St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-11-09

already achieved singular distinc-
ton, both in his profession and his
avocation of community improve
ment, he has, in the estimation Of
those who know him best, only
just begun TO go places. A gradu-
ate of Fisk University, he took
his law degree at Northwestern
and has been practicing law in the
Twin Cities for six years.
The first Negro member of the
state boxing commission, he spear
headed, last year, the drive for
the United Negro College Fund.
His deeds as chairman Of the MA
ACP are well known, where he
finds the time and energy for his
generous service for others while
at the same time building an en-
viable legal practice is a question
often asked by his multitude Of
friends.
Readers Of the Spokesman and
Recorder newspapers will require
no briefing on the record of Cecil
Newman. 1t was about 20 years
ago when this then young man
launched the Spokesman in Min
neapolis and Recorder in st. Paul.
He had previously tossed out the
window a job as Pullman car por-
ter, a job that was netting him, in
that black year Of the Great De-
preston, often as much as $50
month, to set out upon a career as
publisher and editor. There were
fewer than $500 Negroes in Min
neapolis then, not more than 1000
in the whole Of Minnesota. There
was no need Of another newspaper
for either whites. blacks, reds OF
yellows. Those publishers then in
business were hanging on by their
teeth, hard put to pay for the ink
and white paper from day to day.
Publisher Newman began then, in
1884 with about $65 in working
capital, TO give another news
paper to a community that gave
little evidence Of being able to
support one.
Well all this was % years ago.
The story Cecil Newman has writ
ten in those short % years is a
long one. You who may be read
ing these lines know what kind of
newspaper service he is and has
been giving you now. Many Of you
know, too, that for these two de-
cades, besides building one Of the
most respected and influential
newspapers Of the United States,
he has been finding and stealing
time, somehow, to devote probably
one-third Of his total energies TO
the rugged business of improving
the lot of the Negro. He has serv-
ed not only as spokesman for his
race, in the everlasting campaign
for equal rights, equal job oppor-
tunities and equal citizenship. but
the doer as well No one but the
Lord himself knows how many
jobs he has secured for deserving
Negro men and women in factor
les, offices and stores where never
before had Negroes ever been en-
ployed He has carried the torch
Of race leadership wherever and
whenever opportunity has beck
oned.
Time and Time again, this
super man has been recognized as
leader Of incurable zeal, everlast-
ing energy and unusual talents,
That he is recognized by all men
and women Of all races in Mime
sofa as one Of the states fore
most citizens, was attested few
years ago when he was selected
as one Of the states 100 leading
citizens.
To list the range Of his activities
outside the editorial rooms Of his
excellent newspaper. TO set down,
one by one, the organizations,
movements and crlIsades to which
he has added his dynamic leader
ship, would be simply to repeat
what has been printed time and
again in all Of the newspapers Of
the Twin Cities.
Knowing full well that Cecil
Newman. the editor. would never
write nor cause 10 be written such
words as these. this writer was
asked by the committee chairman
in charge Of the Thursday night
dinner. to do this piece as an old
friend OF the Spokesman and Re
eorder chief. II has been an as
signment that has warmed our
heart, for II has been written. be-
Heve me, from the very bottom
thereof
Among the co-sponsors Of the
diuner announced By Z J. Pro
ehAxl<a. chairman. are Mrs. 3. A
stOclCwslI. widow Of the famed
tcontinnsd On page a