Former Dallas City Manager Dies at the age of 62 By: Lola Searcy He is perhaps best known as the man who negotiated the deal for John Ware, who served as a new sports arena just north of City Manager of the City of downtown. Dallas from 1993-1998, died on Ware was in the center of Sunday after a 16 year battle a controversy during the negotiwith blood cancer, at the age of ations with former Mavericks 62. owner Tom Hicks to keep the Condolences and expresAmerican Airlines Center and sions of sympathy for the Ware the Dallas Mavericks in downfamily came from many of town Dallas. Although there Dallas’ most notable politicians were allegations of ethics violaand businessmen for Mr. Ware tions, the city attorney’s office John Ware who was raised in the housing said that there were no rule vioprojects of Arkadelphia, Arkansas and became one of the City’s top lations; it is what many say one of the incinegotiators and influenced the future of dents that led to tougher city ethics codes. “He impressed me as just being a real business in Dallas. Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk and bulldog of negotiator, “Hicks said, but in a President Barack Obama’s chief trade nego- way that was fair and direct, which is the tiator, was Mayor during John Ware’s tenure style that I prefer.” With Tom Hicks he founded the 21st as City Manager, said that he and Mr. Ware Century Group, which sought to invest in formed a close bond that continued after both left city hall. “I am heartbroken,” he minority-owned or operated businesses. He said. “Our relationship so transcended that served on the executive committee of the of Mayor and City Manager. John became Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce and was co-chair of its bond program task force one of my closest friends.” Best known to the public for his five in 2006. “Dallas today looks different because of years as Dallas city manager, Ware helped bring the Nasher Sculpture Center to Dallas. him,” said Mary Suhm, his successor as city He proposed the first successful bond issue manager. He came to that office when the for the Trinity River project. He started ini- city was in an economic slump and presided tiatives to bring housing to downtown Dallas over such good financial times that engiand businesses to the city’s southern sector. neered a cut in the property tax while main-
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Barber Shop Sports Talk with Leon Simon The talk around the Barber shop and every where else this week has been prior to the NFL draft the Miami Dolphins Jeff Ireland ask Dez Bryant If his mother was a prostitute. I do not intent to drag this thing out any longer, but I do wish to explain some procedures so you can make a decision as to the necessity of the question. During my coaching days with the Redbird Raiders various coach would come to me and ask about athletes that they had interest in or athletes that they thought I would assist them in signing. I have had coaches from about every major college in the country talk to me at one time or another about young men I coached or young men I coached against. Most of these were college coaches. I’ve gone to basketball games, lunch , dinner, with and without parents. The point I’m making is as far back as little league these coaches go back to get a read on these young men. An believe me they will never ask a kid on a football team or an applicant on a job a question and depend on the subject in question for the answer. Also do you think there is a question that Troy Aikman could have answered that would have made the Cowboys not draft him number one. Last year it was said that had Sam Bradford left the university of Oklahoma his Junior year he would have had a chance to be the NFL number one pick. He came back his senior year and was blessed to be the number one anyway. At the beginning of his senior year he wrecked his shoulder against Texas yet he rehabbed it and got that distinction anyway. If there’s not a question that would change a teams mind about a kid, why would you embarrass him
with a question that you could have asked his little league coach, his high school coach, his college coach ,or even his mother or father themselves. If being Walter Peytons son didn’t help his son get into the NFL, what my mother did for a living should have nothing to do with keeping me out of them league. Leon Simon Adam packman Jones is suppose to sign with the Cincinnati Bengal today, the Pittsburgh Steelers refuse to trade Ben Roethlisburger, Even the Dolphins themselves sign Brandon Marshall all of these guys have big question in there personal past yet their ability to play keeps them in the game. So what does what their parents do or not do hurt or help. There is another school of thought if this line of questioning has any proven value. Lets take this a little farther. Since Detroit, Washington, Atlanta, Oakland and maybe Baltimore are predominantly black cities have there ever been a question pose to a white player from Alabama.” Have your parents ever been involved in bombing Little black Sunday school classes. If they’re from Mississippi have you asked any of them that could if drafted by Detroit Lions did any ancestors have a problem with Medger Evers or Emmitt Teal. I thought Jeff Ireland was apretty good guy now I think he should be fired, or whoever gave him that question.
Local Dallas Native, Chief David Brown Sworn in as Dallas’ Next Chief of Police By Jordan Blair On Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at a ceremony held at the Jack Evans Police Headquarters, David Brown was sworn in as Dallas’ 28th police chief. Brown has been with the city's police force for 26 years. David Brown, an Oak Cliff native, joined the department in August 1983. He became lieutenant in 1999, and was then promoted in 2004 by Chief Kunkle to deputy chief. Brown became Kunkle's second-incommand in 2005. Kunkle announced his retirement in November 2009. City officials say that during Kunkle's tenure, Dallas' violent crime rate fell by 32 percent and the department added 700 officers. Brown’s family members, friends and City leaders looked on as the oath of office was administered by retired Judge Larry Baraka. Afterwards, Brown kissed his wife, Cedonia Brown, who is currently a Dallas police Sergeant. Brown is a native of Dallas who had this to say, "I'm very proud. I can't say enough about how much I love this city, having been born and raised. And the reason I went into policing was because of my neighborhood's deterioration. This will be the safest city in the country. To the officers
May 7, 2010
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in the department, I commit my passion to you; I commit my respect to you. To the command staff, I will support you, encourage you, lead and guide you to this excellence in policing that I speak of." Brown is a 1979 graduate of South Oak Cliff High School. It is expected that Brown's second-incommand, Charles Cato, is expected to be Assistant Chief. Cato has been on the force since 1988, and is currently the head of homeland security. That will make him the highest-ranking Latino in the department.
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