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W.D.M. Gives CommunityA ward to First Negro, KingBy Julie Zelenka The West Des Moines Chamber of . Commerce Community Award was presented Thursday night to Deedie King. 89. of 138 Ninth st., West Des Moines.itIt is the first time in the 23-year history of the award that a Negro has been honored.Kingwas ............-lauded for his PICTURE t work with Page 3 young people.27,1ViestatheJaiit*.oIn presenting the award, Walter Hart, chamber president, .said King persistently has helped boys and girls, as well as men and women, acquire employ* j ment or better-paying jobs.King is a deacon of Mount Hebron Baptist Church, 131 Ninth st., West Des Moines, a post he has held for 45 years, He helped organize the church in 1921. For 24 years he has been lesson coordinator for the church’s Sunday School.Hart said King’s youth pro* gram has been so successful that it, is known throughout Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. He said King’s youth groups rank first in Bible study and that King’s work has created a bond between Mount Hebron Church and other churches.King was born at Eldorado, Ark. His family moved to Manley, la., when he was a child and then to West Des Moines in 1917. He is a widower and has a son, James Booker King, SO, of 825 Seventeenth st., a janitor for Colonial Bakery, and a dpugb-ter, Sharon Joyce, 22, who iB a senior at Drake University.Hart said King remained atwork three years beyond normal retirement age so his daughter could attend the University of Northern Iowa at Cedar Falls. Mias King is-finishing work on her teaching degree at Drake.ttsgwlfafifa November of 1M4 after II years as a laborer for the ltaek Island Lines. On retirement, he was presented a coveted “golden” railroadIn accepting the award, Kingsaid:“My heart is overflowing with joy. In all-the years I’ve been living in West Des Moines, I’ve been trying te stand up and be a good citizen qi West Des Moines. :£ ^“My life in West Des Maine* I’ve enjoyed. My family came here when 1 was a lad ao I’ve come to love West Des Moines:I don’t have words to express at this time what I feel for this great honor.“If scything, I’m going to try to five a hatter life In the future than In the past. I hope PH live long w ] can enjoy this honor' hi my declining years.”Kiflg was selected by a com-Witt* imposed/of former win-W* foe award. Poo Reid, a member of the committee, said the vote to select King was unanimous.J*“IbrSBrtHaa :nei7NoUelt;DhhvaItthak*nstawlta•a***1clr*a
Newspaper Details
Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa, US
Fri, Jan 19, 1968
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
State H.
IA, USA 01 Mar 2019
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