I love the historic era through which God chose for my pilgrimage through this planet Earth, cradled between its scientific, social and technological infancy and current stage of maturation, still pivoting around threats and subsequent upgrading based primarily on war (labeled “defense”) as its primary propelling economic base.
Forty years ago the 40th anniversary of The Roanoke Tribune was celebrated with an elaborate dinner at the elite Jefferson Club, then located atop First National Bank in Downtown Roanoke where my oldest son Robyn served as bartender. Among those in attendance were then Mayor Noel C. Taylor, who presented the prestigious Key to the City to Founding Editor, F,E. Alexander and daughter, Claudia, A. Whitworth (editor then as now). Also in attendance were family members, F.E. Alexander, II, of Wiscasset, ME, and our older sister, Frieda A. Hale of Boston, MA (all now deceased).
This year we gratefully and humbly add another 40 candles to the birthday cake as we celebrate The Tribune’s 80th Anniversary at the Salem Civic Center on Friday, May 10, starting at 6pm.
Over these 80 years of tenacious struggle against all odds–and believe me there have been some–The Tribune has survived a fire bombing and eventual total demolition years later by the City of Roanoke (with NO warning!) all following ownership by F.E,Sr., who never returned to The Tribune following his July Fourth auto accident while taking the Roanoke exit upon returning from the church he was pastoring in Buchanan, VA at the time.
Materially he had acquired enough used printing machines and equipment including innumerable cases of hand-setting type (used before linotype machines); a flatbed printing press and other necessities of the profession of that era. With these mega necessities he proceeded to produce the weekly publication until his accident from which he never returned to The Tribune.
With absolutely no intentions of assuming ownership of such heavy responsibility, my thoughts were then centered only upon potential alternatives of its disposition–until being made aware of the astounding “Power of the Press” revealed through a timely eye-opening event! I was then struck with, Who could you possibly entrust with such power–to use for promoting personal interests and pet projects? Apparently it was not supposed to be–which I causiously assess among my “Signs of Guidance!”
Todate, through the Amazing Grace of God, The Tribune has not missed an issue since my assumption of its responsibilities–with the constant assistance through the years of my son, “Stan” Hale (that now includes his teenage daughter, Lauren, when possible). Fortified even greater is the addition of my daughter, Eva and the subsequent most recent addition of her daughter Klaudia, one of her triplets!) Her other daughter, Kaitlyn, is enrolled for her second year in an “HBCU” in Florida while Klaudia and Kenneth are both enrolled in Virginia Western here in Roanoke.
This year, therefore, as we celebrate The Roanoke Tribune’s 80th Anniversary, we take great pride with deepest humility and appreciation to God and to YOU–our loyal advertisers, subscribers, supporters and readers throughout some 30+ states including Alaska and Hawaii–that once included Germany, Japan and others overseas prior to 911, reduced now to USA territory only.
We therefore now feel quite certain that our longevity is measured not …
By what the world gives us
In honor, praise or gold;
But by what we do give the world
That others may unfold.
If by work through life
We can another soul unfold,
Then we have done what cannot be
Made good by praise or gold.
One tiny thought in tiny word
Could give a great one birth!
And if that thought was caused be us
We’ve lived a life of worth!
