The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1949-05-04
Spokane NAACP Honors 3O-Year Leade
IF. A. Stokes HOnOred
at An1iversary Dinner
By ROWLAND BOND

One of Spokane's outstanding
Negro citizens was honored last
Sunday for 80 years service as
an officer Of the Spokane chap
ter, National Association for the
Advancement Of Colored People.
At a dinner in the Desert hotel
celebrating the 40th anniversary
of the founding of the association
and the S0th anniversary OF the
Spokane chapter, F. A. Stokes,
was presented with a certificate
of commentator signed by Wal
ter White Of New York, national
secretary.
The thing Stokes likes best
about the dinner In his honor,
was the fact that 1t was planned
by men and women whose famil
les he has known for three gem
erations. One of the sponsors is
the fourth generation of a Spo-
kane Negro family.
Opportunities Cited
"The Negro has many opportu-
mites today that he did not have
in the past, but the outstanding
thing about Spokane is the fair
consideration my people have had
from the courts, schools and news
papers," he said.
He believes that the recent
statement Of Paul Robson before
the World Peace congress In
Paris is untrue. Robson was
quoted as saying, ut is unthink-
able that the American Negro
would go to war on behalf OF
those who have oppressed US for
generations"
Regardless Of the treatment
the Negro has had, he has always
remained loyal to this country
Stokes said. HE has fought in
every war in which this country
has participated. In fact, Crispus
Attacks a Negro, was the first
man to give his life in the Re-
evolutionary war.
81 doubt If more than a few OF
our 100000 Negroes would fight
against this country in case OF
a war with Russia"
Mr.. Stokes came to Spokane in
1900 as head porter on a Great
Northern train. In 1912 he went
into the real estate and insurance
business, sharing an office with
John Adams. a Negro lawyer who
had practiced before the United
States supreme court.
When Adams entered the min
istry, Stokes had Adam Patterson,
now assistant Cook county, Ill,
prosecutor, as his office partner.
Stokes also was part owner of the
H & S transfer and storage COM
pany.
From 1918 to 1884 he held the
contract for feeding the prisoners
in the city Jail, and from 1894 to
1916 he was custodian at Haver-
male junior high school. Since
then he has held similar posi-
ton at the Old National bank.
During 46 years residence at
W529 Mansfield Stokes has rear
ed three daughters. Two Of them
now reside in Bremerton; Robin
Stokes Webb, wife of a retired
navy chief petty officer, and Lii
liam Stokes Mitchell, executive
secretary of the Kitsap County
tuberculosis league and director
of the Bremerton YWCA-
Mrs. Mitchell is a graduate Of
the University of Washington. She
holds a masters degree in sociol-
ogy from Atlanta university.
A third daughter, Gloria, holds
a government position on Guam.
She attended Whitworth and the
University of Washington and has
year of college to complete.
Stokes was one Of the founders
of the Fellowship Center, Ell Sew
enth. He was also organizer and
president of the Negro Business
Mems league, whose membsrehip
was transferred to the NAACP
when it was organized here.