The Miami times., 1952-11-08
BY ELLIOT J. PIEZE

DAYTONA BEACH - Branch
Hickey Sr., vice president and
general manager of the Pitts
burgh Pirates baseball club, and
formerly manager of the Brook
1yn DodgeDS - the man who de-
fled traditions and brought the
first Negro into organized base
ball, was signally honored here,
last Saturday, when he was
awarded an honorary degree of
Doctor of Humanities by Bethune
Cookman College. The very ap-
propriate ceremonies took place
during the half-time intermission
Of the Bethune Wildcats home
coming football game at Welch
Memorial Stadium in which the
lighting Rattlers of Florida A and
M College were their opponents.
AS the Bethune marching band
played the very fitting graduation
march God of Our Fathers" the
procession, led by Edward Rodri-
quez, widely known Bethune
alumnus, proceeded to the center
OF the field for the ceremony. In
the procession were: DR.. Mary M.
Bethune, preSident7emeritus and
founder of the college, DR.. Rich
ard v. Moore, president of the COL
lege, Mrs. Charlotte Clark, dean
Of instructions at the college.
Branch Hickey, DR.. George w.
Gore, president Of Florida A and
M College and Atty. Horace E.
Hill, president of the Bethune Ma
tional Alumni Association.
DR.. Moore presided during the
ceremony. Timely remarks were
Offered by Mrs. Clark, Atty. Hill
and DR.. Gore. DR.. Bethune con-
ferred the degree upon Branch
Hickey in a very impressive man
ner. Hickey made very compre-
henSive response, which brought
forth a tremendous applause from
the large crowd of spectators.
Among other things Hickey said:
"I only did what any good hu-
man being and real American
would have done"
Hickey was so honored because
it was he, who when other big
league managers were reluctant
to do so, gave Jackie Robinson an
opportunity to play with the
Brooklyn Dodgers, making him
the first Negro to play in the ma
jor leagues. Hickey made the his
tory making decision in Daytona
Beach in 1916 while the Dodgers
were in spring training.
TENNIS COURTS DEDICATED
In very appropriate ceremonies
the beautiful, well appointed Ev-
erett Booker Jones Memorial Ten
mis- courts were dedicated here
last Saturday morning. The courts
named for the late Everett Book
er Jones, Florida's former great
humanitarian, and located on
Bethune's campus are easily some
of the best in the south, and bet
ter than many more elsewhere.
The layout presents six regula-
ton courts, well embedded and
cultivated to form appropriate
playing fields for the well known
international game of tennis.
President Richard V. Moore OF
Bethune, presided during the cere-
monies. The Rev. Mister j. Wynn
offered the litany. Greetings to
the occasion were received from
the following: Benjamin Mitchell,
president. Florida State Tennis
Association; George w. Engram,
Southern Field Secretary Amer1-
can Tennis Association; Emmett
N. Reed, executive secretary OF
Florida Tennis Association; G. c.
Cash, president Gym Tennis Club,
Nassau, Bahamas; Andrew F.
Mickle, president Hercules Ten
mis- Club, Daytona Beach; Mrs.
Amy S. Curry, president Roose-
velt Tennis Club, West Palm
Beach; c. w. Banks, president
City Beautiful Club, Orlando, and
DR.. C. P. Lewis, president Magic
City Tennis Club, Miami.
Mrs. Everett Booker Jones, wife
Of the late leader, was presented
during the ceremonies. Mrs. c.
S. McCray presented very time
ly biographical sketch of the late
humanitarian, following which a
bronze PLAGUE of Jones was un-
Veiled.
Timely responses were offered
by Mrs. Carrie p. Davis, head Of
the physical education depart