St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1954-09-17

League movement throughout
A Minneapolis man, Ashby Gas
kins, field secretary OF the Min
neapolls Urban League was re-
elected president OF the Industrial
Secretaries section OF the league
and Richard X, Fox, industrial
secretary OF the st. Paul Urban
League was renamed secretary
treasurer OF the Industrial Score.
taries group.
Mrs, Balenger succeeded Mrs.
Mollie Moon. New York socialite
az Guild Council president. Mrs.
Moon retains the presidency OF the
National Urban League Guild
which serves AZ the women's aux
Hilary TO the national office OF
the league.
Mrs. Baienger's election was
hailed as a victory for the guild
women in the grass roots sections
OF the country and she and her
corps of officers are expected TO
revitalize guild activity on ma
tional level Several guilds repre-
sented at the conference pledged
support to the Minnesota woman.
Others sent the new president
congratulations and pledges OF
support.
Mrs. Bhlenger, the wife OF Rus
sell T. Balengcr. si2 ST. Anthony
Av,. Is the mother OF six children,
three boys and three girls, She Is
at present president OF the st.
Paul Urban League Guild. past
president and present secretary
OF the Cameo Club. she Is mem
Der of the executive board of the
Minnesota Council for FEPC and
has served three terms az worthy
matron OF Princess Oziel chapter
OF the oEs, She is grand Ada OF
the Minnesota OEs. Prince Hall
affiliation.
A veteran employee OF the West
ern Electric Co, IN St Paul she
has served ms union steward and
n member OF the negotiating com
mittee OF the union She is n mem
Der OF st. James AME church and
the senior choir
As busy as she In Mrs, Balenger
finds time every now and then TO
golf and play tennis Not the least
Of her distinctions In that abe Is
the sister of Gordon Parks, Life
Magazine photographer and Rev.
Andrew Parks, AME minister.
Mrs. Balenger was born in Fort
Scott, Kansas and has lived In st.
Paul since 1923
Other officers elected by the
Guild Council were Mrs. Mary
Alice Wilcox, Grand Rapids,
Mich. Hce-president: Mrs Elean-
or Florence. Cleveland. Ohio. sec
rotary. Mrs. Ruth Thomas. Mil
waukee, financial secretary; Mrs.
Rose Butler, Milwaukee, treasurer
and Mrs. Mollie Moon, New York,
director OF public relations.
In the public mind there Is some
confusion between the National
Urban League Guild and the Ma
tional Council Of Urban League
Guilds. The latter organization.
headed by Mrs. Balenger Is nation
wide in membership and scope and
the first named group. headed by
Mollie Moon Is the guild affiliated
with the national office Of the
league.
Some OF the confusion has been
due to the fact that Mrs. Moon
has been president Of both organi-
cations until the election. Sept. 10
Of Mrs Balenger. the ST. Paul
woman. as president
Mrs. Balenger's election raises
the total OF Minnesotans active in
the national work OF the league TO
four. In addition to her. Ashby
Gastins and Richard Fox. who
heads the Industrial secretaries.
who is an official In the same
group. Cecil Newman Is a MEM
Der OF the national board OF trus-
tees.
Active in pushing the candidacy
Of Mrs. Balenger at the guild
meetings was Mrs. Howard Oar
nell. president Of the Minneapolis
guild and Mary Herzog, secretary