The tribune independent of Michigan., 1935-06-01
Editorial
THE PASSING OF WILLIE D. MosLEY

Last Friday night Detroit lost one OF It's most
fu and pubc-sped citizens and the race pig-hea''
ed friend and champion when Willie ID. Mosey pasSeu
awav at Receiving Hospital He shot to death Dy Du
let's from the gun of whom ne had employed aho
befriended for years
Mr. Mosley occupied unique place in the community
both in the business and political life of his people, anu
champoned their many OCCASIONS wheh '"e
masses were unaware of his activity in their pehaii
Endowed with rare business genius keen insight IN
to human nature this sefmade man succeeded IN aos'
evarvtbino he undertook proportion as his wealth.
increased he increased his effort to serve the race 10
give employment to deserving and women; to help
build new business enterprises, and to support cNc Or
ganizations for the uplift of the group
Even when a boy in his teens working in the coal
mines of his native home in Pratt City Alabama
Willie Mosley was success. He reliable, dhgent'
hard working. and eventually promoted TO posi-
ton as in his department having charge oi the
workers and machinery they used He always kept his
machines in perfect condition, and was so wellked oy
the men under him. that they failed to give him
their wholehearted cooperation.
His parents were poor and his mother died when ne
and his brother Charles tiny lads Providence gave
them good step-mother, however, who taught them
and her atnsr SNNNre" 70 0s '0SA~of'"s "0OS''01S
1.nsssa economic conditions denied young Mosey
opportunities of higher education and forced him to
go work at early he had keen mind and a
broad philosophy of life.
When this energetic man Detroit in 1919, he
established line of taxicabs with money he had earned
coal miner and he succeeded. He saved his money
invested in real estate and these investments also
proved profitable He would have succeeded just the
if he had been physician lawyer, dentist,
because ne possessed the attributes of
All successful and have enemies and
critics who envy them. Mr. Mosley no exception
critics who envy them, and Mr. Mosley exception
Farmind people admit however, that business men
who operate honest lotteries for the masses who take
pennies and dimes, fill the public
mand and deserve much consideration the honest
brokers Wall Street, where wealthy citizens specu-
late in stocks and bonds.
When the murderous bullets snuffed the life Of
this prosperous and influential, he engaged in
beautifully remodelng his building st. Anaone and
Napoleon streets at cost of several thousand dollars
feared the work would be discontinued but the
tractors received word from Mrs Mosey: "Go on with
the remodeing Complete it up to the very top of the
building. just as my husband planned"
These are the words of courageous heart. Mrs.
Mosey has the perseverance and business abay
ry with success until all the ambitions and dreams of
her lamented husband realized. In his lifetime he
discussed all important business undertakings with his
wife, before making investment venture and he al
ways respected her judgement and needed her advice
Willie Mosley made great deal of money and in
vested it wisely When he made promise, he kept it.
His word was as good gold He had genuine interest
in all civic movements for the welfare of his and
gave financial and moral support to numerous local
churches, organizations, and business concerns.
Last spring when the Detroit Branch of the N. A, A.
c. p conducting its annual membership drive, Mr..
Mosley the first citizen to pay his membership that
year He paid for threeone for his wife, for his
brother Charles and anothr for himself
Each Christmas, he provided Christmas dinners for
hundreds of INDECENT and and toys and
bags of fruit and candy to thousands of little children
many of whom wept the streets last week. when they
learned he dead.
Again when the Detroit Tribune and the Detroit
Independent staggering under the depression
year and half ago. it spirited Bill Mosley
who to the and invested thousands of dol
lars in the present Tribunendependent in order that
our people of this city and state might have strong