Published each Thursday in Pembroke, N.C.
Carolina Indian Voice
VOLUME 33 NUMBER I THURSDAY, JANUARY 6. 2005 25c
Kathleen Revels: Recipient of the
Order of the Medicine Wheel Award
KATHLEEN REVEL, R.N., IIS., IIA., M.D.
Recently the American Indian Mothers, Inc. honored Native
American members for their early contributions to the health care
profession. Kathleen Revels wa< one of the of those who who received
the Medicine Wheel Award from that organization. This is
her story.
by Dr. Ruth Dial Woods
KATHLEEN REVELS, the second child of LEONA BROOKS (the
daughter of Ollin Brooks and his wife, Annah Hunt, DONNIE REVELS,
(the son of Neal Revels and his wife, Mary Jane Locklear. was
born September 15, 1927 Their first child Edwin D. had-been born
May 27, 1926 and succumbed to a brain abscess on January 3, 1927
Following "KAT", as her family calls her, were A1LEEN [AILEAN] in
1929, MARY ELIZABETH in 1931. CHESTER O'NEIL in 1933 (deceased
1986], CORA SUE in 1935, JERRY WELLS in 1939, MARGARET
ANN in 1942, GAYLORD ALLEN in 1944 and DONNIE. JR in
1946
As the oldest child much of the responsibility for the care of the
younger children was delegated to KATHLEEN and shared by the
others in time. The family depended on the land around them to supplement
the income Mr Revels was able to earn as a carpenter. Milking
the cow twice daily was one of "KAT'S" jobs and to this day she
comments on the stubbornness of cows There were other chores
about the house and the eternal problem of the boys messing up the
house just after Ailean, called "Sissie". and she would get things in
order
GRANDPA OLLIN BROOKS, school and going to Sunday church
services were at the heart of her childhood KATHLEEN looked forward
to Sunday visits with her grandfather. "Grandpa" would talk to
her and show her things at his house and on his farm that she recalls
with fondness. She liked being able to visit with her aunt, MAC1E
BROOKS CHAVIS, and eagerly looked forward to those invitations
Church was an important aspect of "KAT'S" youth She was a
member ofBerea Baptist Church From the time "KAT" entered elementary
school until she graduated from high school, she had perfect
attendance in both church school and public school.
Kindergarten was a very positive experience Ms Nora Steffey, a
missionary took a special interest in KATHLEEN. She taught her eager
student to read, to count and to print. She worked with memory by .
teaching Bible verses. Once in a revival when attendees were asked to
raise their hands if able to recite the 23rd Psalm, "KAT'S" small hand
went up The preacher was surprised to see such a young respondent
and called her to the stage to prove her claim Everyone in the audience
was surprised when "KAT" perfectly recited the scripture
KATHLEEN'S determination to succeed in school was soon recognized
She was permitted to "skip" the second grade
During the 8* grade when KATHLEEN was 12 years old, her mother
was hospitalized at Duke University Hospital Those visits to see her
mother convinced KATHLEEN that she was going to become a MEDICAL
DOCTOR'
At the end of her junior year in high school, "KAT' received recognition
for scholarship KATHLEEN was valedictorian of the Pembroke
High School Class of 1944 During her senior year, she worked in the
do-nut shop at Maxton Air Force Base and cleaned house for Dr and
Mrs Ralph D Wellons to save some money for college (Dr Wellons
was President of the College ]
In September of 1944 Kathleen entered Western Mafyland Collect
located in Westminster, Maryland Her scholarship/o wait tables in
the dining room and other resources were not sufficient to finance her
education Somewhere in the transition from high school to college
p vm significant filing pr typographical error mprtfd, The'
op her lail dropped- She became KATHLEEN
REVEL! KATHLEEN knew she had to have time to study and a skill to
work in order to reach her life dream of becoming a physician. During
the summer after her freshman year "KAT' decided to apply to CHARLOTTE
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL- SCHOOL OF NURSING
On August 20,1945 a memorandum from Charlotte Memorial Hospital
arrived stating: "You are to report to the Nursing School Office in .
the Nurse's Home on Friday. September 7,1945, before 4 o'clock in the
afternoon " Number one on tne list of 6 items to bring was "your
ration book". So began the journey toward her life dream work
KATHLEEN was enrolled in the U S. Cadet Nurse Corps under the '
Bolton Act even though the Japanese had recently surrendered. The ;
three years of nursing school were very meaningful Some of the
women from the Class of 1948 remain in touch to this day. When she
graduated on September 7,1948 "REVEL" (Nurses were addressed by '
their last names ] and "Linker" decidedto go to Johns Hopkins Hos- i
pital in Baltimore to work. She recalls workinti for about 95 cents per !
hour Soon the two nurses moved to Washington, DC to work ai
Walter Reed Hospital as civil servants for better paying jobs While at
Walter Reed they became interested in joining the United States Army
Air Force and December, 1949 orders were received to report to Ft
Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas for basic training on January 3.
1950
During 1950 the Army and .Air Force separated and the two nurses
were sent to the first Flight Nurse School under the I'SAF.
KATHLEEN graduated from the AIR University, School of Aviation
Medicine, USAF on March 10. 1951
The Korean War was underway and this was the first war in which
helicopters were used These aircraft were to be used to evacuate
wounded from the front lines Nurses had to be trained its evacuation
techniques and KATHLEEN was one of twelve nurses chosen to
instruct others in this new aspect of military service la Lt Kathleen
Revel was ready to be discharged as soon as her enlistment was up,
but it took her 3 years and 29 days to receive her Honorable Discharge
on January 31, 1953.
KATHLEEN knew she could not gain admittance to medical school
with only her R N. degree She moved to Los Angeles. California and
enrolled at Los Angeles State College where she graduated on June
19. 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-med and nursing
Simultaneously she had enrolled in Immaculate Heart College in Los
Angeles and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry on
August 1,1958 i
Admission to Medical School was difficult, to say the least, at this
time for women KATHLEEN sent her applications to several schools
and bided her time by moving to San Francisco where she was assigned
as nurse supervisor on the orthopedic ward at Kaiser I
Permanente Hospital ?
Finally in 1960 KATHLEEN was enrolled at the University of California-Irvine
She graduated on June 4, 1964 after a financial roller i
coaster ride the first two years of medical school, she was awarded a I
full scholarship for her last two years This was a period in time when ?
women felt discriminated against and male students were rather jeal
cms of women
After graduation DOCTOR. REVEL was assigned to California Hospital
in Los Angeles for her internship DR REVEL next went to Long
Beach [CA] Veterans Hospital for her residency in internal medicine
By 1968 she was in private practice in Glendale. California working
hard to establish her practice and to repay the loans owed to the
medical school K ATHLEEN was on staff at several hospitals in the
area Her primary focus was on Memorial Hospital of Glendale where
she was on staff until August I. 1989 when she was forced to retire
due to medical disability
KATHLEEN'S personal experiences with breast cancer led her to
start a cancer support group in her new community of Sun City. CA
One of her primary interests in medicine has been the study of diabetes
She was asked to start another support group, one for diabetics
and she did Today, her major medical problem is avascular necrosis
which usually attacks the major joints such as hips and shoulders Both
hips and shoulders have been replaced In 1999 her right hip and left
shoulder were removed and since that time she has been confined to a
wheelchair During 2004 she has been encouraged to walk daily with her
walker and to do exercises in her wheelchair KATHLEEN is determined
to be as strong as possible
In February 2002 she moved to Hendersonville. NC and is very satisfied
to be "back home" again Today, KATHLEEN attends classes at the
Blue Ridge Community College Center for Lifelong Learning She very
much enjoys living in the mountains and taking afternoon drives tliroughout
the countryside
Kathleen has been retired from the active practice of medicine since
1989 vet she continues to do independent study in medicine She earns
three or four times the number of credits annually required for continued
iccreditation as a Medical Doctor in the state of California
Upon notification of this honoring ceremony, KATHLEEN'S words
ivere "Thank you to those who made possible this opportunity for me to
Je among those recognized in my birthplace community. 1 shall hold
:lose this reconstruction of my life and your kindness "
Sheriff Glenn Maynor
retries after ten years
Robeson County Sheriff Glenn Maynor has retired from that office
effective December 30,2004. Maynor retired after ten years of service
He stated "health reasons" for his decision to retire One of the most
popular men in the county, Maynor is noted for his aggressive fight
against drugs as well as his outstanding personality. The 58-year-old
Maynor in announcing his retirement expressed his gratitude to the
citizens of Robeson County, for the confidence they had placed in
him He also stated that he was under the advice of his doctor to
remove himself from stressful situations He suffers from a heait:
condition, he said
Sheriff Maynor was the first Lumbee Indian in history to hold the
office of Sheriff' and won each election overwhelmingly
The Robeson County Board of Commissioners who are charged
with the responsibility of filling the vacancy, unanimously appointed
Ken Sealey from within the Sheriff s Department as the new Sheriff
Sealey will serve as Sheriff until 2006 when the electorate will decide
who the Sheriff will be
County Commissioners
respond to 2005 Tax
Revaluation
... Robeson County Commissioners and Tax Administration staff"appreciates
the patience and understanding everyone has shown during
the enormous task of the "2005 Revaluation Process" The revaluation
affects over 73,000 properties in our county
You may ask, WHY do I have to go the tax office and argue about
my value'' It is important to remember that we want to "review our
information with you to ensure you know what is being assessed
and be an informed citizen".
We have been hampered with poor and out-dated information. We
thank you for your willingness to work with us improve our real
property records A personal interview with one of.our appraisers
will help ensure that your property records are up-to-date and accurate
This includes information like; (1) How mucn of your property is
used for farm land? (2) Is part of your property swamp land9 (3) Is
part of your property woods? As simple as is it seems, our citizens
can make a difference in the accuracy of our files
Tax Administration feels that is important to inform our citizens
that we have discovered concerns with the "Rural Land Value" formulas
used to generate the new estimated market values for our rural
and raw farm land We will make any adjustments as necessary, but it
is too early to determine how much All owners of property that value
is adjusted will receive a new "Notice of Value"
We continue to ask our property owners to request an appeal, if
you feel your new assessed value exceeds market value An appeal is
not a complaint about taxes, but an opportunity to discuss factors
and any property characteristics used in determining market value
Complete as much of the review form as possible and mail the form in
the self-addressed envelope, a personal visit is not required." An
appraiser may contact you to visit your property.
It is not necessary to have an outside appraisal for your property
Set up an interview with a county appraiser, after you receive your
new notice of value, then if you still feel your assessment exceeds
market value you may decide to have an outside appraisal supporting
your appeal to the Board of Equalization Review
Remember the best way to request an appeal interview is to complete
the appeal form attached to your notice and return it to the
office, then you will be notified of an appointment time and date if
necessary; "a personal visit is not required " An appraiser may contac
you to visit your property.
Evening appointments may be made upon request
What if you own property in Robeson County and have not receivec
i Notice of Value"? Call the Appraisal Office and request a notice be
nailed to you PLEASE verify your correct mailing address, because
several thousand pieces of undefiverable mail has been returned
In Loving Memory !
of Chad Rachels
September 12. 1982-December 28, 2000 j
From Chud to Family and Friends:
1 give you one thought to keep
I am with you still, I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond that glints on
snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the dew drops on a morning
! rose
When you awaken each new daw n.
1 am the morning song
1 am the brightest star that shines
in 1he darkest night Look fast
you'll sec a twinkle
Do not think of me as gone
1 am with you each new dawn
? ,
If you arc 65 years or older, or totally and permanently disabled, qualify
under the income requirements and make application you may receive a
reduced valuation of your residence Ask our office for information about
Elderly/Disabled Exemption, callus at 910-671-.1050
If you are commercially growing crops or timber and submit a qualifying
application, you may receive a reduced valuation of your property
Call us at 910-671 -3050 for information about E arm-Use-Value
Our "GOAL" is to ensure that 100% of our citizens understand the
appeals process and are given fair and courteous>attention to their questions
We will continue to strive for better accuracy and fairness for "ALL
Robeson County citizens
T
Liquor by the Drink referendum to
be voted on by local residents
On Tuesday, January 11. the citizens of the Town of Pembroke
will vote on a referendum on Liquor by the Drink The neighboring
towns of Maxton and Lumberton already have liquor by the drink.
Only residents within the city limits will be allowed to vote on this
issue Those supporting the effort state that it will be additional
revenue for the Town of Pembroke as well as provide additional
jobs
, for
*91^2^670 f
t" ' .i.'i . n rt 'W.frnt-rtV- .mVi-,." '...ft ' fr'