St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 56

ofJV 50CT181998 http: www.stlnet.com ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH METRO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1998 Dll ST. LOUIS DEATHS Former H. Rap Brown addresses gang summit Leroy Tyus, 83; former 20th Ward committeeman, state representative v. The summit came amid police concerns that a fatal drive-by shooting of a 10-year-old Kansas City, girl last week might have been gang-related.

A 15-year-old Kansas City, boy has been charged with first-degree murder in the case. Al-Amin said he was not that far removed from the figure who emerged from the racial and social tensions of the '60s. He said his commitment to fighting injustice was strengthened by his conversion to Islam. "I'm not dissatisfied with what I did," Al-Amin said. "But Islam has allowed things to be clearer." Al-Amin, once a fiery militant who headed the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, now is a Muslim spiritual leader at an Atlanta mosque.

"We have to be concerned about the welfare of ourselves and those around us, and that comes through submission to God and the raising of one's consciousness," said Al-Amin. He converted to Islam while serving a five-year prison term for a New York robbery that ended in a shootout with police. Al-Amin urged summit participants to realize the power and influence they can have in efforts to bring about positive and lasting change in their communities. "Allah tells us that he will not change the condition of a people until there is a change within them," Al-Amin said. Earlier in the day, more than 100 summit participants attended workshops and group discussions that focused on economic development, police brutality, health care and community organizing.

Advice to KC audience is based on Islam The Associated press KANSAS CITY The rhetoric is tamer but the former H. Rap Brown says he remains as committed as ever to fighting injustice. Now known as Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, he told participants at a gang summit Friday that they must look toward each other to draw strength. 'You are not gangs but are nations and tribes," Al-Amin said at the National Urban Peace and Justice Summit. "God put you that way to get to know each other." her "personal historian on St.

Louis politics." "He remembered all the things that people like me want to know about what happened before," she said. Cheryl Tyus Tyus in 1984 a -r. I 'Quick Vision' Cataract Surgery Eddie Leroy Tyus, a longtime St. Louis Democratic politician who wielded great power behind the scenes, died Thursday (Oct. 15, 1998) at Vencor Hospital of complications from a heart attack.

He was 83. Mr. Tyus was a state representative from 1950 to 1960 but may be remembered just as much for a 23-year stint as 20th Ward committeeman. He stepped down from that post in 1983. In that role, he helped put together coalitions for various candidates and was known as one of the city's more influential political figures.

He often worked closely with U.S. Rep. William L. Clay, D-St. Louis.

Mr. Tyus also was well-known in area golfing circles. He was an acclaimed amateur golfer and was hailed as a trailblazer for African-Americans in golf here. He was inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame in 1993. His widow, Marie Tyus, said Saturday that her husband first got involved in politics because he admired and wanted to emulate Jordan Chambers, a black political leader here in the 1940s and 1950s.

One of Mr. Tyus' three daughters, Cheryl Tyus Bowie of Evans-ton, 111., said black lawmakers weren't allowed to stay in Jefferson City hotels when her father was first elected to the House. He had to sleep on the campus of a black university. "Everything was segregated then," she said. "Daddy came along during that era, and he helped to make things better." Pearlie Evans, Clay's district as-.

sistant, said Mr. Tyus was helpful to young politicians just starting their careers. She added that he helped her understand the background behind many issues and referred to him as I 'Quick Vision' is the most advanced and safest form of cataract surgery No shot Eye drops only No stitch No patch 1st in St. Louis to do clear cornea tunnel cataract surgery. EAGLE EYE CARE.

Harry Eggleston, M.D. When Experience Counts 633 Emerson 1-270 Olive Bowie said de-' spite the alliances her father built over the years with other politicians, he always was his own person. In a way, she said, "Daddy was a maverick. He was always the quiet one in the background working." Sometimes, however, his name hit the headlines. In 1987, a federal jury found Mr.

Tyus and two other men guilty of mail fraud and wire fraud in an alleged scheme to hide potential stock ownership in a cable television company. But he was exonerated when a federal judge dismissed the indictment. Mr. Tyus, the son of farmers, spent his boyhood in Haywood County, Tenn. He attended Lane College in Jackson, and the Lincoln University Law School.

He worked as an adult educational teacher in occupational therapy for the Missouri Board of Education. He also owned a number of different businesses, such as the Tyus Hotel, which was on Franklin Avenue in the 1950s. He also owned a realty firm and a security agency. In addition to serving as a legislator and committeeman, Mr. Tyus was a city constable and a member of the city airport commission.

Mr. Tyus liked to play golf at Forest Park and last year was honored at the Midwest Legends of Golf Tournament at the park. Mr. Tyus lived for more than 40 POST-DISPATCH PHOTO Tyus is shown in 1959 when he won the Central States Golf championship at Forest Park. years in the 5200 block of Lexington Avenue.

He and his wife were married 53 years. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday at Wade Funeral Home-Twin Chapel, 4800 Natural Bridge Avenue. The funeral service will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 5017 Northland Avenue.

Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. Survivors include two other daughters, Mary Brown of Tampa, and Cathy Tyus Cothran of Pasadena Hills; eight grandchildren; and nine (314) 872-7744 INVENTORY Deaths elsewhere Internet pioneer Jon Postel, 55, dies following heart surgery. Page D9 'fjj JHUjSS SoftStrider EX was $1099 SoftStrider Pro was $1599 now ft rrr f) Th SoftTrack Cushioned Treadbelt $899 HealthRider Exclusive a emorial EKG Grip Pulse Sensors 6 Workout Programs 5-Window LED Display of bpeed, lime, Distance, Calories and Fat Calories Neighbors honor two who died in cave-in of ditch Continued from Page Dl Burned, Incline and Pulse Power Incline up to 10 1 r(L EKG" Grip Pulse Sensors 8 Workout Programs 2.0 HP Continuous-Duty Motor 325 lb Weight Capacity Power Indine up to 10 Club-Style Matrix Display 201 60' Treadbelt 5-Window LED Display of Speed, Time, Distance, Calories and Fat Calories Burned, Incline and Pulse MS A) Fan Accessory HMLTMIDffi FIND i A I while supplies last -(UN sm 1 3 I 1 Ar, i REFINANCE YOUR HOME Gary Rambo with his wife, Vicky, and their daughter, Sarah. II-. KUX I Vicky Rambo, the widow of Gary Rambo, was accompanied by her mother, Evelyn Robbins, and the Rambos' daughter, 15-month-old Sarah Elizabeth.

"People in this subdivision have been wonderful. They've treated Vicky like she's part of one big family," she said. Robbins, who lives in southeast Missouri, said she had spent most of the summer after the accident with her daughter, helping her with her baby. Rambo brought a box to the service that was labeled "Letters for Sarah." She had asked for people to write something about her late husband and leave it for Sarah. "She'll never know him and I'm hoping that people will write things about her Dad so at least she'll have that," she explained.

Dawidowski, 31, the survivor, was struggling for control as the time for the short service approached. "I'm just trying to put my whole life back together. Everybody's been great," he added. He said he was pleased that his neighbors had planned the memorial service because he had been in the hospital when the funerals were held for his two friends. Although he was buried under several feet of dirt, Dawidowski was sustained during the cave-in by a small air pocket in front of his face.

Rescue workers eventually were able to get air and water to him before they dug him out. The rescue took more than six hours. "It was the worst day of my life," said Dawidowski's wife, Kim Dawidowski. She waited in a neighbor's house and even when her husband was uncovered, she didn't know what his chances were for survival. "I was relieved and scared.

Both," she said. 'i vvfCv.v II Jv-r- 'vAJ, 1 S-' MdD IPciDnimite rr, CO (BO li Ray and Dianna Heffernan. Two neighbors, Don and Donna Wright, live on the cul-de-sac where the accident happened. They were on vacation then, and were heading home when they read about it in the Post-Dispatch. Because they missed the funer als, they were pleased to have this opportunity to pay their respects.

"We just want to show our respect to their families and to thank everyone who helped them and who came that night to try to save the others," Don Wright said. We don't believe voir should spend money to save money. We were the 1st lender to offer no cost refinancing to St. Louis homeowners. today.

We'll show you that you're 1 to us. Disney World will check worker backgrounds 10 Tourist's rape is a factor Gershman Investment CORP. 889-0600 397-0603 7NorthBemiston' 63105 210 Mid Rivers Center-63376 www.gershman.com More than 45 years of experience, security and unmatched customer service. the theme park resort for failing to perform security checks that could prevent the hiring of pedophiles. Schweizer said Friday that the change in policy is "more than coincidence." Warren said that the book had nothing to do with it and that the rape was just one of several factors.

"That's something we've kicked around for a long time, he said. Walt Disney World, with more than 50,000 employees, hires several hundred new workers a month. closed they were convicted of a crime, spokesman Bill Warren said. It decided in August to expand the checks to all new hires, just like Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. The policy took effect a month after the July rape of a 16-year-old tourist from Denver, allegedly by a 17-year-old Disney cook, on the resort's property.

The suspect, Dan-eal ilronjB, had a juvenile record that incudes charges of burglary, aggravated assault and theft The new policy also came as "Disney: The Mouse Betrayed" went to press. The book by Peter and Rochelle Schweizer criticized The Associated Press Fla. Walt Disney World has quietly started requiring background checks on all new hires, following the rape of a tourist and the publication of a book critical of the theme park's security practices. The resort already ran checks on new employees who handled money, worked directly with children, were involved with security or dis An equal opportunity lender. St Louis City and County and St Charles County onfy.

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