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Of The Black Community” c“l 3,4 04,4
THE CHARLOTTE POST - Thursday, July 11 1985 —-—
—• -—__ Price: 40 Cents
1
Bolter Takes Her
Job hi Stride
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different people, I'm Urn) of friend
brusssSRsv;
scribe* her perV)natti^7ar> ' *
i,' “I enjoy socializing and having
She’* the (rider sister to two
brother*, Cltri*, 1$, snd Darryl, is,
and one sister, Angela, IS. Sharon
says she decen t like beii* the
aidect "I wish I had an older slater
te hang out with.'' she confesses
Sharon lives ia the Mallard Creek
area and attends Clinton Chapel
AMK Zion Church
A few laetfng lemons this week’s
beauty has learned, she tells, are: *
“do the best you can aad go tm high
aa you can go. Do for yourself and
don’t be dependent on others,’’ she
addb. “Don’t waste time on drugs
and dope. And, go to school'”
io Station WGIV Plans An
| ^Appreciation Banquet” For
Eugene “Genial Gene” Potts
By Teresa Simmons
Post Managing Editor
“Come on everybody...There’s a
colored person on television!"
Even if you are under 30 in age you
probably remember your grand
parent yelling whenever a black
person appeared on the tube.
Eugene “Genial Gene” Potts
made history when he became one of
the first blacks to appear on a
national television game show. But
Genial Gene Potts will be re
membered for an even greater ac
complishment.
As a premiere radio disc jockey,
Potts became the most popular and
has yet to be surpassed in rating. In
1960 Potts received a 53.4 rating. In a
national poll conducted he finished
second only to the television pro
gram “I Love Lucy.”
What type of magnet persona did
Potts possess to draw that many
voice or his
_ the community (upon
his return from the game show,
“Strike It Rich,” Potts presented a
cheek for $1,000 to an ill individual).
Whatever the force was that made
Potts an individual of awe lifted
Charlotte’s radio station WGIV into
a special category of recognition.
Potts has served as vice president
and public affairs director of the
station. Now at age 74 his voice
hasn’t been heard over the air waves
since his retirement in the mid ’60s.
“Gene is very U1 now,” stated
WGIV Station Manager Cal Thorn
ton. “He is also on bad times
financially and we want to make
sure he gets bis roses before he dies.
We will try to raise dollars to take
care of his financial needs.”
The radio station WGIV has
planned two extraordinary events in
honor of Gene Potts. On August 23 an
Appreciation Banquet will be held at
Adam's Mark Hotel The cost is $2$
per person. Entertainers such as
James Brown and Wilson Pickett
have already responded and will
attend the banquet to give short
presentations in honor of Potts.
Several other entertainers associat
ed with "Genial Gene” Potts over
the years have been invited; not,
however, to perform, according to
Marsha Burton of the station, but
simply to give their appreciation to
Potts.
On August 24 the station will hold
an all-day radio-thon. It begins
Friday at midnight and will con
tinue through Saturday evening at 8.
According to Burton, people will
be able to call in and pledge money
to aid Potts in home improvement,
etc. Also a scholarship fund at
Johnson C. Smith University will be
set up in his honor.
“I never had the opportunity to
work with Mr. Potts." sUted
Thornton, “but I know that he was
hope that the community will give
and come out and say ‘thank-you.’
Mr. Potts is also a member of the
“Original 13" black radio announc
ers in this country. Today there are
only five alive. Mr. Potts opened
doors for blacks, not only in radio,
but in all media, period.”
In 1970 the Beta Nu Lambda
Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fra
ternity, Inc. saluted Potts. In the
program booklet many of the ac
complishments and honors be
stowed upon him were reported. The
following are just excerpts from the
history of Potts.
Recipient of the “Citizenship
Award” presented by the former
mayor of Charlotte, The Honorable
Stan Brookshire and the City Coun
cilman in acknowledgement and
appreciation of outstanding services
rendered to the people of the city of
Charlotte.
Co-hoet to the $151,000 March of
Dimes Telerama with Anita Stone
Eugene “Genial Gene" Potts
.Needs financial help!
cipher, then Miss Teenager of
Charlotte
Certificate of Appreciation, Char
lotte Chamber of Commerce, Radio
TV mirror’s Charles Durault CBS
Commentator.
For over 11 years member of
Board of Directors of Heart Asso
ciation.
Member of March of Dimes with
over 20 years of service.
emorial Baptist
Church To Observe Men’s Day
/ J
Rrv Dr. IWmt
.Gmt «pwt»
Rev. H. S. DIm*
.fleet pastor
ber of Trustee Board of Payette
vflle State University, Chairman of
Trustee Board of Shaw Divinity
School, member of Board of Go
veraors of University of North
Carolina, aad Preaidant of North
Carolina League of Ifonicipalittes
Dr. Turner waa born in GoMbton,
Chatham County, N C. Ho received
his public elementary and high
school education at JA Waters High
School of Golds ton His A B. degree
was earned at Shaw University of
Raleigh. S.C He entered the Shaw
' V 4 i , T-**
School of Divinity and received the
B D degree The Mid-Western
Graduate Bible 8chool awarded the
Th.M. degree to Dr. Turner, friend
ship College and Shaw University
conferred the Doctor of Divinity
degree upon Dr. Tiamer.
Dr. H. 8 Diggs and the mem
bers of Mayfield Memorial Baptist
Church invito the entire public to
share with them in tMs day-long
celebration. Mayfield Memorial
Baptist is located at 700 Sugar Oeek
Road West.
Member of Citizens Committee,
Charlotte School System, WTVI,
Channel 42.
Member of Finance Committee of
Clement Memorial AME Zion
Church
On the Coronation Committee of
Johnson C. Smith University Alum
ni Association.
S C. member of the Elks Iboe of
W -32 Mason and Shriner
Director of Publicity of the Edu
cational Department N.C. District of
the AME Zion Church.
Was voted Charlotte's favorite
radio personality in 1954 with 1,000
votes coming from the Key Klub
bers Club at Central High School.
These are just a few of the many
outstanding awards Potts received
His name will go down, if not in
history books, then in our minds and
oral history as one of the great disc
jockies and as one who cared
Forma* North
Carolina Mutual
Chief Dies At 96