Houston Defender: June 13, 2010

June 13 – 19, 2010 | FREE

Volume 79 Number 33

www.defendernetwork.com

America’s racial tensions rising

Advocates blast BP for disaster

Percy “Frenchy” Creuzot Jr. Remembering a Houston Icon

By Hazel Trice Edney

By Jesse Muhammad SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE FINAL CALL

By ReShonda Tate Billingsley

NNPA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

DEFENDER

WASHINGTON (NNPA) - U. S. Rep. John Lewis was headed for the Capitol to vote on President Obama’s health care bill in March when he was pelted with racial epithets when passing near a group of conservative Tea Party protesters.

Days later, reports of attacks on Democrats around the country included bricks smashing through windows, a potentially lethal gas pipe cutting at a home thought to be owned by Virginia Democratic Congressman Tom Perriello. According to reports, the FBI announced the agency would investigate Tea Partyers and a race hate group as potential suspects.

The madness continued into the spring as former Alaska governor, Sarah Palin, and others accuse the Obama administration of trying to kill the elderly with

(NNPA) - The deepening crisis in the Gulf Coast caused President Barack Obama to amend his Memorial Day weekend plans; plus make several trips to the disaster area.

He landed in Louisiana to tour the devastation amid frustrated complaints that his administration has responded too slowly and has Barack been weak in its Obama pressure on British Petroleum (BP) to halt what is being called the largest oil spill in the nation’s history.

“We expect that frustration and anger to continue until we solve the problem,’’said President Obama during his May 28 speech at Grand Isle.

He still was unsure whether the “top kill” method will halt the ecological disaster.

H

oustonians are mourning the passing of Percy Creuzot Jr., a popular local fast-food entrepreneur who recently died at the age of 86. But friends and family members say the legacy of the man known affectionately as “Frenchy,” continues to live on.

Creuzot suffered a stroke earlier this month and never fully recovered, family members say. He died June 6th.

His wake was held at Texas Southern University’s Granville Sawyer auditorium on June 9th and a private memorial service will be held on Friday, June 11 at St. Peters Episcopal Church. He is survived by his wife, Sally, two sons, Percy “King” Creuzot and John Creuzot; a daughter, Angele Creuzot; and a sister, Martina Cox. “My father would want people to remember him as a ★FRENCHYS, Page 8

★RACE, Page 4

★BP, Page 7

Black-white marriages increase over last three decades

By Gregory Dale SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER

(NNPA) - While the trend of interracial marriages between whites and American-born Asians, and whites and Hispanics has slowed over the years, Blacks are more likely than before to marry whites, according to new census data.

The latest census reveals that the number of interracial marriages in the U.S. has increased by 20 percent since 2000 to nearly 4.5 million, according to the Associated Press.

While the overall number of interracial marriages is still rising, the pace of that increase has slowed from the 65 percent increase seen between 1990 and 2000. Interracial marriages now account for 8 percent of all U.S. marriages, up from 7 percent in 2000.

According to the data, Blacks are now three times more likely to marry whites than in 1980. Nearly 14.4 percent of Black men and 6.5 percent of Black women are in interracial marriages. Experts attribute the number to a more racially integrated military, higher educational attainment and a rising Black middle class that offers more interaction

with other races.

Despite the increase, there are still Blacks that would traditionally feel more comfortable only marrying inside their race.

“I would consider dating outside my race but I probably would stay inside because of fewer complications on [my partner’s] family not accepting me,” said Courtney Gamble, a 22-year-old African-American student at Rutgers University. “I might date outside my race but I would [definitely] marry inside my race.”

However, American-born Asians and Hispanics have increasingly married members of their own races over the last decade, according to the census data.

Nearly 40 percent of U.S.-born Asians marry whites—a number that has not changed since 1980. But their likelihood of marrying Asian immigrants has multiplied 3 times for men and 5 times for women, to nearly 20 percent.

U.S.-born Hispanics saw a small increase in their likelihood to marry whites, which grew from 30 percent in 1980 to 38 percent today. But their likelihood of marrying foreign-born Hispanic immigrants has doubled, to 12.5 percent for men and 17.1 percent for women.

New census data shows Black/white interracial marriages have increased by 20 percent over the last ten years.

INTERVIEW

The many shades of Jada

By Kam Williams CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Besides playing the title character on the TNT series “HawthoRNe,” which is starting its second season, Jada Pinkett Smith executive-produces the show through her production company, 100% Woman. With her husband, Will Smith, she is serving as producer of “The Karate Kid,” starring their son, Jaden, and also of Fela!, the Broadway musical nominated for 11 Tony Awards. Jada’s recent film credits include “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” as the voice of Gloria, and director Diane English’s remake of “The Women.”

In the past, she’s teamed up with Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle in “Reign Over Me,” and enjoyed a pivotal role opposite Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx in Michael Mann’s “Collateral.” However, she perhaps remains best known as the take-charge Niobe of “Matrix Reloaded” and “Matrix

Revolutions” fame.

Here, Jada reflects on the challenge of balancing career and family when each member is a showbiz celebrity in his or her own right.

Kam Williams: Thanks for the time, Jada. It’s nice to have an opportunity to speak with you again.

Jada Pinkett Smith: Oh, thank you!

KW: Well, first of all, let me say congratulations! You’re blossoming on every front. Let’s see, “HawthoRNe’s” starting its second season, you’re on the cover of the July issue of Essence magazine, your Broadway musical has been nominated for 11 Tonys, and Jaden is starring in “The Karate Kid,” a picture you and Will produced. How does it feel?

JPS: It feels good. These are the moments that you keep in your back pocket to remember, “All of those were good times!” [Laughs]

Click on Defendernetwork.com Weekend

Weekend

Monday

Marian Wright Edelman

Family Life

Julianne Malveaux

Threats to School Diversity

Dont Bail Out Your Family

Our Jobless Recovery

★JADA, Page 3

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JUNE 13 – 19, 2010 | DEFENDER

“Africa Is Our Future,” declares French President SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE GIN

(GIN) – After years of troubled relations with its former colonies, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a new beginning with the now-independent African nations. Speaking this week at the 25th AfricaFrance Summit, he promised generous aid packages, trade deals and political support for an Africa seat on the U.N. Security Council.

Designed as three minisummits, the leaders will address Africa’s role in global governance, peace and s e c u r i t y, Nicolas climate Sarkozy change and sustainable development.

Some 250 business executives and rights and civil society group leaders from around Africa and France have already checked in to attend workshops on the sidelines of the summit.

Over the past three years, Sarkozy has cut French military bases in Africa from five to three and reviewed the defense pacts that kept several African dictators in power.

But he has to repair misunderstandings arising from a speech in Dakar, Senegal, shortly after taking office in 2007. There he managed to offend African leaders and

intellectuals with a speech seen as riddled with stereotypes and prejudices.

“The tragedy of Africa is that the African has not fully entered into history,” Sarkozy said naively at that

time, adding that Africans had missed out on “progress”.

On the economic front, Sarkozy is pledging “winwin” partnerships with Africa. But his offer failed to

convince French rights group Survie International, which noted that Paris still defends its interests in places like Niger, a prime source of uranium for French nuclear giant Areva.

The Nice summit coincides with the 50th anniversary of the independence of 14 former colonies who have also been invited to Paris for National Day celebrations on July 15 with their national

armies taking part in the traditional Bastille Day parade.

“Africa is our future,” said French President Sarkozy, “and will be a principle reservoir for world growth in the decades to come.”

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JUNE 13 – 19, 2010 | DEFENDER

Jada

Beck apologizes to Obama’s daughter, Malia

continued from page 1 KW: What would you suggest as a lifestyle to keep young entertainers focused?

JPS: Wow… Whew! Man, that’s a hard one, because part of the challenge of being young is finding what to be focused on. It’s a time of exploration when you have to discover who you’re not, in order to know who you are. I would say being deeply involved in the art world would help keep a young artist on track. Doing what you love, so that your focus is your artistry.

KW: What is the key to balancing motherhood, marriage and such a successful career?

JPS: Staying true to yourself, and being able to prioritize. It’s very important to prioritize. I know, for me, my family comes first. That makes every decision very easy.

KW: Are there any arenas left for you to conquer?

JPS: [LOL] Definitely! And I’m always looking for them. But as I’ve gotten older, and now that my kids are starting to do what they do, I am now really focusing on sharing my knowledge and insights with them to help guide them on their journeys.

KW: You and Will come across as down-toearth and very family-centric. How do you keep your family values intact with the children becoming stars themselves? Do they have chores and an allowance?

JPS: [Laughs] They definitely have chores, and they get an allowance from money they make, believe it or not. I think that critical to keeping them balanced is giving them purpose, and part of giving them purpose is allowing them to do things that they love to do, which is being part of this industry. And as wacky as that might seem, it allows them to contribute to the family, and it allows them to develop their own self-worth. And I feel that when a child has self-worth and purpose, that’s what keeps them grounded.

KW: Do you think the roles for women of color — Black women in particular — have improved?

JPS: I’d say they’ve improved, but there still aren’t enough. And I’d say that’s the case, not only for African-American women, but for all women in the Hollywood game.

It’s just slim pickings, and a very challenging time for us. I think that’s why more of us

SPECIAL TO THE NNPA FROM THE AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER

Photo: James White

Vanessa Legines, Michael Vartan, Jada Pinkett Smith, Hannah Hodson, Suleka Mathew, David Julian Hirsh and Christina Moore star in the critically-acclaimed show, “HawthoRNe.” need to work our way behind the camera in order to create roles that really illuminate who women are. We still have room for growth in that area, without a doubt.

KW: Whatever happened to your TV sitcom “Good News?”

JPS: I never had a show by that name, but I did have one called “M.I.L.F. and Cookies,” that got picked up and was set to air until the network and I had a disagreement at the last minute. They wanted to change the concept a bit in a way I wasn’t in agreement with, so we had to go our separate ways.

KW: Richmond, Virginia is a beautiful and unique choice for the setting of “HawthoRNe.” Were you involved in that decision?

JPS: We felt like Richmond was an area that’s growing, but hasn’t really been explored on television at all, in the way that New York, Los Angeles and Chicago have.

So, we decided it would make a great location.

KW: What are you listening to on your iPod? JPS: Oh, I’m listening to so much right now. I looooove Alicia Keys’ new song, “Unthinkable.” I’m blasting that all over the

place, but I’m also listening to Sade’s new album, and I always have my Heavy Metal, Mastodon. [LOL] KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

JPS: Oh, man, when I look in the mirror, I see about a thousand different Jadas...

Yeah…

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

JPS: I don’t really cook much. I’m more of a baker. My favorite things to bake that everybody loves, and I can only keep in the house for about ten minutes, are 7-Up cake and Pineapple Upside-Down cake.

KW: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

JPS: Oh, I laugh hard every day. I mean, my husband is Will Smith! [Shrieks] I’m telling you, that’s one of the joys of being married to him. My life full of laughter.

Thank God I have him. My life is full of laughter because of that man.

KW: How do you want to be remembered?

JPS: I don’t know yet. I have no idea.

KW: Well, thanks for another great interview, Jada, and best of luck in all your endeavors.

JPS: Thank you, Kam.

(NNPA) - Fox News personality and conservative talk show host Glenn Beck has apologized for mocking Malia Obama in a pretend conversation on his radio show.

Beck said he was trying to explain how President Obama uses his children to deflect media criticism, and said he took it too far.

“In discussing how President Obama uses children to shield himself from criticism, I broke my own rule about leaving kids out of Malia Obama political debates,” Beck wrote on his Web site. “The children of public figures should be left on the sidelines. It was a stupid mistake and I apologize—and as a dad I should have known better.”

According to CNN, in a Glenn Beck recent press conference discussing the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Obama noted that Malia asked him if he’d plugged the hole yet. Beck used that as fodder for his show as he mocked her voice in repeating that and a series of other questions. “... That’s the level of their education, that they’re coming to—they’re coming to daddy and saying ‘Daddy, did you plug the hole yet?’

Plug the hole!” Beck said at one point, according to CNN. Since then, he’s been criticized by a number of media watchers, including the hosts of the daytime talk show, “The View” and Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post.

“This was a really low-blow on Glenn Beck’s part,” Kurtz said on the entertainment news show, “Inside Edition.” “To use an 11-year-old girl — to drag her into the political crossfire…when he said it, it was wrong and it’s something that should never be done with kids.”

4

Race

continued from page 1 death panels in the health care bill. He is also called a Marxist, a Socialist and a Nazi

by Tea Partyers and associated radical conservatives.

Meanwhile, also, in March, Virginia’s Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell is roundly criticized by the state’s NAACP after he declares a Confederate History Month while neglecting to mention the cruelty and inhumanity of slavery – a deed for which he apologized.

Among more recent racial flare ups, Arizona passes legislation that appears to unleash racial profiling on Latinos or anyone who police might perceive as an illegal immigrant; then the state of Texas passes a law to distribute history books with a conservative bent that presents slave-owning confederates as heroes.

Finally, the Obamas’ oldest daughter, 11-year-old Malia, becomes the target of mocking by a conservative talk show host after the president quotes her as asking if he had “plugged the hole” in the BP oil crisis. The mocker, Fox News’ Glenn Beck, ultimately apologizes.

But are apologies enough to calm the apparent smoldering atmosphere of racism that has intensified since the election of President Barack Obama?

Both Black and White authorities on racial hatred say what’s really needed is a voice of reason within the Republican Party.

“The reality is that the people who could really tamp this down are not doing so,” says Mark Potok, spokesman for the Birmingham-based Southern Poverty Law Center, a foremost authority on race hate incidents around the country. “There are large numbers of Republican officials, so-called responsible leaders of the party, who are doing absolutely nothing to tamp down the outright falsehoods, the defamatory propaganda that’s being pumped out into the political mainstream.”

Potok, Jack Levin, director of the Brudnick Center on Violence and Conflict at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass., and civil rights icon Rev. Joseph Lowery all agreed on mainly two things in interviews with the NNPA News Service. One – that racial tension in America has grown since the election of President Obama. And two – that it could be quelled by a voice of reason rising from the Republican Party.

“Most White people who are on the adverse side of this question would not admit it, but absolutely, much of this is due to the fact that they simply can not accept the fact that we have a Black leader in this country,” says Lowery.

“Without the Black president, we wouldn’t have all this heavy tension and lightening rod activity that’s driving us further and further apart.”

A civil rights stalwart who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lowery knows what it takes to quiet the currently smoldering atmosphere that he says he has not seen since the 1960s. He says it takes a person who is respected by the aggressors to rise up and call for peace.

Potok agrees, but says at this point, it will be difficult to quell the political, race and anti-government tensions.

“This genie may be very difficult to get back into the bottle. It would have been a hell of a lot better if some of the more ostensibly main stream figures in our society had said something about this long ago. Now we’re actually seeing people driving air-

JUNE 13 – 19, 2010 | DEFENDER

planes into IRS buildings and murdering Pentagon police officers and leaving coffins on the lawns of congressmen.”

Levin of the Brudnick Center, agrees with Lowery that the reason the racial temperature is out of control and will likely continue to surge is simple: “It is the Obama factor. It is a big factor. Having an African-American as president has brought out the worse in some White Americans and it’s brought out the best in others … There are many Whites who voted for Obama, who continue to praise him, who think he’s a great president, but then there’s the other side of the coin. The problem is that it is a small but growing number of extremists who are concerned about foreign influence and they see Obama as a Marxist, a Socialist, they question whether he was born in the United States. They see him as attempting to destroy our country. And these are the same folks who are likely to join some White supremacist group or civilian militia

Dr. Joseph Lowery, pictured here receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama, says much of today's racial tension can be attributed to the fact that we have a Black president.

organization. They are so concerned about what they see as an erosion of American culture and the American economy and they blame the Black guy who holds the most powerful office in the world.”

Potok says most of the political angst is really not coming from organized mili-

tias.

“I don’t think these are organized hate groups. These are by in large more or less every day citizens who are very fearful of the way the world is changing around them and who have been whipped up in a kind of white hot anger,” he describes.

“Rather than seeing the changes in the world around us, the kind of globalization of the economy, the increasing diversity of our society and other societies as something that is simply occurring in the course of history, they are demonizing certain groups and saying they are responsible for these things. So that is the problem. It is the identifying of phantom enemies and whipping up the broad masses into a fury about it.”

The name-calling and labeling of President Obama as Marxist, Socialist, etc., have been among the worse offenses, says Potok.

“These things are all utter falsehoods and yet the people in responsible positions of the party have done almost nothing to play this down and in fact have played it up,” he says.

The current frenzy has roots in 9-11, Levin points out.

“The war on terror is part of it. Certainly 9-11 made lots of Americans of any race feel uncomfortable or more insecure about their personal safe-

ty. But that’s a small part of the whole thing,” Levin says.

“Immigrants of color come into this country from Latin American countries and other parts of the world as well. And whenever the economy goes sour, the immigrants get blamed. That’s part of it.”

In America’s history of racial strife, there have rarely been instances in which White leaders actually take the responsibility to speak against wrongs unless pressed to do so. Such was the case with President Lydon B. Johnson as he called for the passage of the Voting Rights Act, declaring “We shall overcome” after the 1965 “Bloody Sunday” attacks on civil rights protesters in Selma.

But, Johnson was considered to be a friend of racial equality. It is even rarer when a foe rises up and speaks with a changed heart.

Levin concludes, “It would be wonderful if someone who has a reputation for extremism or racism would take the other side and would come out for tolerance and respect.”

SPORTS

JUNE 13 – 19, 2010 | DEFENDER

2010 FIFA World Cup

Max Edison

on Sports

Astros Draft for the Future The Astros selected Delino DeShields Jr. with their first pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft that was held earlier this week. The 17-year-old DeShields, who was the eighth player taken overall and is the son of former Major League second baseman Delino DeShields Sr. This season, DeShields (5’9” 175 lbs.) earned 4AAA All Region First Team honors while at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA, hitting .415 (39x94) with nine home runs, 40 RBI and 29 stolen bases. A two-sport star, Deshields is ranked as one of the top high school running backs in Georgia.

“He’s a top of the scale runner with a very good feel to steal bases and has the potential to be a leadoff hitter at the Major League level,” said Director of Scouting Bobby Heck.

“We’re going to send him out this summer and he’s going to play as a center fielder and then transition to a second basemen.”

The club also selected RHP Michael Foltynewicz with the 19th selection.

Foltynewicz , 18, posted a 9-1 record and a 0.38 ERA at Minooka Community High School in Illinois. He struck out 128 hitters in 72.2 innings. He is the first high school pitcher from Illinois to be drafted in the first round since Chicago (AL) drafted Kris Honel in 2001.

“We thought we saw a pretty complete package for a high school right-handed pitcher,” said Heck. “He’s ★EDISON, Page 6

5

The World’s Game

By Max Edison DEFENDER

T Defending champion Italy's Daniele De Rossi.

USA defender Oguchi Oneyewu.

he world’s largest sporting billions worldwide that will watch event begins on June 11th on television, this will be a grade and runs through July 11th. coming out party to display their The 2010 FIFA (Fédération pride, culture and progress since Internationale de Football the abolition of apartheid.

Association) World Cup, the preSouth African President Jacob mier international football Zuma, former captain of (soccer) tournament will his soccer team on notoribe held in South Africa, ous Robben Island, where the first time ever on the Nelson Mandela was incarcontinent. The event is cerated for more than 18 held every four years in a years alongside other politdifferent host country. It is ical prisoners, says Africa the culmination of a qualiwill shine when it steps fication process that began onto the world stage. in August 2007 and “This is the single greatBob Bradley involved 204 of the 208 est opportunity we have FIFA national teams. It is ever had to showcase our truly a “world” championship diversity and potential to the event! world,” he said at the 50-day countTo give you some perspective of down celebration in April. “We how big the World Cup is, the tele- must rise and tell the story of a convision audience for the 2006 World tinent, which is alive with possibilCup finals between Italy and ities.

France attracted an amazing 715 Italy, the defending World Cup million viewers, compared to 151 Champion (2006), knows that a million viewers for the Super giant bulls-eye is squarely on their Bowl! collective backs. Italy is one of The World Cup competition is only two nations to repeat as World composed of 32 international teams Cup champions, yet no one has (23 man rosters) playing in eight done it since Brazil in 1962. A point groups of 4, Groups A-H. The total not lost on Italy’s midfielder prize money for the tournament is Daniele De Rossi. roughly $420 million, with approx“We are playing as the world imately $ 30 million going to the champions, which means all the winning team. teams will give their best against The mere fact that South Africa us,” De Rossi explained. is the World Cup host is a tribute to The United States squad, how far the country has evolved coached by Bob Bradley, is currentpolitically. The country will wel- ly No. 14 in FIFA’s world rankings. come over 375, 000 visitors from The U.S. team will be in Group C around the world for the month ★WORLD CUP, Page 6 long event. For those guests and the

Darrell Ardison

on H.S. Sports The odds were stacked against Clements going into the Class 5A Region III high school baseball championship series at Reckling Park.

In the opposing dugout was Spring Branch Memorial, a team that had eliminated perennial powerhouse Bellaire and hot-hitting Brazoswood in the previous rounds.

What transpired on the Rice University campus turned out to be historic for the underdog Rangers.

Clements battled back from a 3-0 deficit in game one to take a 1-0 series advantage in a best-of-three format with a 7-5 victory. In game two, Clements would not only have to battle the Mustangs, but also overcome the elements.

With the temperature toppling the 90-degree mark, Clements ace pitcher Brian Hethcoat held Memorial scoreless for five innings as the Rangers advanced to the state tournament in Round Rock with a 4-2 victory.

The Rangers improved to 32-7 on the season and earned a berth in the state tournament for the first time since 1997.

Hethcoat allowed two runs on five hits and walked three in a 93-pitch performance. In the sixth inning, the heat became unbearable.

Leading 3-0, Hethcoat walked Memorial’s Ben Carl with the bases loaded for the ★ARDISON, Page 6

Pearland finds comfort in State Championship

Pearland girls celebrate 2010 Class 5A state softball championship.

By Darrell K. Ardison DEFENDER

AUSTIN – Despite a second consecutive trip to the Class 5A state title game, it took the Pearland Oilers 10 innings in the 2010 state tournament to shake the jitters and find a comfort zone.

To the everlasting sorrow of finals opponent Austin Bowie, the Oilers snapped back to form in time to pound out a convincing 4-0 victory at McCombs Field on the campus of the University of Texas.

A spectacular team defensive effort and another stellar pitching performance from junior righthander Jessica Bowden enabled Pearland to seize control of the game and secure the school’s second state softball title and

first since 1996.

“I was happy that the kids stayed composed and didn’t start thinking that this wasn’t going to happen,” said Pearland head coach Laneigh Clark. “They kept going and going and became the same feisty team that they have been all year.

“We came out a little tight and tentative in the semifinal game,” Clark said. “That’s not the team that we are. We’re a team that relaxes, has fun and likes to play.

Left fielder Leandra Maly seemed to awaken the Oilers in the bottom of the third inning when she dove to catch a sinking line drive and rose to her feet to throw a strike to first baseman Megan Coronado and double up a wandering runner off the bag.

“That play that Leandra made coupled with the offense getting

on track all at once seemed to get the momentum on our side,” Clark said.

In the next inning (fourth), an issue that had worked to Austin Bowie’s advantage in its semifinal victory over Tomball, worked to its detriment at the worst possible time.

Bowie relief pitcher Amy Sundahl was called for four illegal pitches. That’s when the pitcher’s foot loses contact with the pitching rubber prior to releasing the ball. Every time an illegal pitch is thrown, it counts as a ball to the batter and runners get to advance one base.

One of Sundahl’s illegal pitches in the fourth inning moved Brooke Dubois to second base after she reached with a single.

Jaclyn Bechtle followed with a single to move Dubois to third

where she scored on Haley Beam’s RBI single.

“I hate to see an umpire’s decision be the difference in the game,” Clark said. “By him calling it early, the pitcher had a chance to adjust. But it’s tough when it hasn’t been called on her all season and all of a sudden in the state tournament, it becomes a major issue.

That 1-0 advantage would be enough for Bowden who tossed a complete-game five-hitter and second straight shutout in the state tournament.

“The defense was incredible tonight,” Bowden said. “It takes so much pressure off of me when they are making plays like that.”

Pearland, 37-6-1, left the bases loaded in the fourth with only a ★PEARLAND Page 6

SPORTS

6

England is also blessed with tremendous versatility. A number of their stars can play in numerous positions which can only be a benefit to manager Fabio Capello.

Steven Gerrard has played in nearly every position possible in midfield for both club and country.

James Milner can be used on the wing or inside, and in a worst case scenario he could be pushed back as a makeshift right back.

Glen Johnson can play anywhere along the right side and Jamie Carragher can be used anywhere across the back-line.

World Cup

continued from page 5 along with Algeria, England and Solvenia. The Americans are hoping to improve on their disappointing 2006 World Cup in which they scored one goal in three games and exited after the first round with a 0-2-1 record.

For U.S. midfielder Landon Donovan, the team goals are very basic, getting out of their group.

“For us, until we get to a point where we are consistently getting out of our group, that has to be the goal,” Donovan says. “And I think aside from 10 countries in the world, that’s the goal.

Some countries have higher expectations but not many.”

In addition to Donovan, the U.S. must get strong play from among others: goalkeeper Tim Howard, defenders Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Oneyewu and veteran midfielder Clint Dempsey.

If you’re looking for favorites, count Spain, Brazil, England, Argentina and the Netherlands among the top 5 teams to watch.

Spain is the reigning European champion.

Spain is blessed with some of the best midfielders in the world. Barcelona’s Xavi and Andres Iniesta along with Real Madrid’s Xabi Alonso and Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas spoil Spanish manager Vicente del Bosque for choice. All four players love to play with the ball at their feet. They all have great technical ability while in possession and are gifted with the vision and talent to spot and deliver great passes.

The majority of Spain’s goals will come from the boot or head or Fernando Torres or David Villa, but their job is made so much easier thanks to the players they have playing behind them.

Another strength that the Spanish team can boast about is depth between the posts.

Spain is gifted with two of the world’s best goalkeepers. Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas and Liverpool’s Pepe Reina offer Vicente del Bosque one of the greatest luxuries possible.

Brazil enters the 2010 World Cup as the most decorated team in World Cup history. They have won the World Cup an outstanding five times.

Brazil has been one of the most consistent nations as far as their attacking flair goes.

JUNE 13 – 19, 2010 | DEFENDER

Landon Donvan Considered as the nation that perfected football, Brazil boasts an array of stars who excel at the beautiful element of attacking.

Kaka, Robinho, Julio Baptista, Luis Fabiano, and Elano are just some of the names that will add attacking flair to the Brazilian line-up.

And that is without adding in the attacking threat Brazil hold at the full back position.

Dani Alves and Maicon are two of the best right backs in the business at going forward with attacking intent.

Brazil is also stacked at the centre half position, which is something that is not often thought of when it comes to the Brazilian national side.

Lucio and Juan make the defense wall at the heart of the back for Brazil. Thiago Silva completes the trio of Brazilian centre backs that play their club football with the best in Italy.

Benfica’s Luisao is another giant centre back at head coach, Dunga’s disposal.

England is filled with star players who are natural born leaders. Rio Ferdinand and John Terry head the list of star players.

John Terry led Chelsea to their first ever League and FA Cup double in history. When healthy Rio has lead out his Manchester United teammates.

Ardison

Pearland

Mustangs’ first run prior to exiting for reliever Alec Horvath.

Memorial, 35-8, had relied upon great pitching and superlative defense in gaining a berth in the regional finals.

However, the Mustangs were facing a Clements’ offense that averaged nine runs per game coming into the series.

Three Memorial pitchers combined for 11 walks in the series-clinching victory for Clements as none of the Rangers’ RBIs came via the hit variety.

The Memorial loss culminates an impressive season for the Mustangs as they advanced to the regional finals for the first time in school history.

Nationally-Ranked Klein Advances To State The Klein Bearkats (31-6) utilized a pair of outstanding pitching performances to sweep their best-of-three Region II-5A best-of-three championship series against District 135A rival Klein Collins in College Station.

Klein won 4-0 and 10-1 to advance to the state tournament in Round Rock for the first time since 2001. The Bearkats are ranked No. 1 by Baseball America Magazine.

Klein senior pitcher Michael West threw five innings of shutout ball in the opener. Clayton Crum went the distance in the second game, allowing just one run and five hits.

Brenham State-Bound in 4A Brenham scored six runs in the first inning and held off Friendswood 8-6 in game three of a best-of-three regional championship series in Huntsville.

The 35-5 Cubs captured the Region III-4A title and return to the state tournament for the second consecutive season and will try to bring home the school’s first state baseball title since 1988.

one-run advantage.

Yet with Bechtle going 3for-4 with an RBI and Coronado adding two more hits, the Pearland offense started gaining momentum and finished with 10 hits in the game. Bechtle was named the 5A tournament Most Valuable Player for her efforts.

“It felt great to see all of our defenses working together and all of our offense clicking together and it was like a weight was lifted off our shoulders,” Coronado said. “That when we knew that this was our game.”

Pearland advanced to the state championship game with a 1-0 win over Lewisville Hebron despite picking up only one hit.

Coronado scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the sixth inning.

Clark said Hebron sophomore pitcher Heather Stearns was the best her team had faced this season. “You hate

continued from page 5

continued from page 5

Argentina despite being an extremely talented team, qualified for the 2010 World Cup by the skin of their teeth!

Despite being a team that has underachieved prior to World Cup play, their striking options make them a very formidable team to contend with.

Carlos Tevez, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Diego Milito and Gonzalo Higuain are the five most likely candidates to make up the list of strikers heading to South Africa.

Milito will be hoping he can add a Champions League medal to the league and cup medals he already picked up with Inter Milan.

The five aforementioned strikers have scored a combined 143 goals this season and despite previous and current form, opposition defenses will be aware of the threat carried by such an awesome line of talent.

The Netherlands are a team known for the exceptional creativity of their midfielders.

Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder both showed off their skill-set in helping their respective teams reach the Champions League final.

Robben was the top goalscorer for Bayern Munich this season. Along with Robben and Sneijder, their former Real Madrid teammate Rafael van der Vaart is a player that figures to play a major role.

The Dutch team is blessed with a great amount of versatility.

Robben, Sneijder and van der Vaart can play anywhere along the middle of the pitch, and all three can also play in more advanced attacking positions.

The U. S. opens play against England, June 12th 1:30 CST.

to see the game decided on a wild pitch because she really did a fantastic job.

“All things considered, she was the best pitcher we’ve seen this year,” Clark said.

While Pearland’s offense struggled in the state semifinals, the bats came around in the championship game.

“Yesterday we came out here and we were very nervous,” Bechtle said. “It was like Oh My God, we were here last year, what are we going to do? But we did much better tonight and I’m so proud that we won a state championship.”

Tomball pitcher Shelby Lancaster was called for 16 illegal pitches that resulted in four runs as Austin Bowie advanced to the 5A title game with a 9-1 victory.

Magnolia attempted to become the second Houston area school to bring back a state title as the Bulldogs squared off against Waco Midway in the Class 4A state championship game.

However, Midway pitcher

Edison

continued from page 5 very physical, he’s athletic and he’s a good strike thrower.

We’ve seen him pitch comfortably with a plus fastball, as well as a plus changeup and a plus breaking ball. We think he’s an advanced high school pitcher.”

They completed the first round by selecting Michael Kvasnicka (33rd overall).

Kvasnicka, 21, hit .350 (84x240) with 24 doubles, eight homers and 48 RBI in 61 games for the University of Minnesota this season.

“He’s a self-made player, a good baseball player,” said Heck. “He does have versatility, he’s caught, he’s played the outfield, and he does go back to his high school days as playing the infield. We’ve seen him take ground balls and feel comfortable just because of his makeup, work ethic and his athleticism. We think (third base) is where we’d like to explore, we think that’s where his better ceiling and profile lies.”

The Astros had three selections in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft for the first time since 1994. For a team whose farm system is virtually void of big time talent, we certainly hope these prospects can prove to be keepers.

and her double in the top of the eighth inning drove home Sydney Watson with the winning run.

Magnolia, 32-13, took the game to extra innings behind a superlative perMegan Jaclyn Bechtle, formance from pitcher Katy Adair. Pitching 18 Coronado innings in two games, Kermetria Ward had other Adair allowed just three hits ideas as she hurled an eight- and struck out six batters in inning no-hitter to defeat the title game. Overall, she gave up five hits and struck Magnolia 1-0.

It was the 11th no-hitter in out 11 hitters.

Adair will play for the state tournament since its inception in 1993. It was Galveston College next seaalso the first no-hitter in the son.

The victory gave Midway 4A state tournament since 1997. head coach Sherry Rogers a Ward was named the tour- perfect going-away present nament MVP after register- as she is retiring from coaching 15 strikeouts in the game ing this year.

CLASSIFIED REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS REQUEST FOR BIDS: Project Name:W.R. Banks First Floor Remodel, Project No. PV-0456 at Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX. Estimated project cost: $840,000.00. SCOPE OF WORK: Remodel the first floor to include, but not limited to: walls, carpentry, carpet, wallpaper,vct,lighting,electrical,HVAC,DATA,security, communication, etc.. RECEIPT OF BIDS: Sealed Proposals will be received by Prairie View A&M University, Procurement & Contract Services, W.R. Banks, Room 129 L.W. Minor Street, or mailed to Procurement & Contract Services, Mail Stop #1311 P.O. Box 0519 Prairie View,Texas 77446. BIDS DUE: All bids are due Wednesday, July 7, 2010 between hours of 12:00a.m.-2:00p.m., one hour before bids are to be read.

PROPOSAL READING: Wednesday,July 7,2010 @ 3:00 p.m. publicly open and read aloud at Physical Plant Administration Building Room 111 located on Anne Preston at Reda Bland Evans Street. PREBID CONFERENCE: Meeting will be held Wednesday, June 23, 2010 @ 10:00 a.m., in Room 111, Physical Plant Administration Building, Anne Preston Street & Reda Bland Evans Street, Prairie View, TX 77446. Single prime contract award. Non-mandatory attendance. INFORMATION AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS: Studio Red Architects, 1320 McGowen, Houston, Texas 77004, 713.622.5333 phone, 713.255.8753 fax, DBR Engineering Consultants, 9990 Richmond Avenue, South Building, Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77042,713.914.0888 phone,7139140886 fax and Construction & Planning Office.

Bidding documents obtained from Prairie View A&M University Physical Plant Administration Building, Construction & Planning Office Rm 114. Non-Refundable Plan Deposit: $50.00 per set. Check or Money Order Only for General Contractors & Subcontractors. Checks made payable to: Prairie View A&M University Construction & Planning Office. If you desire bids to be mailed to you , please include a fed-ex number for S&H. Mail to Channen McGary, Physical Plant Administration Building Construction & Planning Office, Prairie View A&M University, Mail Stop #1411, P.O. Box 519, Prairie View, Texas 77446, 936.261.9170, e-mail: cmcgary@pvamu.edu It is the intent of the Texas A&M University System that Historically Underutilized Businesses be afforded every opportunity to participate in its construction projects as prime contractors, subcontractors and/or suppliers.

VOLUME 79 • NUMBER 33 JUNE 13 – 19, 2010 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Editor Von Jiles Associate Editor ReShonda Billingsley Art Director Cale Carter Columnist Yvette Chargois Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Webmaster Corneleon Block The Houston Defender Newspaper published by The Houston Defender Inc. Company (713) 663-6996. The Defender audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscriptions, send $60.00 — 1 year, to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All materials covered by 2010copyright...

(No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

7

JUNE 13 – 19, 2010 | DEFENDER

BP

continued from page 1 The visit was the president’s second trip to the region since BP’s offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded over a month ago on April 20, killing 11 and triggering a massive oil spill. It is estimated that this oil spill has surpassed the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska in 1989.

According to the White House, the purpose of the trip was for the president to meet with local officials and hear their ideas. But this crisis has some analysts zeroing in on what they call a systemic history of corporate criminal behavior and negligence by government to fully hold these companies accountable.

“BP is a habitual criminal offender and cannot be trusted. The fact they were even allowed to manage this oil spill up to this point in the Gulf is horrendous. The company has one of the worst track records of any oil company operating in America,” Tyson Slocum, energy policy program director of the progressive group Public Citizen, told The Final Call.

At Final Call press time, a BP press release reported that the cost of the response as of May 28 was about $930 million, including the cost of the spill response, containment, relief well drilling, grants to Gulf states, claims paid and federal costs.The company says that 26,000 claims have been filed and 11,650 payments have already been made and over 96,000 calls have been made to the help line. Experts have estimated that the rate of oil spill into the Gulf could reach as high as4.2 million gallons (100,000 barrels) a day.

“We cannot let bureaucracy and red tape delay our action while oil hits our wetlands week after week,” said Louisiana Gov.Bobby Jindal. “More than 100 miles of our shoreline has been impacted by the oil spill. That is more than the entire sea coastline of Mississippi and Alabama combined,” said Gov. Jindal.

BP officials have said the company “will pay all necessary response costs and is committed to paying legitimate claims for other loss and/or damage caused by the Deepwater Horizon incident.”

“The American people should know that from the moment this disaster began, the federal government has been in charge of the response effort. As far as I’m concerned, BP is responsible for this horrific disaster, and we will hold them fully accountable on behalf of the United States as well as the people and communities victimized by this tragedy,” said President Obama at a May 27 press conference.

President Obama also ordered a halt to drilling operations at all 33 deep-water rigs in the Gulf of Mexico for six months or until a commission completes its task. Rigs that are already drilling will have to stop and others that were preparing to drill will have to stop those preparations.

According to the U.S. State Dept., some 17 countries have offered assistance, including Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Croatia, France, Germany,Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. But no approval has been made by the U.S. Lack of corporate transparency “BP is as transparent as oil about the disaster.

BP has consistently misled the public about how much oil is gushing from the well. BP must be

held accountable and costs due to the spill, fedshould be subject to pereral law currently caps manent sanctions and oil companies’ liability at criminal charges against $75 million per spill.

■ 2009 Earnings: $246 billion executives,” said Slocum Democrats want to raise of Public Citizen. the cap to $10 billion.

■ 2009 Profits: $17 billion “It is clear that Obama’s “I don’t think BP’s administration responded words are anything to ■ 2008 Election Contributions: too slowly. He needs to rely upon,” said Senator $500,000+ fire BP and put this under Robert Menendez (Dfull federal control. The N.J.). “By lifting the cap ■ 2010 Lobbying Contributions: $3.5 solutions to this are diffiunlimitedly, whoever is cult but he made a mistake determined to be beyond million/first quarter entrusting BP with hanBP, the responsible party, dling this,” he continued. will also be held respon■ Contributions: 40% Democrats, In a letter to BP, sible,” said Menendez.

60% Republicans Rep.Henry Waxman, (D“In any case, cash Calif.) and Rep.Bart compensation for ecoSource: Center for Responsive Politics Stupak (D-Mich.) said nomic harms caused— company investigators while necessary—doesfailed to keep lawmakers n’t bring back destroyed thoroughly informed in a series of briefings ecosystems and does little to mitigate the comabout the company’s abrupt decision to use a pany’s culpability for not preventing the type of drill casing that was prone to cause more blowout in the first place,” said Robert leaks.

Weissman, president of Public Citizen.

“This raises the possibility that BP’s internal “BP needs more than just a financial slap on investigation is not examining the consequences the wrist, which is what it will get if the $75 milof BP’s own decisions and conduct,” the two lion liability cap remains in place. These oil lawmakers said in the letter. Waxman chairs the companies are allowed to destroy people’s lives Energy Committee and Stupak is chairman of and murder workers. That’s a slap in the face to the Subcommittee on Oversight and the American people,” said Slocum.

Investigations.

According to its annual report, BP made a “Mounting evidence shows that BP was neg- profit of $17 billion last year, on revenue of ligent. Firsthand accounts describe BP managers $246 billion. First quarter profits in 2010 were proceeding with work to cap the well, even over $6 billion. Based upon data collected by the though they were informed that the integrity of Washington, D.C.-based Center for Responsive the blowout preventer had been compromised,” Politics, BP has positioned itself to combat the said Slocum. foreseen scrutiny from this spill by financially Corporate Gangsters on Capitol Hill backing U.S. lawmakers and keeping a strong Public Citizen and other progressive groups lobbying arm intact. have been beating the drum for decades about An online report posted on the Center for the free ride corporations get when it comes to Responsive Politics’ Web site shows that during being held responsible for acts that cause physi- the 2008 election cycle, individuals and political cal, economical and environmental damage. action committees associated with BP conSlocum believes the government is unjust in tributed half a million dollars to federal candiits prosecution of corporations and executives dates—40 percent being Democrats. President when compared to actions taken against every- Obama was reported to be the top recipient of day citizens.

BP-related donations during the 2008 cycle with “We should have seen it coming. BP was $71,000 collected. under criminal probation at the time of the disasThe center also says BP handed out $16 milter for felony violation of U.S. environmental lion to lobby and influence legislation in 2009. laws. The government needs to think about the In the first quarter of 2010, BP had already spent way it punishes corporations because we treat over $3.5 million on lobbying efforts in D.C., individual offenders harsher than we do these trailing only Conoco Phillips in the top oil and corporate criminals,” said Slocum. gas interest groups. The entire oil and gas indusAccording to research by Public Citizen, in just the last few years, BP has pled guilty to two crimes and paid over $730 million in fines and settlements to the federal government, state governments and in civil lawsuit judgments for environmental crimes, willful neglect of worker safety rules, and penalties for manipulating energy markets.

BP paid the two largest fines in OSHA history—$87.43 million and$21.36 million—for negligence that led to the deaths of 15 workers and injured 170 others in a March 2005 refinery explosion in Texas, according to data compiled

by Public Citizen.

“The American people should be very concerned and outraged that these corporate criminals keep getting away with these crimes with only fees. The government needs to start punishing them by putting executives in handcuffs,” said Slocum.

Although BP has vowed to cover all related

BP FACTS

try reported $169 million in total lobbying expenditures in 2009.

BP was instrumental in lobbying for the American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009, which allows increased oil and gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico, in areas closer to shore than current law allows. The company also lobbied for the Oil Spill Prevention Act of 2009 and the Clean Water Restoration Act, according the Center.

Phone calls made to BP were not returned.

Environmental damage and future problems With globs of thick, gooey petroleum balls washing ashore along the south Louisiana coast, marine biologists are beginning to prepare studies to monitor how the spill will impact the gulf long term. Scientists are expecting a lot of animals and plant life to die.

“We’re in uncharted territory,” said Steve Murawski, an adviser with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He’s helping to assess the damage caused by the spill.

“The federal response to protect our marshes is a failure,” said Sen.David Vitter, a Republican from Louisiana. “Just look at their response to our emergency dredging barrier island plan— weeks of foot-dragging before approving two percent of it so they can study it further over more precious weeks and months.”

The oil spill has nearly crippled the normal shrimping season which has been largely brought to a halt due to government-ordered closures. According to a news report, several restaurants in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida have already sued BP and its partners.

Public Citizen wants to send a clear message to BP by calling on the American people to boycott its gas and retail store products. “Don’t spend a cent of your hard-earned money to feed the bottom line of the corporation responsible for the worst oil spill in our nation’s history,” the group urges.

They launched an online Beyond BP petition and have gathered over 14,000 signatures of support from those who have pledged to boycott the oil giant.

Said Slocum, “Government regulators should have protected us as citizens but they didn’t. So this is a peaceful way of channeling our anger.

We want to hit BP in the pocketbook. People should be concerned about the practices of these convicted corporate criminals.”

8

Frenchys

continued from page 1 man who gave back to the community and who was involved in a lot of things in the community,” said King Creuzot . “He gave his time, talent and money and that’s a big part of his legacy. That’s why it’s been so much response to his passing from the community.”

Humble beginnings It was in 1965 when Creuzot, a New Orleans native, moved to Houston to work as a traveling salesman for a company that manufactured robes, rings and other graduation paraphernalia. He soon moved over to the Texas Employment Commission, where he worked as a placement officer. Then, one day, he decided to share one of his favorite concoctions with the Bayou City, New Orleans-style sno-balls, whose finely shaved ice and array of unorthodox flavors differentiate them from standard snow cones. That only served to make him miss that New Former mayor Jim McConn (l) and Anthony Hall (r), pictured with Percy "Frenchy" Orleans flavor even more.

Creuzot Jr. (c) and his wife, Sallie, were among the many community leaders who loved “I loved Creole food, especially Creole Frenchy's Chicken. sausage, whether on a Po-boy or with grits and eggs,” Creuzot told the Defender in a July 2009 interview, when the company was Sure enough, the cusguy and sincere, we gave celebrating its forty year anniversary. “I just tomers came and tried all “My father would want people to him a limited franchising had a feeling that a Creole restaurant and of Frenchy’s menu items, network of ten stores,” Creole food would go over well here. And but made fried chicken remember him as a man who gave shared Creuzot. this was before Creole food got so popular.” their number one choice. back to the community and who Passing the torch Creuzot and his wife, Sally opened the Some 40 years later, the Over the years, the first restaurant in 1969. Originally named customers are still com- was involved in a lot of things in the menu has changed, but Frenchy’s Po-Boy, the Third Ward eatery ing. community…He gave his time, tal- what hasn’t is the fact offered the signature sandwiches with hot Though the Creuzot that Frenchy’s is a family sausage or roast beef, as well as shrimp loafs family still owns the orig- ent and money and that’s a big part tradition. Percy “King” and oyster loafs. It wasn’t until a neighbor of inal restaurant and the one Creuzot has been under of his legacy.” the Creuzots made a helpful suggestion that located in the H.E.B. at his father’s wing, watch– Percy “King” Creuzot III ing the growth of the menu item they are most known for Scott and Old Spanish became available to the public.

Trail, a licensing/franHouston icon, Frenchy’s, “A friend of mine, Jesse Hearns, insist- chising deal struck with since childhood. ed that I sell chicken,” Creuzot said. “He GlennLock Foods has helped expand “Being part of a company that was just was an automobile salesman, but he had Frenchy’s to seven additional locations in getting started gave me some perspective on experience in the restaurant business. So he Houston and surrounding areas. what it takes to start a business, how to build had a lot of wisdom to share, and he told me “They, the people of GlennLock Foods, a business one day at a time by always that while I was trying to teach Houstonians came to us,” Creuzot said. “When they orig- improving and increasing your sales goals how to eat shrimp loafs and oyster loafs, to inally called, we decided we didn’t want to one day at a time,” said King Creuzot. “At pay my rent I should sell fried chicken. His do franchising. We had done some franchis- that time, we didn’t have the number of reasoning was that I didn’t have to teach our ing before the energy crisis and decided we employees that we do today so you had customers to eat fried chicken; it was some- didn’t want to do it anymore. But when we many jobs. You had to know how to do thing we were familiar with and would bring got into the meeting, Aaron Glenn (the everything—cook, cut, and clean chicken, more people through our doors to eventually Former Houston Texan and CEO of work the register… every facet of the busitry the other selections.”

GlennLock Foods) was such an impressive ness.”

JUNE 13 – 19, 2010 | DEFENDER

After retirement, Creuzot often returned to his original restaurant to chat with customers on the covered patio. “He was a very engaging guy,” King Creuzot said. “He enjoyed talking to people. He always had interesting things to say.”

King Creuzot says despite their loss, as far as their customers are concerned, it will be business as usual.

“We plan to continue Frenchy’s. My son, niece and nephew are involved in the company. We know that his eyes are on us, so we’re certainly going to continue doing things like we have and there will be no change. My mother is here every day. She’s the task master. This is the first place people will stop when they come into town and the last place people will go when they leave.

My father has taught me so much, and we will continue his legacy and vision.”

A lasting legacy Besides the loyal clientele, Percy Creuzot Jr. will be remembered by everyone from lawmakers to community leaders.

“Percy Creuzot was a business pioneer in Houston, a community leader and a community steward. Through his restaurants and generous financial support of community needs (continued by his children), Percy Creuzot touched the lives of so many people in his community,” said State Rep. Garnet Coleman. “We’ve lost a family friend. For anyone else who has frequented the Creuzot family restaurants, they feel the same. Percy Creuzot demonstrated that African Americans could be successful in developing a small, customer-oriented and wholesale business venture that has been around for forty years, now going on another forty.

The reason it feels like he’s family to so many is because Frenchy’s is a family business.”

“Frenchy’s Chicken will live on as will Percy Creuzot’s charitable impact on Houston,” added Houston Mayor, Annise Parker. “He was an entrepreneurial leader who didn’t hesitate to give back to the community that helped his family business become so successful. His charitable giving boosted many of our city’s nonprofit organizations and programs.”