it was never on tape? How manyhave you knocked in the head with your taserguns and your weapons who were unarmedand not resisting arrest and it’s not on tape?These same men, you see high-fiving oneanother and congratulating one another fortheir conquest in beating this young man. Wesay to them, you’re on tape this time.”

Parker, who’s seen the video, has said shewas disturbed by it. Quanell says he hopesthe district attorney is disturbed enough toact.

“We say to Ms. Pat Lykos, we want to seeindictments because me, as a father, if mychild calls me an m-f or a dirty name, and Idecided to whip and discipline my child likethey whipped this young child out on thescene, I would be locked up, under the jail,seeking a lawyer and seeking bond money,”Quanell said. “So I’m saying, if I can go tojail, for doing much less, these officers needto be held accountable.”

The teenager’s mother has said her son’snose was fractured, and he had multiplebruises and limped after the beating. Picturesof the teen’s face and head show him with abright red right eye and a deep cut or gash onhis right temple. The photographs did notshow other bruises or injuries or swelling onthe teenager’s face and head.

“The darkness of his skin would make it

seem (the injuries are) not that bad,” QuanellX said. “But it doesn’t lessen the brutality ofthe incident.”

Wilvin Carter, the teenager’s attorney, saidthe videotape will be released once variouslegal issues are sorted out. The taped record-ing of the alleged beating sits inside theHarris County District Attorney’s office,being reviewed by the police integrity unit. Seeking justice

The community leaders say they wantmore than just justice for the teen, they wanta change to come to the Houston PoliceDepartment.

“We need the community to help us inpassing legislation that would give us theammunition that is needed to fight police cor-ruption, police brutality, police misconductand police excessive use of force,” Quanellsaid. “It takes a legislative change in Austinto make this happen. So we want our statereps to help us in this. So we’re calling on theHouston City Council to endorse and supporta civilian review board with subpoena andinvestigative power. Not a civilian reviewcommittee that has no investigative power.That’s a toothless tiger. What we want is aboard with investigative and subpoenapower.”

The teenager, now 16, and his mother havenot spoken to the media, but their attorneysays those who want to blast his client forcommitting the crime in the first place needto remember four words: innocent untilproven guilty.

“With regards to the criminal act, that’s anallegation. As of right now, he has the pre-

sumption of innocence. Those are allegationsthat have not been substantiated,” Cartersaid.

“Every person in this country has certainconstitutional rights,” added Douglas. “Evenif a person is in the process of committing acrime, when the police show up, if that per-son is on the ground all they can do is cuffhim and arrest him. It doesn’t give them theright to brutalize a person just because theycommitted a crime.”

“No police officer has been authorized bythe constitution, or by the city, or by the citi-zens to be judge, jury, arresting officer thenexecutioner. They don’t have that right,” saidQuanell X.

The community leaders did commendChief McClelland, who placed the officers onleave.

“I have to commend the chief because hedid more on accident than I believe (formerchief) Hurtt would’ve done on purpose. Sothat’s a positive first step for the police chiefbecause he had the courage to send homeeight at one time. I have to applaud the broth-er for that because I know people are angry athim for making that bold decision. Now, it’sLykos’ turn. There is no way in the worldthese men cannot be indicted for violatingthis young man’s human and civil rights,”Quanell said.

Deloyd Parker of the SHAPE CommunityCenter, says it’s time for the brutality to end,and he’s hoping the public will get vocal intheir support of a change in HPD.

“I’ve been here many times before, manypress conferences, addressing this very issue.You get real tired and you begin to wonder isthis not a systemic problem and we know thatit is. So we not only want a civilian reviewboard we want City Council to work hard forthose parties involved in the process ofdeveloping a healthy, substantive law so thatsomebody can be held accountable,” Parkersaid. “Protest is fine, demonstration is fine.Speaking out is fine. But we need somethingthat’s going to deal with the systemic prob-lem. “

Added Deric Muhammad, “We want animmediate end to police brutality and mobattacks against the black man and womanthroughout the United States of America.Key word, mob. That is what happened tothis young man. He was attacked by a mob,the biggest gang in the city.”

Beatingcontinued from page 1

Photo: Quanell X

Fifteen-year-old Chad Holley says he sufferednumerous bruises as a result of his beating byHPD officers.

★@defendernetwork.com

Find out what officers are accused in the beating of ChadHolley and how long they’ve been on the force.

Monday on defendernetwork.com0

Amna Plummer-Mays and HonoreeDr. Matthew Plummer

Honoree Deavra Daughtry andEbone Daughtry

Honoree Jodie Jiles and SonceriaMessiah-Jiles

Honoree Roynell Young

Tavarus Newsom and Albert E. Dotson

Dr. Frazier Wilson, Darnell Joseph and Mark Williams

EDUCATING OURFUTURE……..That’s exactly what the100 Black Men Metropolitan HoustonChapter is doing. At their 3rd AnnualBlack Tie Scholarship Gala, they present-ed scholarships to Doug James,JaMarcus Payton, Terrence Webber,James Wright II, Michael Cooper,Malcolm Decuire, Drew Herron andZachary Price. These deserving youngmen exemplify a high level of characterand integrity and the desire to succeed.They also honored several outstandingindividuals who have positively influ-enced the community through leadership.Receiving the Mentoring Award wasRoynell Young, President and CEO ofPro-Vision, Inc., the Education Awardwas presented to Bruce A. Austin,Trustee, District II, Houston CommunityCollege System, the EconomicDevelopment Award was presented toJodie L. Jiles, Managing Director ofRBC Capital Markets, Dr. MatthewPlummer, D,M,D., M. P. H. was honoredwith the Health and Wellness Award andDeavra Daughtry, President and CEO ofExcellent Care Management received thePhenomenal Woman Award. FabulousGala!........WHO’S WHO…….If youwant to know, then you need a copy ofthe Fourth Edition of Who’s Who in BlackHouston. Hundreds of Houston’s ordi-nary folks who have achieved extraordi-nary results are featured in the publicationand attended the official unveiling recep-tion of this 300-page publication celebrat-ing African-American achievements.Since this edition focuses on education,the foreword is written by Dr. John M.Rudley, President of Texas SouthernUniversity and the introduction is writtenby Dr. George C. Wright, President ofPrairie View A&M University. It alsoincludes a special tribute to Dr. ThomasFreeman, Debate Team Coach andInterim Dean of the Thomas F. FreemanHonors College at Texas SouthernUniversity. We salute Phyllis Bailey,Houston’s Associate Publisher and RealTime Media Company executives, HiramJackson, CEO, Cassandra Bozeman,COO and Carter Womack, VicePresident of Market Development.Spotted at the event were Police ChiefCharles McClelland, Janis and LeviBenton, Jade Gold, Wayne Brown, Dr.James Wilson, Carol Campbell, Dr.Margaret and Raymond Fisher, CherylHarris, Dr. Willie Trotty, Cheryl andDr. Howard Harris, Lorenza PhillipsButler Sr., Lorenza Phillips, Jr., VernSwisher and Leonard Bailey, to name afew. Congrats!.......A SPRINGTEA.……The 3rd Annual Spring Teahosted by Precinct One Commissioner ElFranco Lee was held at the MickeyLeland Memorial Park for over 170 sen-iors. They dressed up in their Sundaybest including some fabulous hats andenjoyed a beautiful afternoon in the park.They were treated with a delicious lunch,tea poured by Precinct One staff, doorprizes and a contest for the most uniquetea cup and most beautiful hat.Entertainment included a performance bythe Senior Drama Group from a play writ-ten by Thomas Meloncon and a poetryreading written by Bruce Austin. In themix were Liz Arceneaux, Isia Bell, OllieBroussard, Phyllis Grant, CynthiaMalbrough, Barbara J. Bradey,Verdeal Perkins, Melva Mathis and EllaJohnson. Special thanks to DelsieStoute, Director of the Seniors Programfor a great afternoon……. DYNAMICDUO COACHES…….Father and son,Alvin Brooks, Jr. and Alvin Brooks, IIIwill be living close to each other. Alvin,Jr. has returned to the University ofHouston as the associate head basketballcoach and his son Alvin, III has beennamed assistant coach at Sam HoustonState University. Alvin, Jr. is said to beone of the most respected people in thecoaching profession and a great mentor.He’s prepared many young men to playprofessional basketball both in the NBAand overseas. They’re quite excitedabout their new coaching roles. ContinuedSuccess!.........Have a great week andremember to watch CROSSROADS onChannel 13 Sunday morning withMelanie Lawson for your event coveredby Ms. Chag. Also check out our websiteat defendernetwork.com to view the“Event of the Week.”…..From Chag’sPlace to your place, Ciao Darling!

8 MAY 9 – 15, 2010 | DEFENDER

Attorney Ben Hall, Jackie Hoyer and Larry Payne

Leonard and Phyllis Bailey, Cassandra Bozeman and Carter Womack

Dr. Howard Harris, Cheryl Harris and Dr. Willie TrottyLorenza Phillips Butler, Sr. and Lonenza Butler, Jr.

Dr. John M. Rudley and Dr. George C. Wright

Liz Arceneaux, Isia Bell and Ollie Broussard

Verdeal Perkins, Melva Mathis and Ella Johnson

Phyllis Grant, Cynthia Malbrough and Barbara BradeyMaud Doomes and Arline Hunter

Thomas Meloncon, Delsie Stoute and El Franco Lee

Howard Jefferson, Patricia Davis, Honoree Bruce Austin and Dr.Mary Spangler

Levi and Janis Benton and Police Chief Charles McClelland