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I VOLUME 16 NUMBER 11 ' 25$ THURSDAY. MARCH x
Pembroke T"own Manager
Files Defamation Suit
Against WR/\L_? T \/ 5
Pembroke Town Manager McDuffie Cummings has filed a
suit against Channel 5 TV station, Charlie Gaddy and Scott
Hanson. The suit was filed by Cummings' attorney. Dexter
Brooks, lite suit asks for compensatory and punitive damages
against the defendants, jointly and severally, in at least the
sum of $10,000, the cost of the action, including a reasonable
attorney fee, and that the plaintiff have trial by a jury of his
peers. The suit itself further alleges that cummings "suffered
mental and physical anguish, injury to reputation and
pecuniary loss, including medical, travel and other expense."
Cummings released the following statement relative to the
suit: "On February 23, 1988, newscaster Charlie Gaddy of
WRAL television stated on the air that I, as Manager of the
Town of Pembroke, 'pressured' then Chief of Mice Kirby
Ammons to write a favorable letter on behalf of a person who
has been convicted of conspiracy to purchase illegal drugs in
the State of Florida. That accusation has no factual basis J
whatsoever.
"The accusation was based solely on information obtained
by Scott Hanson, a reporter for WRAL from a source who
wished not be to identified. I denied the accusation to the
reporter prior to the newscast. Kirby Ammons himself did not
tell the reporter that he was 'pressured.'
"WRAL has wrongfully accused myself based solely on
information from an unnamed source who could have no
factual basis for such accusations. My family and I have been
the target of irresponsible reporting. My wife of twenty years
and four of our five children saw the newscast. We have
suffered physical and mental anguish by having the tranquility
of our home invaded by irresponsible reporters, with complete
disregard for the truth, seeking only sensationalism.
"I cannot allow WRAL to treat my family with such
disrespect. I am, therefore, filing a defamation action against
WRAL in the superior court. A jury composed of twelve
citizens of this community will determine that these
accusations are utterly false. The evidence at trial will show
that I did not write nor did I ever see the letter."
Harold and Thole I/irklear examine a layout of kitchen
cabinets for a customer.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...
Evelyn Cummings
'?</ Rarfitmi Umyixiy-lju-klear
Special to The Curnlinti hit I it in Voict
Evelyn Cummings is so busy in retirement that she wonders
how she ever had time to work at Pembroke's post office. Yet,
the mother of three children managed to do just that for 33
years.
As a fresh out-of high school young Lumbee in 1940, she
entered Indian Normal School and completed a year's study
before entering a business college in Muncie, Indiana. She
graduated from college and accepted a clerical position with a
national corporation in Philadelphia, Pa.
One day six months later a very important telegram arrived
for her. It was a job offer from the late J. R Lowry, a former
Pembroke High School principal and postmaster of Pembroke.
The offer pleased Cummings, a shy Saddletree Community
native. Once her friends heard of the job offer they told her
she would be "crazy" to come back home.
"They'd tease me about having to work in a chicken-coop,"
she laughs. "The post office back then was just a little
building, located on the comer of 3rd and Main Street. The
local folks often times referred to it as a chicken-coof."
But Cummings knew in coming home to work, she'd be near
her beloved family of seven siblings and her parents, the late
Willie and Riley Locklear.
The 21 year-old caught a train a day after receiving the
telegram from Lowry whom she says was like u second
"Daddy" to her. She immediately reported to her duties at the
post office, thusly becoming the post office's first Indian
female employee.
Her first assignment was stacking batches of air mail letters
addressed to Army and Navy men in service during World
War II which was going on then. The letters were sorted by
hand. "It was a small office, and I eventually did all the
operations in the post office, such as handwriting money
orders, taking in packages and sending out mail", she says.
On Sundays, Cummings, a loyal church goer, would always
leave home a little early, go by the post office, put out the mail
while her family sat patiently in the family car before
attending worship service at her beloved Harper's Ferry
Baptist Church.
"Ialways loved my work and did until the day I retired. Now
in retirement she says she never has a day of doing "just
nothing." "I tried to do just that, but it's just not for me." She
greets each morning ready to do what's got to be done.
A life long tradition of baking pound cakes for giving to
friends and to families with special needs, keeps her busy.
And she belongs to a Homemaker's Club, and is very involved
in church work.
For 25 years she taught Sunday School to ten-year-olds
before giving the position ud five years ago. Reading became a
physical strain for tne tttt-year-oid grandmother who has
undergone two corneal operations. She has been a member of
her church choir as well as the Pembroke's Ladies' chorus for
more than 30 years. The shy former post mistress says she has
always loved to sing, but never was brave enough to sing solos
publicly. They were left for her children.
The energetic homemaker is an officer with a local V.F.W.
Ladies' Auxilary. She says while her husband. Wood row, never
served in the military, her father and brother did. And she
feels a duty to honor their memory with a 30-year service to
the organization.
Cummings, and her husband live in the house he built in
1945 in the Moss Neck Community. And even though they live
in rural Robeson County they maintain a post office mailing
address. It seems only natural they'd continue to use the post
office. For it was there in 1942, a young man appeared at the
service window to order a postage stamp. He got the stamp
that day, he got the postal clerk a year later.
Evelyn Cummmgs, retired Pembryjtf pott mistress.
Scshoo2. Mergrer V_? c fc o jr ly
Narxrov* Butz Swee tz
For Sixppoxrtz&jrs
School merger became a reality last week in Robeson County.
And when the final results came into the Robeson County
Board of Elections, emotions took way to ciying, hugging,
handshaking and back slapping by residents who realized
school merger had bedbme a reality.
School merger narrowly passed. The official results show
J1.2S4 voted for merger and. 10,896 against Forty-five percent
of the county's 49,458 registered voters turned out according
to election officials, who attributed the higher-than-uaual rate
to the merger referendum.
The victory was narrow, but sweet for supporters of merger.
'Tin on ckwd nine. This has got to be the happiest day of my
life," said Eric Prevatte, chairman of CARE.
Prevatte, who spent several thousand dollars of his ow
money on advertising during the campaign, Mid the fight ove
merger centered on just one issue - race.
Earlier in the week, CARE projected a bigger win, but th
? voter turnout was not as big u expected he said.
Fairmont's two precints split on the referendum with Ptecin
1 voting 678-441 against the merger and Ptecint 2 votini
247-186 in favor.
A jubilant Joy Johnson, a member of the local group, Citisen
CONTINUED ON PAGE* m
' ? . ? ?
V ?. I
SPOTLIGHT ON' LOCKLKAH CABINET & WOODWORK
LOCAL BUSINESS PERSONS
I
by Barbara Bra yboy-buckle a r
Special to The Caoriina Indian Voice
Choices! Choices! What will it be? Birch, bass, ash, chem
or walnut? Raised panels, plain, routed, recessed or arched
panels? To the home builder or renovator it's often confusing
to visit Locklear Cabinet and Woodwork Shop where cabinet
samples stare at you from a "dream" kitchen located in an
area adjoining the shop on Red Banks Road in rural Rowland.
But to Harold and Dayie locklear, it's part of the art in
offering customers a choice. "The customer has the final say
in selection," says Mr. Locklear, general manager of the
business his late father established 28 years ago.
"IX the customer creates his own design, we make every
effort to make it up for him," he says. He says he likens his
cabinet selection to that of buying an automobile. "We can
give the customer any and all he wants in the line of price and
accessories."
The husband and wife team agrees that 75 percent of their
customers choose bass wood for cabinets because
of its mid-price tag. They say walnut is least selected because
of its high cost
Mr. Locklear, a Lumbee Indian, says he grew up making
cabinets. While most of his young school mates returned home
each day to recreation, he checked in at his father's shed-like
shop constructed from pine slabs at the locklear homeplace.
There he would busv himself sweeping and cleaning the
debris from the building which was located '/? mile from the
present business location.
An antique "Hoover" cart was used back then in hauling
away scraps and sawdust from the shop. The cart, which
belonged to Locklear's late grandfather, is still used today.
The 34-year-old inherited the responsibility of operating the
business after the death of his father. Rradie Locklear, in
1979. Today, along with nine employees, he creates kitchen
and bathroom cabinets for private residence, country clubs
? and corporations. Among his customers is CP&L of Maxton.
Locklear says 75 percent of his business orders comes from
building contractors, while the remainder comes from private
builders and homeowners.
And while the buisness runs the whole line in cabinetwork,
locklear says he prefers doing a custom house because he
likes to work with the customers in creating any ideas they
have. " .
Mrs. IiK'kleur says she was drafted into the business when
slir married into a family of cabinetmakers. She brings to the
business a B.S. decree in business front PSl'and manages ih<
financial end of the corporation. Her duties includt
bookkeeping and ordering supplies which are delivered
weekly from distributors throughout the state. She works
closely with the customers in advising them of wood types and
cabinet designs.
She assists in customer selection of cabinet door fronts
which range from wire mesh to beveled glass with brass
inserts. Tfje mosl-often-selected door design is lite raised
panel, say the locklears.
A heavy backlog lends little time for the Iocklears. who are
both professed workaholics, to rest. "I've been in a work bind
since 1972," laughs Mr. Loeklear. 'Tin four months In-hind
now, and there's no catch up in sight."
Mr. Ltcklear points out that the process in constructing anil
finishing his cabinets cannot be rushed. "Kvervthing is
visible. You can just about see or feel everything on a
cabinet."
And while he doesn't want to break the habit of working, he
admits be is trying to bretk a habit <>f takinw his work home
with him. "I definitely bring my work home with me." he
says. "I lay out cabinets al home, and it's become a habit Tm
trying to break."
There's no lime to vacation for the Ijtcklears who say even
during major holidays only two or three days at the most art
used for "close-down" at the business.
"I grew up in cabinetmaking and 1 knew front an oarlv a-<
thal's what my work in life would be. I learn something every
day. New designs are always a challenge," Mr. Inckle.tr -ays
With a cocked head and sly grin he says, "Hut the greatest
challenge is catching up and getting some much needed rest.
There seems none for sometime to come."
Locklear Cabinet <#? Woodwork Shop, hie. is lotah </ on tin Rid
Ranks Road |State Road 1166\ 5 miles off I'.S. 7\. Business
hours are Mon.-Fn. 7:30-6:30.
DR. JOSERH OXENDI M EE ALJTOOR/XRHS
NEW BOOK "AMERICAN INDIAN
SRORTS H EE R IT- AGE" A T~ OLD MA I N
i
by Barbara Bra yboy-Locklear
Special to the CAJtOIJNA INDIAN VOICE
"I wrote this book because I was committed to writing it. It
was personal," says Dr. Joseph B. Oxendine of his latest
publication, American Indian Sports Heritage.
last Thursday afternoon in Pembroke State University's Old
Main, Oxendine brought his book home for his people to see,
buy and read. Many friends and relatives called to get an
authographed copy.
Oxendine is qualified to address the history and impact of
American Indian sports from a unique perspective. A Lumbee
Indian raised in a segregated Indian community in Robeson
County, NC, he understands the subtleties of being Indiaq in
today's non-Indian society.
He also understands the social role played by the competitive
athlete, having been a three sport athlete in high school and
college and a professional baseball player with the-Pittsburg
Pirates.
The value of sports helped Oxendine with self assurance. "I
left Pembroke as a very timid individual. I" college at Catawba
I had to enteract with white people," he remembers. As I
was able to play sports and got good at it. I was able to
enteract with white people."
He adds, "I got some good reinforcement and feedback, and
that helped me deal with social and academic problems.
He says a strong message aspect of his book is that one can
achieve through sport And as one does that, it impacts on
one's total life.
The veteran educator says while his background is not total
writing, he has written in the areas of psychology learning and
leadership. Sports psychology is his speciality.
"My own area of academic endeavor is not the American
Indians. I have not been a professional Indian. Tve always
been recognized as an Indian. I*m proud of my Indian
heritage," he comments.
He says this book was an effort he saw to communicate to
American Indians and non-Indians the history of Indian in one
particular facet of a history. He sees sport as being a very
important part of the heritage and background of Indians.
Oxendine says one event, more than any other inspiring him
to write the book was a visit to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Shortly after the 1973 siege at Wounded Knee, the federal
government invited him along with others, who included Billy
Mills, to do a workshop on sports and leisure as one of the
"healing things" at Pine Ridge Reservation.
"Tensions were high and there was a lot of stress among the
Indians there - a lot of anger." Oxendine comments.
The 67-year old Lumbee Indian says he saw depressed Indian
youth there. "They had athletic ability, but no aspirations to
go off the reservation and compete at higher levels. They had
no hope, no arpbition." He says he wanted to do something
about that and gave a persona' pep rally, "Hey! Indians are
luppose to be good at sport. We have a rich sport tradition."
/iter the workshop, Oxendine returned home determined to
write his book, 't A* I got into this book I found I had to put it in
a cultural perspective. I had to show how it fit in the scheme of
cultural life."
n He says he got consumed by It In creating the 326- page
r volume, the author found out how sports were before
Columbus.- He teamed sport was important then because ft
e wasn't just "fun and game." It was steeped in tradition.
He aaya he started ontyrhh the idea to highlight Indian sports
>t heroes.... to show who the people are... who should be models.
K He explains the criterion for selecting the sports personalities
in the book.
s "I arbitrarily established that they had to be nationally
prominent persona. I had to restrict it to people who were
elearly ?Moss os the ?tonal level."
The college professor says the hook's strong message to
American Indians and non Indians is to understand that sports
tend to develop self confidence. "In sport we learn about
ourselves. We learn :>? cnteraci. compete and work together.
And we need that in this society."
And the writer says even though he has a strong
background in writing books. (He has written three, and
chapters in others) he has no marketing expertise lie adds
that the primary role of the book company is to market the
book. Human Kinetics l'ublishers, Inc. of Champaign. Ill is
publisher of the Oxendine iMiok.
Oxendine says he wants to help out some wiUt the
marketing. "I hope to get this book in the public schools
around the nation so not only Indians can read and establish
pride about their accomplishments, hut also non Indians can
read about the accomplishments of one group of people."
Last Thursday was the first official book signing by
Oxendine, who dedicated the hook to his brother. Earl Hughes
Oxendine. a retired educator. Iimhe honor the author wrote of
Earl Hughes, one of seven siblings: "His uncommon
courage, goodwill, and spirit of family and community exhibit
the best of the Big Bud Clan." The author is one of eight
children bom to the late Tom and Georgie Rae Oxendine of
Pembroke.
Oxendine says he chose Old Main as the setting for the
book signing because the building stands as a symbol of hope
of the future a building which represents education and the
Lumbee people.
American Indian Sports Heritage is available at PSU's Hook
store. Or write to: Human Kineties Bm>ks, Box ij07ti.
Champaign, D 61820.
at PSVi Native Amotion M*luurr* Cantor, brand**, a
nativ* of Rob* to* Cant**, dedicated the SSS-pagr,
hard bound book to Mo brother hughe*, rutidet in ?
Rob*ion County The book, which it fitI ofytriur>
SS3.SC, including tux, ton btpuirhtud m the PSt? Jhnoh ??