William A. (Bill) Crawford with Amos
The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST For Wednesday, September 30, 2015. Three Indiana Governors, two Indianapolis Mayors and a variety of Indianapolis community leaders and activists came together to put the career and life of the late Bill Crawford into perspective in a special Afternoons with Amos, Guests talked about Crawford’s life well lived, his devotion to his community, his ability to work within the system, not give up his views and values, go toe to toe with adversaries and have them respect him and his views and his advocacy for his people. Listeners learned about Bill Crawford’s career as an activist; his voracious love of reading of seeker of knowledge. They heard how we went against the political machine to first win office to the Legislature in 1972 in the teeth of a Republican landslide in Indiana. They heard about Crawford working taking courageous stands that were unpopular in the Black community because Bill felt that overall it would benefit the Black community., The guests talked about Crawford’s humility, humanity, kindness, his fierce devotion to his job, his mentoring of young people, his desire to help expand opportunities for minorities in jobs and businesses. His advocacy for improving health conditions for African-Americans and other minorities. It’s a program filled with humor, love and will give you an insight into someone who had an impact of a full one-fourth of the 200 year history of Indiana and 195 year history of Indianapolis.
Judge David Dreyer
Gov Mike Pence
(SEGMENT ONE – Starts At 00:00 On PODCAST Media Player). Judge David Dreyer of the Kennedy/King Memorial Committee talked about the impact to Bill Crawford of being at 17th and Broadway the night Dr. Martin Luther King was killed and Sen. Robert Kennedy gave that historic speech. That speech influenced Bill Crawford’s life forever, led him into public service and inspired his push to create a permanent, living memorial at the site. Reggie Jones is a long time community activist who worked with Crawford in the Black Action Project in the 60’s and a number of other activist efforts to improve equality ad opportunity in Indianapolis. Also in the segment Indiana Gov. Mike Pence gives a warm and moving tribute to Bill Crawford and his impact on the State.
Steve Goldsmith
Joyce Rogers
Tony Mason
(SEGMENT TWO – Starts At 23:02 On PODCAST Media Player). Former Indianapolis Mayor Steve Goldsmith rarely gives media interviews. But in this segment you’ll hear Goldsmith’s talk with Amos about Bill Crawford’s impact on this city and how he could with his political adversaries for the good of the community Crawford served. Also Joyce Rogers, former President/CEO of Indiana Black Expo, and an executive at Ivy Tech and now the IU Foundation, talked about her memories of Bill Crawford, starting with her family’s business, her work in state government and how he mentored her when she worked at Black Expo and other community projects. Current Indianapolis Urban League President Tony Mason joined Rogers and Reggie Jones and Judge David Dreyer in the segment with his memories of Crawford’s impact on the city.
Rev. David Greene
Mitch Daniels
Joe Slash
(SEGMENT THREE – Starts At 42:47 On Media Player). Rev. David Greene, President of Concerned Clergy a community activist group Crawford help start decades ago, joined Jones, Rogers and Mason in sharing his thoughts on the significance of Bill Crawford and what the future holds for Concerned Clergy. And former Governor and now Purdue University President Mitch Daniels offers some very unique and thought provoking views on Bill Crawford’s impact on Indianapolis and Indiana. (SEGMENT FOUR – Starts At 56:59 Mark On Media Player). Cordelia Lewis Burks, Vice Chair of the Indiana Democratic Party and long time labor union activist and leader shared her perspectives of Bill Crawford. Burks was joined by former Indianapolis Deputy Mayor and Indianapolis Urban League President Joe Slash who talked about his working with Crawford and Crawford’s impact. Rev. Greene, Rogers also participated.
Bill Hudnut
Joe Kernan
Democratic Mayor Candidate Joe Hogsett
(SEGMENT FIVE – Starts At 1:03:50 Mark On Media Player). Despite his illness, former Indianapolis Mayor Bill Hudnut was effusive and warm in his praise of Bill Crawford’s impact on Indianapolis, in a rare interview. Hudnut told Afternoons with Amos listeners that it would’ve been difficult to build the Hoosier Dome without Crawford’s strong support. It was almost an 80’s reunion as Hudnut joined his former Deputy Mayor Joe Slash on the panel and former Secretary of State, US Attorney and mayoral candidate Joe Hogsett on the panel talking about Bill Crawford. Another Joe, former Governor Joe Kernan also weighted in saying that he was a “rookie” when he first met Bill Crawford ad how much he learned from his deep knowledge of state government. Joe Hogsett spoke warmly about Crawford calling him a “mentor” talking about Crawford’s generosity of time and how much he always learned from him. (SEGMENT SIX – Starts at 1:16:38 Mark On Media Player). Two people who knew and worked with Bill Crawford for decades, Dr. Thomas Brown, President, Indiana Christian Leadership Conference and Phyllis Carr who worked with Crawford as they were part of the cadre of people who created Indiana Black Expo and their worked together with Dr. Brown’s legendary father Rev. Andrew J. Brown shared their unique perspectives of Bill Crawford and how he grew as an individual and as a leader. The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST For Wednesday, September 30, 2015 Runs 92 Minutes. ©2015 WTLC/Radio One. PODCAST Starts After Brief Video Ad.
