St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1960-06-17
Brought Roy Home!

When brash young delegation from the St. Paul branch
of the National Association for the Advancement of Coored
People appeared the Cleveland convention of the association
in 1855 armed the teeth with invitations for
the organization hold its 1860 convention in Mnnesoas
capital city
There the usual Chamber of Commerce bids
invitation from Orvle Freeman of the state letters
from prominent citizens and the sanity cty's mayor
More than this the St Paulites felt they also carried
weapon" whole care" held by any other city
seeking the 51st annual convention
They did unve the weapon until the
test for the 60 meeting got hot and then they took full and
legitimate advantage of the fact that ST. Paul and Minnesota
the place where Roy Wilkins the associations chief executive
officer and received his training education
Then the theme of the successful St Paul convention selling
job became Bring Roy Home" Roy Wilkins himself main
tanned studied proper neutrality in the between the
cities seeking the go but what human being would
excused if within his breast there thrill in seeing
the homefoks anxious have him back home
head of powerful organization for good in the nation
Although st. Louis, and Missouri may have slight
claim being the birthplace of the dynamic youthful
Wilkins St Paul and Minnesota claims him. son. and
rightly for here St Paul that he spent his
years attended high school and graduated the great Univ
ersy of Minnesota
here Minnesota that ability for leadership
early dcerned Mechanic Arts and james AE church.
where young he exhibited such fine qualities that
leader in youth religious groups in the city.
Mechanic Arts high school remembered the slightly built
arcuae yOungser who became of the nations outsand
ing leaders, when May this year the school him with
the annual award which goes distinguished graduate
This month his college alma the University of Mime
sofa will Roy Wilkins the schools outstanding Achieve
Award the closing session of the 1860 NAACP
venOn, Sunday afternoon June &C. to be held in Northrup
Auditorium the University campus This award annually is
presented graduate of the school who has reached the
nace of success in their chosen field"
Many Mnnesoans believe the prominence which Roy Will
kns achieve early foeseen by his activity young
his early high school years until the period after his
graduation from the University Minnesota School of Journal
ism On and off the campus Wilkins showed real interest in
the issues of the day.
was one of the editors of the Minnesota DAILY which
that time and is present. the largest college daily
newspaper in the US This in itself distinction which up
until that time had been accorded any US Negro student
major college campus
Not only was Roy good student but evidence of his CON-
munity activity outside the scholastic shown by the
records which list him first secretary of the board
directors of the newly formed St Paul Urban League 1922
Roy wilkins utilized his spare time the staff OF
ST. Paul Negro weekly, bringing the journalistic training
he receiving improve the style writing and formal of the
publication
When Roy left the Twin Cities of Minnesota in 1923 tc
become the managing editor of the Kansas City CALL where
he remained until 1881 he became the first college trained
journalists to be employed by us Negro weekly The CALI
which had the field and incentive become great
grew into well developed publication with good sound
and editorial policy which made of the important in
fuences in the Missouri Valley Wilkins managing editor
for coverage uequad in contemporary Negro
journalism.
An excellent effective though famboyant speaker Viii
kns arcuateness and desire advance the legitimate aspra
tons of the American Negro the attention of the
tonal office of the NAACP notably the late Walter White
1881 Wilkins invited join the NAACP assistant
try and also editor the CRISIS Magazine the association
monthly He accepted the post reluctantly because he ha
grown to love the CALL and his own Midwest
Readers of this editorial know the of Mr. Wilkins
services to the NAACP which resulted in his being
fill the top executive position upon untmey death
White in 1855.
In the campaign for equality for the Negro
well lead by the NAACP Mr. Wilkins directing head of tn
organization has shown real leadership guiding the organza
on which the target of influence this nation whc
rejects the idea Of full democracy for persons of Negro
cestry.
AS such he has been constantly the firing line drecn
with skill the public opinion skirmishes which
part American life In this activity his training
holds him in good stead Not single of the u
segregationss of stature is anxious willing Wkr
in debate public platform, TV screen radio.