NEWS
YOU
CAN
USE
In Our 15th Year Issue No. 139
THE
^ g
iJ
February 1998 Associate Consultants
Serving the Triad
THE
TRUTH
WILL
SET YOU
FREE
Priceless
Judge Roland Hayes: History Worth Repeating
^ by Samantha Muhammad
“He hath showed thee, O man, what is good;
and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do
justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly
with thy God?” Holy Bible, Micah 6:8
In 1984 Judge Roland Hayes was the “new
kid on the block.” He had been practicing law
since the ‘70s and was recommended by the
governor of the slate to assume the seat of judge
in the 21st Judicial District. It was an honor and
also d challenge. Public opinion of lawyers and
the courts was on the decline. He believed in the
oath that he had taken. He was going to make a
difference.
That was then. Judge Hayes, now the senior
judge in District Court, was recently appointed
at the Chief District Court Judge in Forsyth
County and has made a difference. He is one
among seven judges in District Court and the
only African-American. His new position will
primarily add more administrative duties, but
he’ll tell you, he’s still up for the challenge.
“In 1984 they created an additional judge and
I was appointed by Gov. Jim Hunt to ser/e in
that seat. I was the first black to ever become a
district court judge,” he said. “We needed the
perspective I had to offer,” said Judge Hayes,
whose responsibilities include supervising 16
magistrates, scheduling assignments and track
ing of cases.
“I’ve had opportunities to go to Superior to
Court (federal) but I didn’t want that. I wanted
to be here. This is where we are. I need be
where the people go to court. This is where I am
needed most,” said the Winston-Salem native.
Judge Hayes calls himself a “retread” in
regards to his schooling. He graduated college in
1952 with a degree in education and later decid
ed to go back to school for law. He attended and
graduated N.C. Central University in Durham,
earning his law degree in 1971. “I realized that
in order to compete, I had to do more than an
undergraduate degree and law was something I
had an interest in.”
On any given day the courts are filled with
mostly Blacks and Hispanics. “I can’t tell you
why. I can’t tell you why more blacks are arrest
ed or why more blacks are charged. I can only
do what I was put here to do and that is serve
justly,” said Judge Hayes, 67.
“Race should not be an issue. But if that be
the fact, I have a duty to uphold the law and a
duty to have some compassion,” he said. “The
judge has a very important impact on the case.
And a judge can not assume a person is guilty
just because he has been charged.”
Other shocking court statistics is that more
people are getting divorced than married, he
added.
His 14 years on the bench has opened his
eyes to some horrifying stories. He still can’t
believe some of the crimes people commit
against each other, especially crimes committed
by children.
Judge Hayes says he tries not to become cal
lous to the cases and real-life situations that he is
exposed to. As a member of Cleveland Christian
Church, he stays very active in church affairs.
His fairfi in God and his commitment to do the
best job that he can has kept him grounded. “But
for Grace, there go I,” he said.
“I try not to forget that people are human. I
am serious about upholding my oath to be fair
and just,” said Judge Hayes. With all of the
power his position holds, he Is still very thankful
to be a servant of the people.
Judge Hayes said when he’s not in the court
room, he’s spending time keeping abreast of
new laws passed by the legislature. He attends
seminars and workshops to enhance his under
standing of new statutes and the changing times,
he said, showing off the five thick books of laws
passed from the last session.
“This is a noble profession that is there to
help people, not just in defense in criminal cases
but also to help people secure rights in a civil
case,” he said, recalling the sad stories where he
has seen people who have been tricked into giv
ing away their property or possessions.
His next feat will be a Nov. 3, 1998, election.
This will be the first time his seat has been chal
lenged. He’ll face off with a Republican at the
polls and is asking everyone to come out that
day and vote for him. “I’m looking forward to
the race. 1 see this as another challenge.”
“I am serving this community well. And I just
pray and encourage everyone to vote,” he said.
If Judge Hayes wins the election, it will be the
last term he will be able to serve. The law
requires judges to retire at 72 years old.
Dudley Gives Thumbs Up for New Baseball Team
by U.C. Moore
When word got out that Major League Baseball was expected
to add two more teams, people in the Triad went to work, includ
ing Mrs. Eunice Dudley, of Dudley Products, Inc.
Dudley was appointed to serve on the Forsyth/Guilford
Metropolitan Baseball Park Authority, a team formed at the
request of the two counties’ commissioners and its citizens. The
group will look into the prospects of bringing the next Major
League Baseball expansion team to the Piedmont Triad.
May 5 will be the determining factor, when citizens go to the
polls to say “yea” or “nay” to the idea.
According to a study, the Triad is the geographic center of
North Carolina with the major markets of Charlotte, Raleigh and
Roanoke, Va., within ICO miles of potential stadium sites.
Transportation serving the Triad allows for easy access from
almost 6,500,000 people in the combined market.
North Carolina is also the 7th largest television market in the
U.S. and one of the largest states currently without a Major
League Baseball team. With no major league baseball team
between Baltimore and Atlanta, North Carolina is well-positioned
to offer strong market support for the Southeast.
As an appointed member of the commission, Dudley said her
job is just to do the “leg-work” for the commissioners so they will
be able to make a better decision. But as a private citizen and a
business owner herself, Dudley said she is very happy at the
prospects of having a team in her hometown.
“Both Raleigh and Charlotte have received national attention
for the teams they have. The exposure would be great for business
owners as well as for the economy,” she said.
Dudley believes a baseball park would also give the respective
cities a little push on expanding traffic patterns and roads.
Although citizens are inquiring about increased taxes, as well
as retailers, they need not be worried for long. “Hotels, restau
rants, retailers, everyone will increase their customer base, just by
the traffic coming in and out of our area,” she said. “Companies
will begin to look at moving their businesses to our area and this
will mean more jobs and higher paying jobs.”
Another big plus, she said, is that the concession stands will be
manned by non-profit organizations, who will receive a percent
age of sales. “That is one of the best things I like about the base
ball park,” Dudley added. “There are so many good reasons why
we should back this idea. It will solidify the area and beautify it as
well.”
Cities with professional sports teams offer a camaraderie with
its citizens. “There will be a buzz in the Piedmont once the team
comes here. There will be ongoing excitement. All positive
changes that will all trickle down.”
Dudley believes that the ball players as well will serve as role
models for children and students in the area.
“The ball players will of course be involved in community ser
vice projects. They will be able to be mentors to the younger peo
ple, give lectures and even set up scholarships for school. This
will be a win-win situation for everyone,” she said.
If the vote goes through, the stadium would have to be built on
the Forsyth/Guilford county line.
The league will be awarding the teams by the end of 1999.
According to the North Carolina Baseball Committee, 31,250
fans will attend each of the 81 home games and fill the stadium to
at least 75 percent capacity. The average ticket price will be $15
and each attendant is expected to spend approximately $10 at the
concession stands.
The study also shows that during the 2000 season, an estimated
800 new on-site jobs will be created by the operations of a team
in the Triad region. The five-year total economic impact on the
Triad region economy is expected to be $774 million.
Approximately 300 acres will be needed to build a Major League
Ball Park.
The next commission meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24, at
5 p.m. at the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce for those
interested in attending.
Welcome dM Fans!