Veteran's Affairs Plus discusses the issues that veterans in Las Vegas deal with on a daily basis. Your host, David L. Washington connects listeners with relevant community resources and information that they need to help veterans or themselves.
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Good morning Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5, jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host sitting in here today and always being led by my engineering director, Mr. West night. Indeed, indeed. Thank you Las Vegas for this opportunity before you today. Got quite a number of birthdays in the month of March starting with yours truly. Today. March 2, I am 73 years old. Thank God never thought I lived this long but through God's grace and mercy. Dave Washington is still here. Also this month is my brother in law Ernest fountain. A dear friend and longtime friend of mine, Mike Cooper met back in the second grade. His birthday is this month, as well as Mr. George Turner. George is a longtime Skycap, local entrepreneur in terms of his businesses, wood is ownership of many, many homes throughout the community. Just an all around good guy always been a supporter of man. So each one of you wish you happy birthday. And certainly want to move now to condolences and certainly to the family of Captain Orlando rice on the loss of his his wife for many, many years. Sister Tammy, a great lady at I didn't know her well, but know well enough to know some about folks character, man, this lady was an outstanding individual. So again, condolences to that entire family. And I did have a chance to attend her service. You can tell this lady did a lot within our community by just the number of people who showed up to include her saw Roz I forget what her sorority is. But again, you could tell that she did tremendous work within her sorority as well as the community. And also to the founder of a dear friend, Mr. E had May, his father was feeling last this past weekend. And I can tell you, man after reading. I didn't think I did get to go to the viewing but I didn't attend his services man. But I can tell you from what Brother II had his son had written up on him in terms of his obituary. You know, I know people say that Dave washers are really always radical and militant always gets you doggone right. Let me tell you something. You know, I've never agreed with the that legacy Park. I agree with the concept. But I've never agree with where it is. I just think that's prime real estate for businesses. And it could have been in should have been somewhere else. But what are the reasons it is what it is. And I know that people be fighting dig in and trying to get in there and my wife and I we want to know parts of it. But somebody I don't know who and I guess it don't matter because we got inducted in the second year, the second round of the legacy Park. Well, let me tell you something, I had no idea. And when I get into the conversation later because we will have his son on. I'm talking about Neil and Mr. E and may Sr. and his son will be on the show a great guy that I've known for a number of years in this Las Vegas community. tell y'all something if anybody deserves to be in the quote unquote legacy Park, Mr. Ed may senior this man was phenomenal. I can't believe he was a contractor. He was a pilot. I mean, this this man and and again, as much as I know about it, I didn't know all this about his dad. I know he was a longtime member of Valley View, Valley View, victory Baptist Church, in fact, probably one of the founding members. But we're gonna get into some deep conversation about this man in the strengths that he bought to our community to include the mentoring of many, many young folks within our community. But before I bring it in, but we certainly want and want to express our condolences to the May family on the loss of this tremendous tremendous man. Before I move into to the conversation with his son a, I want to say that, you know, I'm going through some medical issues right now. And you have no idea the impact that you've made friends and family until you go through something as I'm going through right now. And I can tell you, I'm with my family and I were very close, close knit. And they've been all up in my business. They've been bringing it and I told him I should put it on social media but I said no, I was just texting me I need to change my diet. I was so mad the other day it are you on the line, sir. Hold on it I'm gonna finish up and I'll bring you but look bad. They was feed me something. I eat jelly. fish, chicken, turkey. There was no meat no Turkey, no chicken, no nothing. Man, I mean, all this rabbit food. And when you get done, you still hungry. I'm like me and something right. And they was telling me what all I gotta do. But again, I appreciate the love and and again, we are a very, very close knit family. Beyond the family is friends. After we had a family meeting last week to kind of discuss my medical issues. I thought it was appropriate in terms of a time wise to let other folks know i i golf with three different groups, the valuable golf club, the Las Vegas on the tee. And then I got another little Sunday group that I golf with it it has been a longtime member of. And additionally, I forgot about my gangsters on Wednesday that I golf with the white Golden, and his buddies, man, they are a Wild Bunch, man, you think they're gonna fight out there, and ain't got no money on the line. But anyway, I just want to say thank you to all the texts, the calls that I've had, indicating and letting me know, they'll be praying for me. And trust me, I believe in the power of prayer. And I certainly do appreciate all those contacts. So don't think that what you guys have said verbally as well as text me email me that I didn't feel the love because I sure did. And just asking that you continue praying for the brother, things are still moving along well. But there's some more things that I have to do some more tests that I have to complete. But certainly will will make notification to everyone about what my status is because, you know, our family is as close as we are. We are pretty much a public family if you will. And it really stems back from my days as the image chief it was called with the Westside art gallery or the Nuvi convince a cultural community on Highland Drive. Now you may okay on a BB Bailey's properties, and as well, I was the firefighter four and a half years, and then I became the Public Information Officer for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. So again, me and my family have been out in the public for quite some time. At this time. I want to bring in once again, this brother, when I talked to him briefly the other day, encouraging him to come on the show where we could talk at length about his dad, but he had made this brother, I mean, he is such a humble being. But I told him I said, Man, you had no choice. But to be a great coach, your dad he set the bar. And his dad said Hi, Bob, how you doing?
Unknown Speaker 8:45
Fine, Dave, how are you?
Unknown Speaker 8:47
Oh man hanging in there. But it I really want to get into the conversation. You have the whole the rest of the show which West will give me some indication of what time we have left. But I want you to have it all as you and I will discuss things about your dad's legacy. And I'm talking about his life. This was a again, I knew of your dad, but I didn't know your dad, if that makes sense. And after reading his obituary, I said I gotta have his son at minimum on the show if he's willing to come and talk about his dad at length. So first question to you is, where were you as well as your day? Where were you born?
Unknown Speaker 9:29
I was born and the great city of Las Vegas, Nevada. And raised on the historic west side off of golden street. So I'm just proud, proud native Nevadan of my upbringing. My dad, up until his death has had the same house over off of goes straight for over 65 years.
Unknown Speaker 10:03
Wow. Wow. So where are we? Where's your dad born and he was a read a bio, I believe he served in the military as well. So please tell our listening audience, where was your dad born? And what branch did he serve?
Unknown Speaker 10:19
Well, and before I go any further, Dave, I want to give you, again, extend my sincere appreciation to you, and let you know that our fervent prayers are with you, and your family as you go through this. And I appreciate the opportunity to be able to talk about my dad. You know, a lot of folks have, I've received a lot of honors, as you aware, to talk about me and you know, for me to be able to talk about him who really laid the foundation, as you rightly attested to, I truly considered a privilege. My, my dad was a Navy veteran. He served in the Korean War. It's sort of interesting, I didn't know that much about his military history. I mean, I've of course, pictures of him. And then maybe, but I never asked a lot of questions relative to the military time he spent the last few years and he was being honored by a volunteer group that gives trips to veterans. And at that point in time, they said, We'd like for your dad to fly to DC. And it's one that retin Grierson and some others are they and I'm trying to think of the exact name of the group, but they actually will take veterans over and give them a chance to go to the end to be properly recognized in DC on a trip, and at that time, because my dad had undergone a series of various illnesses. We were really concerned about him going at that time, he was going through some treatment, right? We were concerned about him leaving town, but we we blocked we thought might be okay, later on. But unfortunately, one thing would clear up and then there was something else we had to deal with. But he was still he was still sort of anxious to do it in a way and so but we I started talking and getting more information from him. Because sometimes we take things for granted and don't realize that even those that are closest to you. You have an understanding and appreciation of what they've accomplished, what they've had to overcome, what kind of barriers they may have helped knock down. And that's one of the things that I've that I've been able to learn over the years with my dad with him being in the Navy in the Korean War. And him picking up so many skill sets. i His parents were farmers out of Texas, which is outside of outside of Marshall, Texas, if you've heard of Marshall, the Great Debate Great Debaters movie was from a family that were actually have work at that particular university. And our family. Actually both both of my parents were from East Texas. So outside of that, as you know, there are a lot of small cities we refer to them all as Marshall, but the specific city and January 1 1934 was the Texas he was born to Lynn Boyd May and you Janie May and graduated as salutatory and of his high school. Wow. And he was honorably discharged from the United States Navy and October 1954. And shortly thereafter, he and my mother rose out of May settled in the historic recite community to raise their family first of their children while they were pregnant with a child, young man by the name of Edward Wayne may this okay
Unknown Speaker 14:58
this is where they came He had a sister that lived here, and they put their roots down. And my dad resided there he was, well, I can go into a lot of his room a lot of areas that he, where he was one of the first African American pilot pilots. He piloted a small engine airplane in the state of Nevada. In 1957, I believe he joined the Civil Air Patrol, which is an affiliate of the United States Air Force as a commissioned officer there, right. He performed countless search and rescue missions throughout the western United States. In addition, he served as an instructor for the Nevada Civil Air Patrol cadet program, teaching high school age youth about aviation. And he actively flew small engine aircraft until about 2004. Because if you know anything about aviation, you by the time you get to certain age, absolutely, you're able to go on a search and rescue missions as an observer, but you're not able to pilot.
Unknown Speaker 16:19
Well, interesting. One, going back real quickly to Marshall, Texas. That's where Bert Washington's father was born. And I also know that your uncle and my aunt got married, and he lived right outside of Marshall now, and man, what a small world. But also, again, these are phenomenal things that I know that what was the doctor doctor was a pilot, Dr. McMillan, so your dad and Dr. McMillan are probably and I know ultimately, in later on. Another black doctor, I forget his name. He just passed away about four or five years ago. Now. He was a pilot. But I just don't know that. A lot of folks knew of that fact that your dad was a doggone pilot man. And then there to teach it to students. Man, that is? Wow. Because there's a lot of things that we don't know, that should be shared with people in my opinion. That's why I'm going to shut up and let you keep rolling man because I just thought it was very, very important for us to chronicle this on this radio show, which will go to podcast and you can send it to me anymore and you need to send it to me because people need to hear the story about your dad.
Unknown Speaker 17:39
Well, again, I thank you. And he and my mother, which is Rosetta made they raised five children myself. I Audrey Pamela, Angela and Carla. Fortunately, I lost my mother to cancer in 1977. And then later my dad married his wife of 45 years the remarkable margin may two additional stepbrothers. But they made a commitment to continue raising their expanded family in a Christian manner. And if you didn't know that, my dad was truly when we start talking about pioneers, Las Vegas. Sometimes you you have people that are just workers to get out there and do so much. i He was recognized by he was a scholar without question. At one time he had, it was the sole owner of a religious book and music store that supply that was actually located in the historic west side near Jackson Street. And he was the he actually supplied book and music materials to various faiths in the NFL, and the Greater Las Vegas area. One of the founders and charter members of the victory Missionary Baptist Church, which was established in 1961, on the leadership of Reverend HA, HA Thompson. He was yeah, of course with this with the trustee board for many years. And my dad, believe it or not, he was so talented in so many different areas that he was a pianist for the Sunday school, as well as a Sunday school teacher and superintendent and devoted member of the new members class and numerous awards there. In addition to all of that, and it's sorted by as I started go through and talk a little bit for just picking out an area that was with masonry when he was a longtime member of the St. Mark's Grand Lodge AF and a m 33/33 degree, Master Mason, Mason and pass Grand Master of that. And he remained affiliated until his passing his other long term memberships included the aircraft owners and Pilots Association. Order forestry, NAACP and Optimist Club. This is what was really an interesting, and with all that with that family that he had, he was also a former boy scout master, one of the original masters with what was called troop, as I remember troop 66. That was in the West Side Community by Curtis, Amy and his other relative out of Zion Methodist Church. Okay. And so, being a former boy scout master, on top of that, a little league baseball coach, and matter of fact that he ever thought of interesting being a coach. At that time, you know, we didn't have we weren't all over the valley, right. So the kids we had, and when we started playing some teams outside of unity, and just started wanting to take birth certificates. We were pretty awesome. Filmmakers, of course, I was playing at that time. But they were is just stories that you could tell about, about him teaching not only baseball, but about teaching about life, right? Importance of that and taking time to do that. Absolutely.
Unknown Speaker 21:50
This is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5. Jazz and more, I had the pleasure of having a dear friend, Mr. E add me on the show today, and we're talking at length about his dad. Mr. E had me see you. Go ahead.
Unknown Speaker 22:07
All right. And in addition to that, he was on the board of I don't know if any bitey recall the West Side Federal Credit Union?
Unknown Speaker 22:15
Absolutely. I was a member for many years, always, always borrowing money.
Unknown Speaker 22:23
He was one of the board of directors and actually had debt service president with the West West Side Federal Credit Union. There was truly Woodrow Wilson and others.
Unknown Speaker 22:33
Oh, yeah. I remember way back in the day. Yeah. Your dad is was really something man. I mean, cuz to me, when children see a person of their stature, doing different things, man, it makes them want to reach out. Hey, man, I could do that. I can consider that. I mean, contractor, and I don't think you've talked much about that yet. A pilot, talk about the contracting, please.
Unknown Speaker 23:00
All right. My dad actually came to Vegas. And early on, he became a member of the carpenters union and became a journeyman contractor. His occupation with occupational training, began with the United States Navy construction, technical school, and carpentry. They later acquired a training and the personnel management with the United States Navy, was certified as an electronics technician at the commercial trade Institute, and received training with government contracts from out of school of laws and from I think out of University of San Francisco. Looking at some of this, some of the certificates that he had, along with training and claims and contract administration, from Touro College. He had received training in construction scheduling and cost control from Pepperdine versus the multitude of other types of certification in the construction industry. You probably may have heard some people said he can almost look at an area and tell you about what the square footage is, right? I mean, just just brilliant relative to numbers and calculations in mind.
Unknown Speaker 24:26
Here we got about three and a half minutes to go. So I want you to start wrapping up with some of the most important things you think your dad brought to our community, if you would, from your perspective, of course, and you know, some people agree, disagree, it don't matter. But it's I want to hear what you have to say, as we close on your day.
Unknown Speaker 24:48
I think one of the things that was so important, my dad felt it was real important to make an impact he was rarely, he, he took the position that money is needed to live and care for your family. But it should not be the focus strictly the focus of your life, right? Even serving as a mentor to both family and non family, he asked us to not allow anyone to create that glass ceiling for us mentally or emotionally, which puts a limit on our individual success. They reminded us that we're our brothers and sisters keeper. And he was one who talked about the importance of being able to forgive. And so he made reference to the lady as well, and he would quote and go through that. But I guess the the fact that they even said 90 years old, it still hurts big time right now. But the fact that he truly left a legacy, he's as been responsible for having a son who's done quite well, I was blessed. And recently, and as you know about that, in my background, with working last working at the court, about I also have, we were all kinds of professionals where that one spectrum to the other and our family is not perfect, right. But we have doctors, medical doctors, as granddaughters, nieces with granddaughters that are pharmacists, I mean, but he always regardless, it didn't matter. He always compelled and tried to inspire you to do what you wanted to do in life. But also be respectful and treat people right and work on doing the rocker the right thing. And also learn how to get past any kind of issue. Because sometimes we let our own concerns about someone about an issue hinder us from the joy that we deserved. And again, that's my take a quick wrap up because it was so much I don't know how he did what he did. Well, I can't own way, but I went to baseball games, he was a Dallas Cowboys fan.
Unknown Speaker 27:25
Let me say, let me say this. Again, I wanted most of the conversation to be centered as you have done very well around your dad. But you know, I had mentioned to you some months ago, in fact, right around the time he retired that I want to get you on the show. So we are going to definitely have you back. And then we're going to talk about the many, many things that you have done in our community, the lives that you have touched, not only from a as a golfer which you know, you beat me many times when I was out there running my mouth, and then you slip up home. And I like that sucker man. Amen. The community loves you loves your family it. And I want you to know that certainly, we will get you back on the show. And it will be in pretty short order. So we will be in touch my friend. And thank you so much for coming in, and giving further enlightenment to our community about your dad. And in my eyes. I didn't know him very well. I knew of him. But when I read the by a bit where I said, Man, this is a great man, this man touched some lives, man. So anyway, once again, we thank you so much for coming on. And I will be in touch with you to get you back on the show.
Unknown Speaker 28:34
All right, well, thank you again for the invite. And I appreciated and I find it truly, it was just a privilege and an honor to be able to talk about my dad, which I will revere for the rest of my life. And I know my family does and being someone who's shared himself with the community, a true pioneer, a person who turned around and reconstructed the nucleus plaza with his own construction company. I mean, able to, we don't he was not a person who made a lot of noise. He was a person of action. And I'm, I just applaud you and thank you. And thank you for having such a wonderful show date.
Unknown Speaker 29:12
All righty. We'll be in touch man. Once again in Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5, jazz and more. We will talk to you next week. We have Mr. Frank Hawkins as well as Mr. Tim Hankins. Hawkins Hankins rather on the show, so thank you again last week's talk to you next week.
Unknown Speaker 29:30
Right
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