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HUtHE CAROLINA INDIAN VOK:
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j ' PEMBROKE. N.C
W VOLUME 15 NUMBER 31 28 CENTS V ?^f)^"rULY **'
LUMBEE BANK NAMES
NEW CHIEF
Lany R Chavis In,
Curtis Pierce Out
LARRYR. CHA VIS
Pembrvke-ln a surprising
move. Curtis Pierce has re
signed as president of Lum
bee Rank, leaving the bank
last Friday after being associ
ated with the predominately
Indian-owned financial insti
tution since its inception in
1971.
The bank's board of direc
tors moved quickly, naming
Larry R. Chavis, a vice
president of accounting at
Southern National Bank, as
his replacement Chavis, 39,
began his new duties Mon
day.
Chavis noted that "I look
forward to the challenge at
Lumbee Bank," expressing
optimism with the bank's
"bright future."
Chavis, a Lumbee Indian
like Pierce, is a deacon and
church treasurer at Reedy
Branch Baptist Church, and is
on the school advisory council
at Green Grove School; he and
his wife, Loretta, and their
two children live in the
Centerville area, off Highway
74 between Lumberton and
Fairmont
1
Sampson All-Star coach
Associated Prsss
WALNUT CREEK. Calif ? Washington State
University's new head men's basketball coach Kelvin
Sampson will coach his first game since becoming head
coach of the Cougars in England
The Pacific-10 Conference named Sampson the head
coach Thursday of an All-Star team which will go to
England for six games over a 12-day period in August.
The team will begin practice at the University of
Washington on August 5.
The players include Anthony Cook of Arizona. Dave
Immel of UCLA, Chris Munk of Southern California, Rick
Osbom of Oregon, Hartmut Ortmann of California. Brian
Quinnett of Washington State, Jeff Sanor of Washington,
Bill Sherwood of Oregon State, Arthur Thomas of Arizona
State and Howard Wright of Stanford.
The team will play five games against club teams
following a contest with the English national team on Aug.
13. The clubs will be Hemel Watford, Aug. 15; Portsmouth,
Aug. 16; Kingston or Tenarisse. Aug. 18; Kingston. Aug. 19;
and Manchester United, Aug. 21.
Assistant coaches will be Joe Cravens of Washington and
former WSU assistant Ron Righter now of Southern
California.
The trip will mark the fourth time in five years that the
conference has sent an all-star men's basketball team
overseas. Previous tours, and records, include the Soviet
Union in 1983, 2-2; Australia in 1985, 1-6; and Scandinavia
in 1986,8-0.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Kelvin Sampson is a former athlete at then
Pembroke Senior High and PSU.
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ned Sampson, still live in
Pembroke.
He is married to the former Karen Lowry. Her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Willie Von Lowry, also live in Pembroke.
<Gu^>ceafa^v \yTea^ic^Q/ft&motia^'
(Q^watot QPteA&n/e*/ fa C<We&>n>
The 21st Annual National Education Association's Human
And Civil Rights Awards for 1987 were presented at an awards
program on July 3, 1987 at the Bonaventure Hotel in Los
Angeles, California. Hie 1987 Leo Reano Memorial Award
was presented to Rev. Welton Lowiy. The theme for the
awards program was "Advocacy in Action." The Leo Reano
Memorial Award is presented annually to an individual who
has demonstrated leadership in resolving social problems,
particularly as they relate to individuals of American Indian/
Ajasna iNative heritage.
WELTON LOWRY
On September 26, 1912, Mrs. Flora Locklear Lowiy and
Mr. Billy W. Lowry became the proud parents of their first
born, Welton Lowry. He attended school from the first grade
through two years of normal in Old Main, located the
campus of what is now Pembroke State University, Penu>roke,
NC. After PSU became a four year college, Mr. lowry
returned and received a B.S. Degree in Elementary
Education, and continued his education until he obtained a
major in English. He later attended the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, and George
Peabody in Nashville. Tennessee, where he received his M. A.
Degree in Educational Administration in 1951.
Thirty years were spent in the educational systems of
Bladen and Robeson Counties. During his work in Bladen
County he had the opportunity to motivate the "Awakening
of a group of Indian people. Through his endeavors, a new'
school called "Wide Awake" was built and the people
recognized a greater understanding of the value of
education.
After leaving Bladen County as a school teacher and
administrator in 1940, Mr. Lowiy joined the Air Force. He,
and Mr. Herbert Oxendine made the "Charlotte Observer
News" as being the first Indian Flying Cadets in the Air
I Force.
In 1945, Mr. Lowry became the principal at Piney Grove
School. There he worked until 1959, fifteen years. He left this
job to work at Pembroke Graded School. Here he worked for
two years and then moved to Union Chapel for four years. He
then moved to Pembroke Senior High, where he taught for|
eight years and retired in 1976.
Mr. Lowry was presented three plaques in appreciation for;
his service to education. One of these plaques was in
recognition of his participation in the First American Caucus
of the National Education Association in Atlantic City, New
Jersey. This Caucus was instrumental in the formulation of the
National Indian Education Act (IEA) Legislation.
On January 4, 1953, Welton married Mary Deese. The two
of them have four children. Rose Marie, Virgil Owen, Flora
Gail, and William Allen.
Education has always been high on the value chart for Mr.
Lowiy, but there was another value that huddled closely to his
heart That, of course, being the spiritual values of man. Not
only did he concern himself with teaching and guiding
academically, but has led many to their SDiritual awareness
and preparation through a ministry of forty-five years.
In the year 1962, Mr. Lowry began work at West End
Baptist Mission in Lumberton, the only Indian church in that
area. This was a mission church being sponsored by Reedy
Branch Baptist Church until it became a chartered church of
the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association. The enrollment of the
mission in 1962, was approximately seven. Today, it has a
membership of eighty and an average attendance of
aDproximately one hundred and ten. This church could
possibly be considered the most modern among the Burnt
Swamp Baptist Association.
The congregation of West End Baptist Church reached its
overflow by the year 1976. It is now relegated in a new church
on approximately three acres of land, and has a seating
capacity of approximately two hundred people and is valued at
approximately 1160,000.00.
To honor Mr. Lowry, the newest section of the church, the
sanctuary, was named "Lowry-Hunt Sanctuary," in honor of
him and the oldest member of the church.
On Stptenlwr 11, 1964, the mayor of Lumberton, NC
proclaimed September 90, 1964, as Welton Lowry Day in the
City of Lumberton. This was done in recognition of Mr.
Lowry's varied and many contributions to so many in the city
of Lumberton area.
Mr. Lowry served as Moderator of the Burnt Swamp Baptist
Associaton for Association years 1975-1976 and 1977-1978.
The Burnt Swamp Baptist Association consists of forty-nine
Indian churches of eastern North Carolina. Mr. Lowry has
served on various committees within the Association. He
served on the building committee that helped plan the
aasociational building and the new Indian cottage on the
Odum Home campus. It is recorded in the North Carolina
Baptist Convention Minutes that Mr. Lowry made the motion
for the Odum Home, located in Pembroke, to becMie a part of
- the North Carolina Baptist Orphanae Homes, but remain at
the present location. This was accepted and was the beginning
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of the present facilities of the Odum Home. He has served as
Associations! Superintendent of Vacation Bible School for
several years. Training Union Director for the Association,
and President of the Preachers and Deacons for several
years.
Not only is Mr. Lowry active on a local level in the Baptist
churches, but also on a state level. He has served on the North
Carolina Baptist General Board, and as a committee member
of, the North Carolina Christian Board of Higher Education.
As a "member oT the North Carolina Christian Board of
Higher Education, he acted when it was presented to approve
the Baptist Student Union Building being built on the campus
of Pembroke State University. It was later presented to the
General Board on which he was a member and he responded
in favor of the project and asked the Board for its approval.
Along with teaching and ministering Mr. Dowry has been
strongly involved as a member of the lions' Club, the
Chamber of Commerce, Committee Member of the Boy
Scouts, the Robeson County Association of Retired Educators,
the North Carolina Association of Retired Educators, the
National Association of Educators, the Pembroke State
University Alumni Association, and the Robeson County
Democratic Party. In 1975, he was voted "Lion of the Year"
by the club's members. He has served as President of the
lions' Club, the Pembroke Chamber of Commerce, President
of the Pembroke State University Alumni Association, and
chairman of his local voting precinct As a civic leader, Mr.
Dowry served as one of the beginners of the Indian Child
Welfare Association and President In 1973, Mr. Dowry was
listed in the 1973 edition of Who's Who in North Carolina.
Because of Mr. Dowry's pride in himself and his ancestry,
he was interested in starting the Robeson County Historical
Society. He was a charter member. He was also a member of
the original cast in "Strike at the Wind" an outdoor drama
about the Dumbee Indians.
In the construction of the Bell Tower on the ff [Hit of
Pembroke State Univesity, Dr. Paul Given*. ClumtiMor of
Pembroke State University, stressed the need of ten thousand
dollars to complete the tower to its original height Mr. Lowiy
suggested a plan for>a banquet as a fund raiser to get die
money. Hie committee paneled the plan with Mr. Dowry
acting as chairman. He gladly accepted and the record verifies
Its success. He has served on the University's Kickoff
Banquet, (a scholarship fundraiser), and the Board of
Directors.
In 1983, the Alumni Association of Pembroke State
University presented Mr. Dowry the Distinguished Service
Award for service and dedication \ to PSU.
Mr. Dowry has always been interested in his community and
PSU. When the college made its final land purchase, it was
Mr. Dowry, who persuaded his father to sell the land to the
college. He also persuaded him to sell the county land for a
high schooL Ibis purchase allowed school officials to make the
only campus in the nation with an elementary, high school and
college facilities.
These are just a few of the contributions he has made
himself available to give to his people.
As a young man, with many roads before him, Mr. Lowry
chose to remain in Pembroke and be a builder of his people.
He saw a need an an opportunity to be of service. With strong
determination, he launched out and has proven him?H to be'
of service whenever needed.
STRIKE AT WE
SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR
BY Knit* dm*
Publicity Coordinator
Senior Citizens Nght Friday, August7
Robeson County Bicentennial Night Saturday, August 8
SATW Reunion Night Friday, August 14
(Former eastmembers and supporters)
Church Nigfjt Saturday, August 15
Family Night Friday. August 21
N.C. Industry Night Saturday, August22
N.C. Employees Night Friday, September 4
PSU Night Saturday, Septembers-'
Special discounts will be available for groups who purchase
10 or more tickets.
Reservations and information on these nights may be
obtained by calling the Strike at the Wind business office at
521-8112 Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
I ?? . ...
Leo Reano Memorial Award
Leo Reano (died 1971) was a teacher, an artist,
and an interpreter. As a member of the All Pueblo
Council and the NEA Council on Human Rela
tions, he made great contributions to the improve
ment of education. A member of the San Domin
go Pueblo tribe, he dedicated his life to securing
educational opportunities for American Indian
students.
This award is presented to an individual who
has provided leadership in resolving social prob
lems that relate to individuals of American
Indian/Alaska Native heritage.
An individual must have engaged in activities
relating to one or more of the following:
? promoted educational equally for American
Indian/Alaska Native children
? assisted schools in gaining knowledge about
federal legislation affecting American
Indians/Alaska Natives and making appropri
ate use of this knowledge
? assisted schools irf developing programs that en
hance American Indian/Alaska Native chil
dren's education
? worked to eliminate the misuse of federal funds
set aside for American Indian/Alaska Native
education
? promoted, designed, and coordinated training
programs for counselors and teachers of Ameri
can Indian/Alaska Native students.
t
Graham Announces For
LRE1MC Board Of Directors
BRA WIJ1IGH J. GRAHAM
Mr. Brawleigh Jason Gra
ham, Tribal Administrator for
the Tuscarora Tribe of North
Carolina, announces his can
didacy for election to the
board of directors of the
Iijmbee River Electric Mem
bership Cooperative for Dis
trict 3. District 3 includes the
townships of Back Swamp.
Smyrna, Britts. Wisharts.
Raft Swamp and Iumberton.
Mr. Graham. a 1972 gradu
ate of Pembroke State Univer
sity. has broad ex|>erience in
community development and
tkAikikikikikikikikikikik
rural issues. As Tribal Admin
istrator of the Tuscarora Tribe
he has been successful in the
development of Hope House,
a crisis center for runaway
and homeless children. In
addition, the Tribe has initia
ted an economic development
project, A-Z Chemicals, and
several other community de
velopment programs.
A native of Robeson Coun
ty, Mr. Graham has also
worked in the area of labor
relations as a compliance
officer for the N.C. Depart
ment of tabor, Wage and
Hour Division, and as the
Indian Manpower Project Di
rector for the American Indian
Study Center in Baltimore,
Maryland.
Mr. Graham, who is run
ning at the request of many
people in the area, stated, "I
am running in order to more
adequately represent people
in my district who are concer
ned about the ever escalating
cost of electrical power, 2) late
charges; 3) answering com
plaints quickly; and 4) work
ing on new ways to lower
costs for members. I am
itiwfeed to listening to the
concerns of members, and
ensuring that their complaints
are responded to in a proper
manner.
"Being a member of the
LREMC Board must be more
than an honor, it has to be
seen as an obligation to
participate in the long range
planning for our rural power
needs, and to encourage
innovative management I be
lieve that I can provide the
energy and vision necessary
to meet the needs of all the
people, not just a select few. I
4
am committed also to fair and
equitable treatment of all
employees."
Mr. Graham, whose home
church is Deep Branch Baptist
Church, has been involved
this spring in an ecumenical
evangelism program in the
nation's capital, Washington
for Jesus;
A campaign committee is
being formed with represen
tatives from each area of the
district. Further announce
ments will include opportune
ties for supporters to partici
pate in this campaign.
LRDA OFFERS NEW SERVICE
Pool Facility Grand Opening Held
LRDA announces the grand
opening of a new pool facility
for the communities of Robe
son, Hoke and Scotland eoun
ties.
LRDA has renovated and
repaired the pool facility
owned by the state as part of
the proposed N.C. Indian
Cultural Center located at the
former Riverside Country
Club across from the Strike at
the Wind amphitheatre. "Hie
official grand opening cere
monies were held Saturday,
July 25 at 1 p.m.
Representatives from the
three boards that made this
new service possible were
invited to attend opening
ceremonies. This included
representatives from the
IJU)A board (the facility's
sponsoring board), the N.C.
Indian Cultural Center board,
and the NC Commission of
Indian Affairs board.
The public is invited to
come out and use the new
facility. The pool will be open
Monday through Saturday, 10
a.m.-8 p:m. and on Sundays
from 1 p.m 8 p.m. The pool
will operate under all state
and local ordinances to ensure
the health and safety of the
public using the facility.
IiU)A is proud to lie able to
provide this new service to the
community.
Open Election Scheduled
Lumbee Regional Devel
opment Association, Inc. will
conduct an Open Election on
August 27, 1987 to nominate a
member to serve on the N.C
Commission of Indian Affairs'
Board of Directors for a three
(3) year term. Mr. James
Sampson, Jr., a resident of
Fairmont, NC. currently ser
ves in that capacity.
Voters must reside in
the following townships:
Lumberton (Townships 1-8);
Rowland; Union; "Dwrnpson;
Gaddys; Alfordsville; Back
?Swamp; Fairmont (Township
1 & 2); Smyrna; Britts;
Ornim; Marietta; Sterlings.
Criteria for voting: must
be Indian; must be 18 years or
older; must reside in above
districts/townships.
The election sites are being
identified and will be announ
ced at a later date.
Anyone interested in run
ning as a candidate should
declare their candidacy no
later than August 17, 1987 at .
the Executive Director's Off
ice with Lumbee Regional
Development Association, Inc
ONWARD TO 5,0001
Our countdown to 5,000
(subscribers continues this
week with the following:
7ft. Laney Emanuel, Char
lotte, NC
77. Nina L Mendez, Texas
78. DJ Cunningham, CT
79. Bobby Hammond, NY
80." Willa Cummings Wells,
Texas
81. Southeastern General Hos
pital, Medical library, Lum
berton
82. Bobby Allen lowery.
Shannon
fe. Celia Thomas, PA
84. Bertha Pinchbeck. Pem
broke.
Won't you join ua in our
effort to countdown to 5,000
subscribers? Purchase a sub
scription for yourself and
your friends.
A REVIEW OF
"STRIKE ATTHE WIND!"
By Stanley Knick
It wu a perfect evening. A
slight breeze drifted across
the lake. The stars were out in
all their numbers. The frogs
and crickets harmonized their
familiar summer song. Even
the shadows seemed friendly.
On such an evening, all the
world was a stage, set for the
drama to unfold.
And unfold It did not like
paper, thin and crumpled,
superficial and contrived-but
rather Uhe a tapestry, woven
with ears, rich with symbols
and images, ft was s tapestry
tolling the story of a peopls,
who lived off the lend, who
loved the land and did not
think of owning it ft was a
tapestry which laptwsd the
imagination-which filled the
mind with all kinds of things:
adventure; excitement; ro
mance; tragedy; struggle;
longing to he free; a sense of
belonging; a sense of balance
in nature; a natural kind of
earing for fellow human be
ings.
In the faces of ti>e players it
was easy to see that they had,
if just for the evening, become
the characters they portrayed.
They knew the history, and
? -t- ...
made the audience know it,
too. They felt the emotions,
and made the audience feel
them, too. They believed in
the sister causes
of Justice and Freedom, and
their performance made the
audience experience those
beliefs. No one was un-invol
ved. When Injustice
reigned for a time, the
audience buzzed with tension.
When Justice came back
around, the audience roared
with delight When Romance
appeared, couples suddenly
seemed to sit a tittle closer.
When Music held center
stage, heads nodded, bodies
swayed, feet tapped. When
Hope became die promise,
four hundred hearts heard the - -
future calling. And when the
play was over, the audience
exploded into applause.
And the final, charmed.
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