San Antonio Register (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 64, No. 44, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 4, 1996 Page: 1 of 12
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n •
San Antonio Register
350
The Community Standard for Right, Justice, Equality, and Progress Since 1931
Thursday, April 4,1996
Vol. 64/44
11 Victim’s mother fights killer’s girlfriend
Paying the price
for our decisions
Many times we see just what we
want to see. Oureyes are blind when
it comes to the plain truth in front of
us. I know sometimes the truth and
what you know it right may be hard
to take, but we must bite that bullet
and move on.
A middle age woman works hard
for her money and to provide for
herself and the man in her life. She
wants to believe every word that the
man tells her even though she knows
better.
The man, about 50, is sitting in the
Bexar County Jail awaiting a hear-
ing for parole violations and drug
charges. The woman wants to be-
lieve that this is all a misunderstand-
ing, that something is wrong with the
justice system. The sweet hearted
lady gave her friend $300 to pay the
rent. At the time of his arrest, he told
his dear friend that he was helping
someone move an appliance when
police arrested him in one of the East
side housing projects. The money
was gone, not lost or stolen, but spent
on drugs.
She wants to see the good in this
person, but now it is really time for
a reality check.
We all must pay for our decisions-
so times we make the right ones and
other times, well, we just miss the
mark. But we learn from our mis-
takes and hopefully become a better
person for it. We want to believe our
partner so, bad, that the truth blinds
us. And we can not see the forest for
the trees. Many parents do not want
to accept the fact that their child can
be in a gang, or committed a rob-
bery and even shot some one to
prove his manhood. But so many
times it is true. We can call it the
signs of the times.
Our society has changed a great
deal and drugs and crime is part of
every day life in the inner city, no
matter what city you choose.
When our children and other love
ones make a decision—and it may be
the wrong one-they must pay the
price for it. Some decisions may
mean they will have to stay up late
studying to pass a test while other
decisions can lead to more serious
problems-like will“I” face the death
penalty for my participation in a rob-
bery /murder.
We can’t live our lives for those
people close to us. We can only hope
that our help and guidance will pull
them through those tough times
when nothing right from wrong must
overcome the peer pressure from
friends. It is so easy to make the
wrong choice and it can end up cost-
ing! you years of your life behind
bars, not counting the pain it will
cause your mother and father.
Summer is on its way and many of
our young will be out and about,
they must luiucmbei they are respon-
sible for their actions-no body else.
Vote in the
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R
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Taylor Griffin and Alisha Haynes work on an art mural in special session with renowned African-American painter
Jacob Lawrence at theCarver Saturday morning.
Photo by E. Lott
McClendon responds to ethics charges
District 2 Councilwoman Ruth Jones
McClendon circulated a letter to her
fellow councilpersons Monday
saying she did nothing unethical by
voting to award the city’s tax
collection contract to the firm of
Heard Goggan Blair and Williams
while the firm was suing her to collect
unpaid property taxes. McClendon
did not disclose that the firm was
suing her and her husband, Denver
McClendon, when she spoke on
behalf the : tiim and vpted to award
die multi-million dollar -contract to
them.
The council woman also wrote a letter
Sunday to Express-News publisher
W. Lawrence Walker Jr. criticizing
Sunday’s front pagestory and calling
the article “a malicious and mean-
spirited effort to severely distort the
facts of a business dispute that
occured between my husband,
myself, and a mortgage company.
McClendon’s vote for the firm and
her and her husband’s tax problems
were splayed on the front page of the
Express-News’ this Sunday.
According to the copyrighted story,
the law firm did not pursue two 1992
lawsuits against the McClendons for
more than a year after the
Councilwoman spoke on behalf of
and voted for Heard Goggan. District
Clerk David Garcia says that the
McClendon’s case is one of only
about 100 cases out of thousands
filed in 1992 that are still open. The
McClendons paid off their 1991-94
county and school tax delinquencies
about eight weeks ago—over
*$16,000. The city tax deliquency of
$4,915 was paid off about two weeks
later.
The couple set up a payment plan in
October 1995.
At the time, the couple had not paid
any county or school district taxes on
two investment properties since 1991
and were delinquent on city taxes
since 1992.
The McClendons contend that the
tax delinquencies stem from adispute
with the now defunct Travis Savings
and Loans. When they purchased the
two properties in the 900 block of S.
Walters Street in 1989, they say they
later discovered that Travis Savings
had not set up an escrow account to
pay taxes on one of the properties.
Denver McClendon says that if he
had known that initially, he would
not have purchased the properties
and that he told Travis Savinas to
take the property back. The couple
then stopped paying the mortgage,
and, thus, did not pay any taxes.
After Travis Savings was taken over
by the RTC, the property changed
hands several times. The
McClendons began paying their taxes
in the fall of 1995 after reaching an
agreement with the lending institution
that had purchased their mortgage.
Heard Goggan is known for the
aggressiveness in which they collect
property taxes—often going to a
business—TV cameras in tow— and
taking their property—and, likewise,
for their political contributions. In
1993 and 1994, they donated a total
of $24,000 in political contributions
to City Council members.
McClendon’s campaign received
$2,350 from the firm. All of the City
Council members, with theexception
of Howard Peak, accepted
contributions from Heard Goggan.
The City Attorney, who reviewed
McClendon’s vote ather request, says
that her vote did not violate the statute
or the ethical standards in the city
ethics code's prohibiting
councilpersons from voting on
contracts with firms in which they
have a financial interest.
Pastor of Hosack Avenue
Baptist Church passes
Rev. Ernest Roberts, passed away
Saturday, March 30. Rev. Roberts
was one of the organizers of Hosack
Avenue Baptist Church which began
as a Home Mission Circle in his
home in October of 1963. He ac-
Republican primary
A lot of Eastsklers didn’t vole in the
Democratic primary, judging by the
numbers we saw after the election.
Well, you now have a chance io re-
deem yourself by voting in the Re-
publican nm-off. If you did not vole
in the primary last month-or if you
voted Republican in that primary,
you can vote in the Republican run-
off next Tuesday.
Ron HilUardl a longtime employee
of the tax office is naming for the
office ofTax Assessor-Collector, and
your vole can help carry him over the
lop. Ron is the son of Dr. Hilliard,
nd he brings knowledge of the office
and experience in working in the
office lo the job. He deserves your
vole, and I hope that you will make
the effort, if you did not vote in the
Democratic primary last month, lo
vote in die run-off.
knowledged his call to the ministry
in 1968,1serving as pastor of Hosack
Avenue Baptist Church from August
1970 until his passing.
At the time of his death, he was also
employed at Southwest Methodist
Hospital System where he had
worked for. the post 25 years.
He was boro to Beulah and Walter
J. Roberts on July 9, 1924 in San
Antonio. He attended die schools
here in the city, and later earned a
doctoral degree from Guadalupe
College.
He married Marcie B. Session April
6,1956, and played an importantrole
in helping her raise her children.
He is survived by his wife; sdn
Timothy L. Sessions and daughter
Benita A. Collins; one step-daughter
Gloria Chapman; stepson James D.
Sessions III; one sister, Margaretie
Belisle; two aunts; gen grandchildren;
five great grandchildren; nieces,
nephews, and many friends and
relatives.
Services will be held at 11 a. m.
Friday at Friendship Baptist Church
with Rev. Samuel Howard officiat-
ing. A wake will be held Thursday
if
'/
Rev. Roberts
evening from 6-8 p. m. at Hosack
Avenue Baptist Church.
Funeral services are under the di-
rection of Lewis Funeral Home.
Phillips, professional chef, laid to rest
Hewitt "PHI" Phillips, Sr. is being
laid to rest fromSutton-Sutton Chapel
m.2:30 p. m. Thursday. He passed
away March 30.
A professional chef, he supervised
food preparations at several country
clubs in San Antonio. He retired in
1990 after having spent 46 years in
the food service business.
He was born in Chapel Hill to James
and Elvira Phillips in 1922.
He is survived by his wife of more
than 50 years, Freddie Lee; son. Re-
tired Chief Master SgL Howard
Phillips and wife Shirley ; grandchil-
dren; great-grandchildren; nieces,
nephews, and many other relatives
and friends.
W
Services are under the direction of
Suaon-Suaoa Mortuary.
Killer had shot woman's
son to death in mall
parking garage
A fight broke out in the Bexar
County Courthouse between the
mother of a boy who was shot to
death in the River Center Mall and
the girlfriend of the convicted killer.
Thea Roberts, whose son, Joe, was
shot to death last year, was jailed
after an incident at the Criminal Jus-
tice Building. Roberts posted two
$800 bonds.
The incident occurred outside the
Criminal Justice Building after the
suspect Martin Ortegop opted for
sentencing by the judge instead of a
jury. Judge Mike Machado ended the
trial and dismissed the jury and or-
der and presentencing investigation.
Roberts was outside of the build-
ing when words were exchanged
between her and family of Ortegon.
Roberts hit the woman with her
purse and struck another person who
was with the convicted murderer’s
family.
Roberts had to be restrained and
taken away in a patty wagon.
Roberts son. Joseph, 16, was shot
to death Feb. 3 following an argu-
ment with Ortegon and several
Accused child murderer caught at
airport with one-way ticket to Nashville
Thea Roberts, victim's mother
people over a parking spot at the
mall Shots were fired and Roberta
fell dead After several days, police
arrested Ortegon and charged him
with the murder.
Tempers were high during (he trial
and the sudden move in the sentenc-
ing phase may have sparked (he
fight.
Ortegon is awaiting trial on another
unrelated murder and two aggra-
vated assaults, is being held in the
Bexar Countv Jail without bond
./ v n
Accusql child murder Thomas Eggleston had his court appointed attorney
taken from him after making $300,000 bond with Mitchell’s Bail Bonds
Tuesday. Wednesday, he was apprehended at San Antonio Airport with a
one-way ticket to Nashville. Eggleston is accused of killing his 9-year old son
and throwing him in a river.
Two prominent African-
Americans die this week
Two prominent and politically in-
fluential African-American leaders
passed away Wednesday.
Secretary of Commerce was killed
early Wednesday morning when the
airplane in which he and several high
level business people were traveling
crashed into a mountain.
Brown was the first African-
American to serve as a the Secretary
of Commerce, appointed by President
Clinton.
Also on Wednesday, Carl Stokes,
former mayor of Cleveland, Ohio,
died of natural causes. He was the
first African-American to serve as
mayor of a major city.
Youngster found 'not guilty'
Ron Brown
Taylor in concert
Blues artist Johnny Taylor will ap-
pear in concert at the North Banquet
Hall of the Convention Center Friday,
After deliberating for nearly four
hours, a Bexar County jury found a
12-year old East Side boy not guilty
of manslaughter in the shooting death
of his best friend.
District Attorney Steve Hilbig and
his office had elected to prosecute
the young boy even though the family
of Christopher Manning had said that
they did not want the child prosecuted
as they believed the shooting was an
accident, and a policeofficer also
May 3, at 9 p. m.
The show is being presented by
Celebrity News Magazine and KSJL
96.1 Radio.
This event marks Taylor's 40th year
in the music business.
Tickets will go on sale Friday at 10
a. m. at Beaoon’s or call 599-9107 to
reserve tables.
labeled the death was accidental.
Christopher was killed the morn-
ing of Aug. 31 en route to school
when he and the 12-year old were
playing with a gun found beneath the
trap door in the 12-year old’s home.
Hilbig defended his office pros-
ecuting the youngster, stating that
the "general public has not seen and
does not know of the strong evidence
we have in this case."
Rev. Dale Toliver passes
Funeral services for Minister Dale
Tobver. longtime artist at the Express-
News and an associate minister at Sl
Luke Baptist Church, will be held
See Toliver page 4
i
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San Antonio Register (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 64, No. 44, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 4, 1996, newspaper, April 4, 1996; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth841710/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed June 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.