Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

dje S^ntianualj tribune will Celebrate the Life and Legacy of D r, IVI artin Luther King, Jr* Monday, January 16, 2012 For more information call Tanya Milton 912-65H-2H13 PRSRT STD U.S POSTAGE PAID Savannah. GA Permit No. 923 “GEORGIA’S BEST WEEKLY’ 1805 MLK Jr. Blvd. Savannah, Ga 31415 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED abannal) tribune January 11,2012- January 17,2012 • Vol. 40 No. 46* 912-233-6128 • Fax: 912-233-6140 MLK 2012: One Great Celebration By: Whitney Hunter Managing Editor The Savannah Tribune Savannah took the ini tiative back in 1990 and renamed West Broad St. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd to honor the slain civil rights icon. Although many citizens faced opposition by critics who claimed the renaming would sacrifice the historical prominence of West Broad, local civil rights advocates such as Rev. Bennie Mitchell, Jr. saw the project through, which was 10 years in the making. Savannah honored King again when a group of local youth took a trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the MLK memorial and be a part of the MonuMENTAL Experience. They participat ed in interactive workshops, lunches with distinguished guests and toured the U.S. capital. Now, 32 years after Savannah first honored King, his legacy is still fresh in the minds of today’s youth. “He is the only African- American that was nearly successful at the equality of his people,” said Asante Harley, 21, a student major ing in business administra tion technology at Savannah Technical College. “ I strive to be highly educated and to see my kids on a successful route,” Harley said. “ Just because I know someone already paved the way so I'm taking advantage of it.” Jessica Martin, 23, a criminal justice major at Tampa Bay, sees King’s legacy as one of determina tion. “It means how one brave man himself faced obstacles just to get equal rights for his people. He did n’t stop because things weren’t going the way he wanted to immediately,” Martin said. “ He kept fight ing for our people and it paid off.” Perhaps the best testa ment of King’s legacy can be summed up in his words. “Give us the ballot, and we will no longer have to worry the federal government about our basic rights. Give us the ballot and we will no longer plead to the federal government for pas sage of an anti-lynching law; we will by the power of our vote write the law on the statute books of the South and bring an end to the das tardly acts of the hooded per petrators of violence. Continued on pg. 3 Bernard Wright Honored For 33 Years of Service 2012 Georgia Trustees Announced: Tom Cousins and Andrew Young The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is pleased to announce the selection of the 2012 Georgia Trustees: Atlanta real-estate and sports franchise mogul Thomas G. Cousins and former U.N. Ambassador and Mayor of Atlanta Andrew J. Young, Jr. "The Georgia Trustees are the embodiment of the noble principle upon which Georgia was founded, 'not for self but for others,"' said Dr. Todd Groce, President and CEO of GHS. "The service of Mr. Cousins and Ambassador Young to our state and nation reflects the highest ideals of the original Trustees and merits their inclusion in this distin guished group of Georgians. Their leadership and self lessness have shaped the destiny of our state and improved the lives of all Georgians." Tom Cousins Mr. Cousins has played a key role in the creation of modem Atlanta. He is the founder and chairman emer itus of Cousins Properties, a real estate investment trust responsible for the develop ment of Atlanta landmarks such as the CNN Center, Omni Coliseum, 191 Peachtree Tower and Bank of America Plaza. Mr. Andrew Young Cousins is also a leader in the Atlanta sports franchise industry, having bought and moved the NBA's St. Louis Hawks to Atlanta in 1968 and established the 1972 NHL expansion team, the Atlanta Flames. Ambassador Young is a statesman and champion of civil rights. He has served as United States Ambassador to the U.N. (1977-1979), Mayor of Atlanta (1982- 1990), U.S. Congressman (1973-1977) and top aide to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Throughout his long career, he has worked tirelessly to expand civil rights of all people and to promote mutu al respect and understanding between people of all back grounds and races. GHS will honor the 2012 Georgia Trustees at the Trustees Gala, featuring the theme "Savannah Sol," on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 with an elegant evening of Latin- inspired dinner and dance, including lively conversa tion with the inductees. For information about the 2012 Trustees Gala, please visit www.georgiahistory.com or call 912.651.2125, ext. 120. The Savannah Airport Commission held a special ceremony and luncheon today honoring Mr. Bernard Wright who retired December 31, 2011 after over 33 years of service. Mr. Wright’s career with the Airport started in 1978 when he was hired as a Laborer. Since that time he has served in a variety of supervisory and management roles and upon his retirement was serving as Director of Airport Operations. “Bernard was a loyal arver Maltie Biny Shaiice WilfRin-Siu<ills| TJIOSkitUmy Road LENDER