THE TRIBUNAL AID
VOLUME 1, NO. 19 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1973
SERVICE TO ALL
15 CENTS
PRESS RUN 5000
HIGH POIHT
THOMASVILLE
WINSTON-SALEM
Vacationed In Tennessee
A photographer in busi
ness was able to take the
picture of his nephew, Mr.
Allen Straines in Nashville,
Tennessee recently. The
above picture was taken as
Mr. Straines displays the
trophy that was received by
his golf team recentlv.
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong
were there to celebrate with
the Strains family as Mr.
Strains received his certi
fied flight instructors rat
ing.
Mr. Armstrong and Mr.
Strains are also employed
as clerks in the United
States Postal System.
K
*1
V
The Changing Order
Of S C L C
ATTENTION LADIES
Wedding and engagement announements for
THE TRIBUNAL AID
must be in the office by Thursday noon
Articles should be typed
by James F. Campbell
The gradual turn of
events in the civil rights
movement was never more
evident than the Southern
Christian Leadership Con
ference’s Annual meeting
in Indianapolis.
It used to be that
anybody who was some
body or wanted to be, went
to the SCLC annual
meeting. It was the thing to
do. It was as meaningful to
blacks as Pentecost was to
the Jews. SCLC meetings
always produced frenzied
excitement—the rah, rahs,
large identification ban
ners, special paraphalia,
constant chatter of “a-
mens” and bulging crowds.
All of that is gone now.
Dr. Ralph Abernathy got
a full house when he gave
his annual message. So did
Dick Gregory. But most of
the four-day convention
was sparsely attended and
there were times when
speakers had only a handful
of listeners. The amens
were still prevalent but
many of the sessions were
carried out in quiet
classroom-like style, des
pite the excellence of many
of the speakers.
Dr. Joseph E. Lowery.
SCLC board chairman, got
a two-minute standing
ovation after delivering
what many attenders term
ed the best speech of the
convention. Dr. Lowery’s
efforts clearly brought to
mind another facet that
may be getting lost in the
toned-down civil rights
struggle--leadership.
Even without Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., SCLC still
has outstanding leadership.
Dr. Abernathy is surround
ed by highly capabic
advisers and staff. Their
strategy, know how, and
skills are as good today as
they were a decade ago. In
some ways, better. Many
bring experience from large
corporations and business
es, and as a result, are
knowledgeable about mat
ters that were unthinkable
at the outset of the
movement in the late 50’s,
and early 60’s. Equally as
important, workers still
show a firm commitment to
the movement.
Where then is the
change? Followship. The
crowds don't seem to be
listening anymore and
there are indications that
they don't believe like thev
once did. Some openly
disagree. While one SCLC
speaker was telling the
audience that there were
some good policeman left in
the nation, one convention-
er blurted, "Not one!"
The remark was quite
unlike past years of the
movement when an air of
solidarity governed the
atmosphere even when it
was common knowledge
that the speaker was off
target.
"Don’t blame the follow
ers for thinking," one
reporter was heard saying.
"They must. The times
demand it.” His words
were understandable e-
nough. There was a time
when followers of civil
rights groups came won
dering what the movement
could do for them. Not so
today. SCLC like other civil
rights organizations has
been hurting in recent
years for funds. The once
friendly support from
business and industry isn’t
so friendly now. One of Dr.
Abernathy’s main reasons
for offering his resignation
as president before rcac-
cepting in Indianapolis,
w'as a lack of funds to run
the organization.
Followers of this gadfly
movement are well aware
of the new low conditions.
SCLC annual conventions
have never been held in
plush hotel, but this year’s
body met and took care of
all of its business in a
Baptist church that offered
less than adequate provis
ions. For the most part, the
steak houses were bypass
ed. In a neighboring church
a few feet away from the
convention, free food tables
were set up. And while no
beef was served, SCLC
participants did not go
hungry.
So while speakers prog
nosticated from the pulpit,
listeners no longer were
buying by the bushel. At
Indianapolis it was obvious
that most were saying:
"Very well, but how do 1
make what you say relevant
enough to do my thing?"
If a reference of what a
group like SCLC has failed
to do can be helpful, it
could well serve as a
damper too. "Anytime you
destroy the myth, you
destroy the organization."
one man said shaking his
head as he left the
auditorium where he had
witnessed hearing one
speaker constructively crit
icize the revered late SCLC
founder. Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Dr. King has
been accused of staying
with this street tactics too
long, thus allowing the
opponent to figure out his
stratagy.
Honestly, though, no
civil rights meeting comes
without some desagrce-
ment and probably never
will even in the face of
positive changc. Yet, I
found it all very sad. 1
missed the fever and
imperturbable hope that
used to grip and prevail.
Perhaps it is the price we
must pay for progress. In a
sense, SCLC is a replica of
what has happened to most
of us. 1 understand, no
bubble can stay afloat
forever.
Rear Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr., United States Navy
Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr..
was born in Richmond,
Virginia, on June 4, 1922,
son of Samuel L. and Mary
George (Simon) Gravely.
He attended Armstrong
High School, in Richmond,
and had three years at
Virginia Union University
(he was later graduated
with the degree of Bachelor
of Arts in History), before
enlisting in the U.S. Naval
Reserve on September 15,
1942. After recruit training
at the Naval Training
Center. Great Lakes, Illi
nois, he reported in
January 1943 as a student
at the Service School,
Hampton (Virginia) Insti
tute and in May that year
was assigned to the Section
Base, San Diego, Californ
ia. During the period
November 1943 to June
1944 he was a member of
the V-12 Unit at the
University of California at
Los Angeles, and then
attended the Pre-Midship
men School. Asbury Park,
New Jersey.
Appointed Midshipman
in the U.S. Naval Reserve
in August 1944, he
attended the Midshipmen
School, Columbia Univer
sity, New York City, and
was graduated in Decem
ber of that year. Commis
sioned Ensign, USNR, to
date from December 14,
1944, he subsequently
advanced in rank to that of
Rear Admiral, to date from
July 1, 1972, having
transferred from U.S.
Naval Reserve to the U. S.
Navy on August 16, 1955.
Following his commis
sioning, he reported in
December 1944 as Assist
ant Battalion Commander
at the Naval Training
Center, Great Lakes, where
he remained until February
1945. For two months
thereafter he had instruct
ion at the Sub-Chaser
Training Center, Miami,
Florida, and in May 1945 he
joined the USS PC 1264. He
served during the latter
months of World War II
and until February 1946 as
Communicaiions Officer,
Electronics Officer, and
later Executive Officer and
Personnel Officer of this
submarine chaser. After
brief duty as Communicat
ions Watch Officer with the
Fleet Training Group,
Norfolk, Virginia, he was
released from active duty,
effective April 16, 1946.
Prior to returning to active
duty he was employed as a
Railway Postal Clerk in the
Richmond (Virginia) Office.
Called up again into
active Naval service, he
reported on August 30,
1949 as Assistant to the
Officer in Charge for
Recruiting at the Naval
Recruiting Station and
Officer Procurement, Was
hington, D.C. From Octo
ber 1951 to February 1952
he had instruction (Short
Communication Course) at
the Naval Postgraduate
School, Monterey, Califor
nia, after which he served
afloat as Radio Officer on
board the USS IOWA
(BB-61). In June 1953 he
transferred to the USS
Toledo (CA-133), in which
he served as Communicat
ions Officer and in various
other capacities, including
that of Assistant Operat
ions Officer during the two
years that followed. In both
vessels he participated in
action against enemy North
Korean and Chinese Com
munist forces in the Korean
Area, and wears the Ribbon
for the Korean Presidential
Unit Citation awarded
those ships.
Detached from the TO
LEDO in July 1955, he was
assigned to Headquarters,
Third Naval District, New
York, where he served two
years as Assistant District
Security Officer. Between
September and November
1957 he had instuction in
amphibious warfare, at
tached to the Amphibious
Training Command, Pacific
Fleet, headquartered at
Coronado, California, then
joined the USS seminole
(AKA-104) as Operations
Officer. He had temporary
duty under training for
Executive Officer of a
destroyer on the staffs of
Commander Destroyer
Squadrons SEVEN and
FIVE during the period
August 1959 to January
1960, when he became
Executive Officer of the
USS THEODORE E. CHA1
NDLER (DD-717). On
February 15, 1961 he
relieved Commander G.C.
Brown, USN, as Com
manding Officer, and
remained in Command of
that destroyer until October
21, 1961 when he again
became her Executive
Officer.
On January 31, 1962, he
assumed command of the
radar picket destroyer
escort, USS FALGOUT
(DER-324), at Pearl Har
bor, Hawaii. Under com
mand of Lieutenant Com
mander Gravely, the FAL
GOUT, based at Pearl
Harbor, patrolled the
Pacific Early Warning
Barrier. From August 1963
to June 1964 he attended
tl>e senior course in Naval
Warfare at the Naval War
College, Newport, New
port, Rhode Island, after
which he served as National
Emergency Airborne Com
mand Post Program Man
ager at the Defense
Communications Agency,
Arlington, Virginia.
In January 1966 he
became the Commanding
Officer of the USS
TAUSSIG (DD-746). On
June 6, 1968, Captain
Gravely was detached from
command of TAUSSIG to
report to the office of the
Chief of Naval Operations.
He was assigned Coordina
tor, Navy Satellite Com
munications Program in the
Office of the Assistant
Chief of Naval Operations
(Communications and Cry
ptology) with additional
duty in the Navy Space
Program Division. On May
22, 1970, he assumed
command of the USS
JOUETT(DLG-29). One of
the Navy’s most modern
Guided Missile Frigates.
JOUETT was home ported
in San Diego. He was
relieved on June 2, 1971
and donned two stars that
same day. On July 16,
1971, he assumed duties as
Commander, Naval Com
munications Command and
Director, Naval Communi
cations Division under the
Chief of Naval Operations.
He was designated Com
mander Cruiser Destroyer
Flotilla TWO in March
1973.
In addition to the
Meritorious Service Medal,
the Navy Commendation
Medal with Gold Star and
Combat "V", and the
Korean Presidential Unit
Citation Ribbon, Rear
Admiral Gravely has the
Naval Reserve Medal (for
ten years’ service in the
U.S. Naval Reserve); A-
merican Campaign Medal;
World War II Victory
Medal; National Defense
Service Medal with bronze
star; China Service Medal;
Korean Service Medal with
two bronze stars; United
Nations Scrvicc Medal;
Armed Forces Expedition
ary Medal (Ouemoy and
Matsu) and the Vietnam
Service Medal with four
bronze stars. He also has
the Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal with
Device.
He is married to the
^former Alma Bernicc Clark
of Christiansburg, Virginia,
and they have three
children, Robert Michael,
David Edward and Tracey
Ernestine Gravely. His
:)fficial (permanent) resi
dence is the home of his
father, now a widower, 819
Nicholson Street, Rich-
jiiond. Virginia.
WWAT’S INSTOE
l^teriaLs 4
Entertainment 5
Religion 3
nigh Point
Thomuville
Winst(m>S«lein
SAN ANTONIA'-Airman
Ronald J. Brown, grandson
of Mrs. Norean G.
McMillan of 1825 Short St.,
Winston-Salem, N.C., has
been assigned to Lowry
AFB. Colo., after complet
ing Air Force basic
training.
During his six weeks at
the Air Training Com
mand’s Lackland AFB.
Tex., he studied the Air
Force mission, organization
and customs and received
SERVING IN THE MILITARY
special instruction in hu
man relations.
The airman has been
assigned to the Technical
Training Center at Lowry
for specialized training as a
food service specialist.
Airman Brown is a 1967
graduate of Paisley Senior
High School. His wife.
Sally, is the daughter of
Mrs. Lillie M. Smith of
2350 Booker St.. Winston-
Salem.
SHREVEPORT* La.-
Staff Sergeant Alfonzo
Southerland, son of Mrs.
Mae E. Southerland, 1409-
d E. Commerce St., High
Point, N.C.* has graduated
from the U. S. Air Force
Noncommissioned Officer
Leadership School at Barks
dale AFB, La.
Sergeant Southerland,
who was trained in military
management and supervis
ion, is an administrative
specialist at Seymour-John-
son AFB, N.C., with a unit
of the Strategic Air
Command.
The sergeant, a 1968
graduate of William Penn
High School, attended
Wayne Community College
in Goldsboro, N.C., and has
served in Vietnam.
His wife, Pearl, is the
daughter of Mrs. Maggie
Goins, 1210-T Sprague St.,
Shreveport.
BILOXI, Miss.--Master
Sergeant Howard L. Stover,
son of the Rev. Eddie L.
Stover, 1446 Woodland
Ave., Winston-Salem,N.C.,
has retired from the U.S.
Air Force after more than
22 years of service.
Sergeant Stover served
as an electronic systems
maintenance supervisor at
Keesler AFB, Miss., prior
to his retirement.
He is a veteran of the
Korean War and holds the
U.S. Air Force Commenda
tion Medal.
The sergeant is a 1949
graduate of Atkins High
School. His wife, Jean, is
the daughter of Mrs. Annie
B. Frazier, 1439 E. Fifth
St., Winston-Salem.