Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 9-6-19

Feature
Foundation Honors Legacy Of Tampa Pioneer
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last month, members of an organization named in honor of a Tampa pioneer, held its first board meeting. The organization was created as a not-for-profit to improve the lives of others.
Members of the Moses White Foundation consist of family and community mem- bers. Family members of the late Moses White on the board are his son, Andre White, President; daughter, Ms. Bernadine White King; and grandchildren, Robyn Gordon, Zachary King, Andre R. White, and Racquel White. Com- munity members are former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco, Michael Adcock, of Adcock-Adcock Insurance Agency, Inc., Bobby Bow-
MOSES WHITE March 26, 1915 --- March 20, 1984
den, retired City official, Fred Hearns, Tampa His- torian and Ph.D., candidate; and Gene Osteen, of GO Enterprises.
The purpose of the organ- ization is to provide a path to self-sufficiency and success
MEMBERS OF THE MOSES WHITE FOUNDATION BOARD
Members shown standing from left to right are: Dick Greco, Andre Moses White, Gene Osteen, Bobby Bowden, and Andre R. White. Shown seated from left to right are: Fred Hearns, Michael Adcock, Rac- quel White, and Robyn Gordon. Not shown are: Bernadine White King, Zachary King, and Richard Gonz- mart.
to Tampa’s most underprivi- leged and at-risk community members.
It focuses on traditional and vocational scholarships as well as community revital- ization. The foundation plans to create strategic part- nerships that will enable those it serves to advance in life with a sense of commu- nity, self-reliance, and ac- complishment that leads to poverty reduction and a sus- tainable, thriving commu- nity.
Andre White, son of Moses White and Presi- dent of the Moses White Foundation, said, “My father meant so much to so many people. I’m so proud that we’ve created this Founda- tion to carry on his work in the community that he loved. We look forward to others joining in our mission of up- lifting the community and creating opportunities for advancement.”
Dick Greco, former Tampa Mayor said, “When Central Avenue was going downhill, he (Moses White) was the one who motivated us to get the fed- eral funds to clean up that area. When we had the riots
down there on Central Av- enue (1967), he fed all the police and firemen for days.”
Fred Hearns said, “As the Mayor of Central Avenue, Mr. White was the one you would look to for leadership and guidance. When you saw him, you thought of the pos- sibilities in your life and that you could own businesses, and you could be self-suffi- cient. And in addition to being a successful busi- nessperson, you could give back to the community in a number of different ways. I’m happy that his memory is going to be kept alive through this foundation.”
About Moses White
A native of Alapaha, Georgia, Moses White was born on March 26, 1915. After high school, Mr. White became a member of the U. S. Navy and eventually settled in Tampa.
An entrepreneur, Mr. White owned and operated several businesses during his lifetime, including the Palm Dinette (Tampa’s first sit- down restaurant for people of color), a rooming house, the Deluxe Cozy Corner and Club Rayals.
As a sports and entertain- ment promoter, he brought such people as Duke Ellington, Sam Cooke, Etta James, Jackie Wil- son, James Brown, and B. B. King, among others to town. He also hosted such sports figures as Jackie Robinson, Minny Mi- noso, Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe, and Frank Robinson at his restaurants.
In addition to his duties as a businessman, Mr. White also served as the voice of calm and reason during the 1967 race viots in Tampa, and as a community advocate fighting on behalf of the less fortunate.
In 2001, a portion of Main Street, where he owned and operated a barbecue business for several years, was named in his honor. And, the Moses White Es- tates, which bears his name, was opened in 2011.
A statue in honor of Mr. White also stands on the Tampa Riverwalk honoring his life.
Mr. White, who was married and the father of 7 children, died at the age of 68.
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