January 19, 2020
GREATER HOUSTON AREA African-American News&Issues
Vol. 24, Issue 52 LIVING LEGEND
GEORGE FOREMAN
Former heavyweight champion named will lead Houston’s “Original” MLK Parade as Grand Marshal
ANOTHER TSU PRESIDENT OUT
Kenneth Huewitt
Austin Lane
By AANI Staff
HOUSTON — While the city of Houston is stumped and demanding answers as to why embattled Texas Southern University President Austin Lane was placed on paid administrative leave, African American News and Issues has obtained documents which provide a little more insight on the decision. On Jan. 10, AANI was the first newspaper to break online that the TSU Board of Regents placed Lane on leave after sources alerted us there were major movements happening at the university. The BOR handed down the decision while at a retreat at the Houstonian Hotel, days before the university’s spring semester was to begin, and since then, it’s been a “mum’s the word” mystery. A vague explanation about Lane’s leave was released on TSU’s website, in addition to a video allowing audiences to hear the decision being read aloud. Lane spoke out initially, saying he was blindsided by the news, but has since not spoken to the media. Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Huewitt was named interim president, and his first order of business was firing Lane’s right hand man, Special Assistant Wendell Williams. THE OBAMAS’ OSCAR NOMINATION ON PAGE 4
Wendell Williams
Again, no official explanation released to the public, leaving many to wonder “what’s really going on?” Well, it depends on who you ask. Some say “finally,” there is a board in place that’s ready to protect the integrity of the university and they were, simply, doing what needed to be done. While others say the university, under Lane’s administration, was better than it has been in years and this is nothing more than a “witch hunt” aimed at getting rid of Lane and his executive staff for personal reasons. Which brings us to Williams and his escalating tensions with Board member Wesley Terrell. Since 2018, Williams has filed two grievances against Terrell, one claiming Terrell made inappropriate comments regarding Williams’ wife – allegations which Terrell denies – and the case was still pending when Williams was fired. So, is this part of a vendetta? AANI reached out to Williams for comment. “I am embarrassed for TSU and the affect this is having on our students and our potential growth,” Williams said. When asked if he will pursue legal actions, Williams replied, “I have done nothing wrong and I will take whatever actions are necessary to protect my family and my reputation.”
HOUSTON SPORTS SCANDAL ON PAGE 5
Photo courtesy of 32Red.com
“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
HOUSTON – George Foreman (born January 10, 1949) is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1969 and 1997. Nicknamed “Big George,” he is a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. Outside of boxing, he is also an author and entrepreneur. Foreman was born in Marshall, Texas, but grew up in Houston’s Fifth Ward community with his six siblings. After an admittedly troubled childhood, he took up amateur boxing and won a gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 1968 Summer Olympics. Having turned professional the next year, he won the world heavyweight title with a second-round knockout of then-undefeated Joe Frazier in 1973. Two successful title defenses were made before Foreman’s first professional loss to Muhammad Ali in “The Rumble in the Jungle” in 1974. Unable to secure another title opportunity, Foreman retired after a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977. Following what he referred to as a religious epiphany, Foreman became an ordained Christian minister. Ten years later he announced a comeback and, in 1994 at age 45, he regained a portion of the heavyweight championship by knocking out 26-year-old Michael Moorer to win the unified WBA, IBF, and lineal titles. Foreman is the oldest living world heavyweight boxing champion in history, and the second oldest in any weight class after Bernard Hopkins (at light heavyweight). He retired in 1997 at the age of 48, with a final record of 76 wins (68 knockouts) and 5 losses. Foreman has been inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame and International Boxing Hall of Fame. Outside boxing, he is a successful entrepreneur and known for his promotion of the George Foreman Grill, which has sold more than 100 million units worldwide. In 1999, he sold the naming rights to the grill for $138 million. World icon and Texas native George Foreman has been named grand marshal of Houston’s 42nd Annual “Original” Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade. COREY BOOKER PULLS OUT OF RACE ON PAGE 7