Town And Around

THIS WEEKEND Town and Around went to Philadelphia to share in the historic 100th anniversary celebration of the nation's oldest Black-owned newspaper: The Philadelphia Tribune. It was the ultimate in gala affairs as more than 1500 Tribune readers and supporters gathered in the Grand Ballroom of the Philadelphia Centre Hotel to celebrate 100 years of continuous publishing. The Tribune was founded by Christopher J. Perry, a native of Baltimore, Maryland in 1884. Perry, like many of his predecessors and successors, as well, started the paper with little more than a desk, chair and a bottle of ink in a rented room. With a combination of drive, determination and an intolerance of the injustices meted out against Blacks, Perry acted as reporter, editor; copy boy, proofreader, advertising manager and sales force as he devoted his energies to keeping the Black community informed. He fought for better jobs, better working conditions and Black representation in city government. Thus, for the next 99 years, five publishers and a growing circulation of 49,000 papers later, The Philadelphia Tribune has become the forerunner among the Black newspapers in the country and has likewise received numerous trophies and awards for its work in the Philadelphia community. Today, the Tribune publishes four editions a week: two city editions and two metro editions. Last year, the Tribune acquired several renovated buildings, a new five-unit Webb Leader Offset Press, computerized its circulation, composition, editorial, advertising and accounting departments. The Front Page Awards Banquet held last Friday commemorated the growth of the newspaper and climaxed a year of special events. Among the awards presented at the banquet, which was chaired by former Philadelphia State Secretary C. Delores Tucker, was one to the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was present to receive the Tribune's Centennial Distinguished American Award. Jackson also delivered the keynote address. Other awardees selected as "Philadelphia's Own" were: sculptor Joseph Bailey; Berean Institute president Lucille Blondin; Tribune columnist Ora Brinkley; Philadelphia School Superintendent Dr. Constance Clayton; psychic Lillian Cosby; TV-3 personality Elleanor Jean Hendley; world heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes; historian and public relations executive Mark Hyman; Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Robert N.C. Nix, Jr.; singer Teddy Pendergrass; veternarian Robert Rutman; singing group Sister Sledge and Elks leader Donald Wilson. In honor of the anniversary. Mayor Wilson Goode proclaimed 1984 as. The Philadelphia Tribune Newspaper Year in Philadelphia. Goode noted that the Tribune Charities Fund, which was founded by the late E. Washington Rhodes in 1944, has helped the discouraged, the poor and the underprivileged youth by providing food, clothing, funds and shelter to the city's needy. In addition, President Ronald Reagan, in a letter to the publisher, saluted the paper's contribution to the community. Recognizing the high number of Philadelphians residing in the D.C. area, Town and Around is proud to dedicate this space to The Philadelphia Tribune -- a survivor -- and salutes those who have supported that survival and made it a success.