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David Dupree Mclntyre Thousands I < Ex-Falcon Kappas ‘Man goes out mourn I Greg Brezina of the Year’ with class Count Basie I preaches at Paine Page 3 Page 1 Page 1 I Page 5 Stye Augusta Neum-2teuteuj VOLUME 13 NUMBER 54 '■ .. ■ ',"' I E.X. ■ Jr ® tßr ■■/'s■■ ' ' /s mS ** /' -wWwi ED McINTYRE resigns as his mother, Rev. F« cS <* M. Mclntyre goes out with class When Mayor Edward M. Mcln tyre entered the City Council Chambers last Thursday morning to announce his resignation, he was met with a standing ovation from the crowd that squeezed in side. He entered from his adjoining office accompanied by his wife, his Hundreds mourn Count Basie NEW YORK Sarah Vaughn, Billy Eckstine, Quincy Jones and Cab Calloway were just a few of the more than 2,000 who packed into Abyssinian Baptist Church at 132 W. 138th St. in Harlem Mon day to pay their last respects to the man simply called the “Count.” Another 1,500 crowded the streets outside in hopes of getting a glimpse of the solid oak casket housing the final remains of musician/composer/arranger William “Count” Basie who died last week in a Hollywood, Fla., hospital. He was 79. Dr. Samuel D. Proctor, minister at Abyssinian and former classmate of Basie band member Billy Taylor, delivered the eulogy. Solos were performed by band members Dennis Roland, Carmen Bradford and Joe Williams. Speaking at the services, old friend Cab Calloway, obviously at a loss for words said, ‘Tv e been hidee-hidee-hoing for so long now but I’ve never been put in such a spot.” Calloway recalled the first time he met the Count in 1928 and said he once told Basie he was going to mother, and his attorney. He read a brief letter of resignation then answered questions from the press. The letter read: “Please accept this letter as my resignation as mayor of Augusta, effective im mediately. “I hereby offer my assistance in _< 2 * Count Basie New York and become a hit and he (Calloway) wanted him to come and play piano for him but John Hammond beat him to it. “The service was beautiful,” said Dee Askew, secretary to Williard Alexander, Basie’s per sonal agent. “It was not solemn or sad or anything. It was touching. Just beautiful. I can’t describe it.” Basie had been hospitalized sin ce March 27. He had been un- &ssewgSsgßstt; . .-ty, • <O-. Ww® I ?-'<<■ y® -Wat i BWiWMW -. ■ • r- "Wi g ‘IBWSI " ? t ? I ? * I WS* y Hihil • . f« w ® ■ ,|L. y-' i* "A.} '» - *1 ’ |HR r ,J <o<* » .*><' ' ■ Charles Devaney was appointed mayor pro tern on Friday. any way to facilitate an orderly transition for my successor. I have made this decision based upon what I believe to be in the best in terest of this city. I wish that the city will continue to enjoy the suc cess it so richly deservesd.” As he answered reporters questions he was twice interrupted dergoing treatment for an ulcer but doctors later discovered he had pancreatic cancer. Born William Basie on Aug. 21, 1904, in Red Bank, N.J., the Count’s musical career began at an early age when his mother taught him to play the piano. By the time he was 13, he had formed his own band playing at school dances. He went to New York in 1922 where he met Fats Waller who taught him to play the pipe organ. Basie’s early days were spent on the nightclub circuit traveling across the country with his big band. His first big hit was “One O’clock Jump.” Basie was labeled a kind man who knew how to handle his musicians. “Basie was sweet and kind,” said Askew. “Those are the best words that can describe him. In all the time I’ve dealt with him, I never heard him raise his voice. He was a very mild mannered, very even tempered, loving man,” she May 12,1984 with applause. Once when he was asked what he was proudest of, and he answered, “I am proud of everything that 1 have done for this city.” He was interrupted again when he said that he was disappointed added. Upon learning of Basie’s death last week, singer Joe Williams lamented, “We have just lost a national treasure but the happiness that his music gave us will live.” Basie’s wife, Catherine, who traveled with him extensively in later years, died last year. The Count was buried in a private ceremony at Long Island’s Pine Lawn Cemetery. He is survived by one daughter, Diane; two adopted sons, Aaron Woodward and Lamont Gilmore; two adopted daughters, Rosemary Matthews and Olivia Hassell and a sister-in-law, Carrie Morgan. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that contributions be made in the name of William “Count” Basie to Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, or the National Alliance of Business Youth Motivation Task Force, 1015 15th St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005. According to Askew, Central State will buil a wing to house the memorabilia of Count Basie. from the Los Angeles Sentinel Less than 75 percent Advertising Willie Mays vows to work for DeVaney’s defeat If Second Ward City Coun cilman Willie Mays has anything to say about it, Mayor Pro Tern Charles DeVaney will never become mayor. Referring to City Attorney Ken Daniel’s opinion that DeVaney should keep his First Ward seat on Council, Mays said, “Regardless of what the mayor pro tern says about the city charter or what the city attorney’s interpretation may be, they have been wrong before. His decision does leave the first ward without representation. “Mayor pro tern is a political springboard for him. He gerrymandered the committee ap pointments so he could have a seat if he loses the mayor’s race and I sure as hell intend to see that he does.” Three of the four Blacks on council did not vote for him to become mayor pro tern. They sim ply voted “present”. DeVaney further drew Mays’ ire when he decided to keep his First Ward seat on council while serving with the verdict; and again when he left the room. He was convicted last Saturday of three counts of extortion in connection with federal charges that he attempted to receive kick backs for favorable consideratin of developers interested in acquiring city-owned riverfront property. Julian Bond Julian Bond to speak State Sen. Julian Bond will be the speaker at a fundraising banquet for State Rep. George Brown on May 12. The banquet will be held at the Augusta Hilton Convention Cen ter. For ticket information, call Ronnie Brown at 278-0282 or John Hardy at 724-0146. Tickets will be on sale at the door for S2O. as mayor pro tern. Things got worse when DeVaney announced his new committee ap pointments. Mays, who was vice chairman of the Finance Commit tee, was not elevated to chairman. Penland Mayson was named chairman. DeVaney admitted that “Quite frankly...you have to consider who voted “present” and who S'oted “yes.” You have to go with the ■hk Ji Willie Mays people who showed confidence in you.” Dr. I.E. Washington, the only Black council member to vote for DeVaney was named chairman of the Transit Committee. He is the only Black DeVaney named to chair a committee by DeVaney. Mays noted that when former Fourth Ward Councilman Joseph C. Jones resigned his post, a replacement was immediately ap pointed. “What’s good for the Fourth Ward is good for the Fir st,” he said. “He (DeVaney) wants a hole to crawl back into if he loses the mayor’s race. That’s what the whole thing boils down to. That ward is 60 percent Black and should be filled with a Black per son. This (DeVaney’s action) is a way of getting around that.” DeVaney said that he’s trying to be “as fair as I can be.” The (city) code and charter are very clear. They say that the mayor pro tern will be a member of coun cil and not mayor. “I don’t think any ward is going to get less representation if the mayor (who is a member or each committee) is from their ward.” DeVaney disagreed that a Black should be appointed from the First Ward. No Black has ever represen ted the First Ward. see DeVaney page 2