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JOHN HUNTER CAMP FUND

John Hunter, affectionately known as "Twenty Grand," was a civic-minded individual, as well as an ardent sports enthusiast. His interest concerned the welfare of the young - morally, physically, spiritually and mentally. Much of his time was devoted to the sports media and watching and talking with young people from all walks of life.

"Twenty Grand" passed away on August 6th, 1971. 
  As a result of his devotion, the John Hunter Camp Fund, Inc. has named its camp scholarship program in his honor, to help send children to camp on an annual basis.

Edward Younger, Chairman
Joseph A. Maynard. Vice Chairman
Eugene Hunter, Treasurer
David V. Walker, Jr., Secretary
John Isaacs, Busines Manager
Benjamin Garret, Sergeant-at-Arms
Miss Lorraine E. Younger, Camp Consultant
Mrs. Rose Jones, Asst. Treasurer


Appreciation Award
presented to
MRS. LENA DUKES POWELL

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It is a magnificently unique and unquestionably deserving person to whom we are expressing words of appreciation today.

Born in Boston, Mass., Mrs. Lena Dukes Powell, wife of the late publisher of the Amsterdam News, Dr. C.B. Powell, possess many positive and successful attributes. Well known as an outstanding business woman, Mrs. Powell owned and operated forty beauty parlor booths in Harlem. One of the largest, located at that time on Seventh Avenue and 138th Street, was named Leandras. It was the largest shop in Black New York. Mrs. Powell is remembered by her customers as being a fascinating and completely gracious woman - catering to all customers, making them comfortable by providing tea and light lunches in the tea room located in the rear of her shops furnished with lovely tables and chairs. She pioneered specialized services, with Leandras being the first parlor to have shampoo bowls in each booth. She is remembered as being as being a beautiful hostess, a warm friend, caring, kind and loving - never demanding, a quality about her which still exists. Her beauty parlors were the most popular in New York City.

For the past seven years, over $50,000 has been donated per year from the C.B. Powell Foundation. These contributions are made to groups who have demonstrated an interest and ability to help minorities (especially children) some of the yearly recipients from the C.B. Powell Fund are - Ossining Scholarship Fund, the Skills Review Center for Black Youth (in Harlem), the Negro College Fund, the Legal Defense Fund, the Urban League (local and national), the N.A.A.C.P., the Schomburg Library, the John Hunter Camp Fund and numerous others.

Howard University recently dedicated its Communications Building in honor of the late Dr. C.B. Powell, and Mrs. Powell gave great assistance in helping Howard University to bring about this well deserved recognition. In memory of its largest single benefactor, an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree was awarded posthumously to Dr. Clilan B. Powell by Howard University. Mrs. Powell was there to accept the honorary degree.

In her great manner, Mrs. Powell is always here, there, and everywhere assisting minorities in achieving their goals. She has invested in the best securities in the world - children.

As was noted, through Mrs. Powell the John Hunter Camp Fund is one of the many privileged to be an annual recipient of the C.B. Powell Foundation. The interest and efforts of Lena Dukes Powell has manifested, helps to insure that the John Hunter Camp Fund Committee can keep on keeping on. It is our privilege to pay tribute and extend unending gratitude to her.

Congratulations, Mrs. Powell, many thanks, and God bless!

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JOHN ISAACS

John Isaacs holds the rare distinction of being one of a small number of Black professional basketball greats who have played on two world championship basketball teams. In fact, he went straight from high school to professional basketball when he started on the Renaissance Big Five that won the first Professional Basketball Championship in Chicago in 1939. In 1943, he played for the Washington Bears when they won the championship.

John was an outstanding performer throughout an illustrious career which began on the Harlem playgrounds, church and club leagues, playing against an array of basketball stars who later made sports history. In 1935 he was selected to the "All-City Team" while playing for Textile High School. Two other Black stars, Sidhat Singh from Harlem and Dolly King from Brooklyn, were selected to the team. Both King and Singh went on to become top basketball professionals.

Robert "Bob" Douglas, owner and founder of the Rens, was quoted on a number of occasions as insisting that, "he had not seen the equal of the "Boy Wonder," as John was affectionately called. John was a great team player, who was in great demand because he possessed an immensely conditioned body, superb knowledge of the professional game, strength and marvelous ability to create plays of sheer beauty bordering on the true art form, the signature of the "Rens".

From 1938 through 1958 he played for the top professional teams of the era, Grumman Aircraft, Hazelton of the Eastern League and the Passaic Crescents of Orange, New Jersey. He finished his playing days less than a decade ago, performing for the New York Oldtimers and acting as travel manager, trainer and raconteur extraordinaire, and now coaches in the Hispanic Superior Amateur Basketball League of New York. He is on the coaching staff of the Lou Carneseca/Red Sarachek Summer Basketball Camp. His accomplishments as a coach include winning championship in both the male and female divisions of the centerleague. He coached the New York Life Team, where he worked for more than thirty-eight years. He also coaches various teams at the Madison Square Bronx Boys Club where he has worked part-time for twenty-five years. Recently the gym at the Boys Club was named and dedicated to our honoree, John Isaacs.

John was born in Panama and came to Harlem as a child. His mother Maud lives in the Bronx and he is the proud father of six children and three grandsons. He is also a charter member of the John Hunter Camp Fund Committee, where he has served faithfully for eleven years.

John is a true professional of rare distinction on the boards and off the the boards, Harlem's own "Wonder Boy".

Thanks, John, for adding your personal touch and team work. You're a real pioneer, and an asset to both the sports world and the community.