COUNTRY CLUB CORPORATION ELECTS 21 NEW DIRECTORS-DIRECTORS TO NAME OFFICERS BEFORE OCTOBER 1

The Tallahassee Country Club Corporation last night elected 21 directors to serve terms of three, two and one years beginning Oct. 1.

The 21 stockholders, including Temporary President Blair C. Stone, will meet sometime before Oct. 1 to elect permanent officers and adopt rules and regulations of the private club.

The Country Club organization took over operation of the club from the City on Sept. 1.

Those elected to three-year terms in addition to Stone were Paul Brock, Wilson Carraway, Julian Proctor, Robert Parker, Syd Andrews and Charles Ausley.

TWO-YEAR TERMS

Two-year directors are J. V. Smith, Ernest Daffin, Godfrey Smith, Payne Midyette, Ryals Lee, Cheever Lewis and Mark Ahrano. Three-year directors elected were Jimmy Lee, Sid Steyerman, M. R. Clements, Lee Foster, Edwin White, Charles Belvin and Frank Pepper.

In other action the club adopted its by-laws, one feature of which limits the club to its present membership of 400. It prohibits transfer of stock from one member to another without club approval.

Dues and fees, already tentatively agreed upon, will be confirmed later. In future years only one slate of seven directors for three-year terms will be elected.

PUBLIC CAN PLAY

Although the new club is now a private organization, the golf course facilities are open to the public at daily, monthly or yearly green fees. The club plans to construct new facilities, including a new club house and swimming pool.

A new pro shop already has been constructed near the site of the first tee. New pro Chuck Rea began work on Sept. 1.

Mr. PROCTOR. There was generally a good bit of publicity about the new club, correct.

Senator KENNEDY. A good deal of publicity about the new club? Mr. PROCTOR. Correct.

Senator KENNEDY. As the chairman mentioned, it was a front page story. People read the newspapers and it was generally understood that a new club was being formed, is that not correct?

Mr. PROCTOR. I assume so. We find a lot of things out in the newspaper.

Senator KENNEDY. And it was a golf club that was being formed, as the chairman mentioned, not just the repairing of a club house?

Mr. PROCTOR. Senator, that is one of the things that I thought I made clear very definitely the other day when you were absent. And I thought I brought it out a few minutes ago: The club plans to construct new facilities including a new clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis courts, et cetera. There is also a picture here that you might be interested in seeing, of the pro shop that we had.

The CHAIRMAN. Give it to the press. Let them see what kind of a club.

Mr. PROCTOR. This is not the club itself but it is a picture of the pro shop that we built actually while the city of Tallahassee owned it. While the city also operated this municipal golf course, we wanted air conditioning in the locker rooms, we members of the golf course paid for the air conditioning, in both the ladies' and the men's rooms. We also bought the furniture and decided if we had to do this, we would request that we lease the club. The club was in a rundown condition. A new club was greatly needed in Tallahassee.

Senator KENNEDY. What was the date of that newspaper story?
Mr. PROCTOR. September 5, 1956.

Senator KENNEDY. In February, February 15, 1956 in the Tallahassee Democrat there was another frontpage story about a municipal golf course leased to a private firm. I was wondering if that could be made a part of the record as well?

The CHAIRMAN. Read it. Let me see. Is it the same club?
Senator KENNEDY. It is the same club.

The CHAIRMAN. It will be admitted of course.

(The article referred to follows:).

[From the Tallahassee Democrat, Feb. 15, 1956]

MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE LEASED TO PRIVATE FIRM-VOTE IS 4 TO 1 AS CITY MAKES

DEAL FOR $1

For the price of $1 greens fee the city commission yesterday leased the municipal golf course to the Tallahassee Country Club, a private corporation.

The vote was 4 to 1, with Mayor J. T. Williams registering the objection. On a motion by Commissioner Fred Winterle, the commission also agreed to make the same deal on a Negro golf course now under construction to "any responsible group" that wants to take it over.

Asked if the course would be open to the public, Robert Parker, who represented the country club group, said "any acceptable person will be allowed to play."

TO BE PRACTICAL

As for greens fees, Parker said, "We'll have to be practical in fixing dues." Mayor Williams voted against the measure after asking Parker if he felt "$1 a year was an equitable amount."

Parker said in view of the financial losses of the course under city operation, and other factors, he felt it was.

City records show a loss of about $14,000 a year on the course,

AFTER COOLING OFF

The action came after a two-month cooling off period following the proposal's first introduction. At that time Former City Commissioner H. G. Easterwood, now a county commissioner, blasted the lease agreement.

He said racial factors were hinted as the reason for the move.

Under the arrangement the country club group would take over the operation of the course September 1. The lease is for 99-years running through 2055, and calls for a $1 a year payment.

The golf course was originally conveyed to the city along with, outstanding indebtedness Aug. 27, 1935 with an agreement that if the city "desired to be relieved of the operation," the Tallahassee Country Club would have first option.

NINE HOLES ADDED

At that time the course was a nine hole layout, with nine holes being added during WPA times. [.. 17

All in all, the land involved in the lease covers 206 acres.

Under the lease, the country club would pay for the upkeep of the course and clubhouse, pay all utility bills, and taxes levied by the city and county.

There is no assessment on the property at the present time since it is city owned.

Under the arrangement; the country club group would not pay any special improvement Liens such as roads.

The lease provides the country club group would have the right to operate a swimming pool, tennis courts, bowling alleys, shuffleboard courts and other recreational facilities. T

Mr. PROCTOR. That was when?

Senator KENNEDY. February 15, 1956. This is just a copy. Maybe you can take a look. It is an exact copy of the text. As I understand it in reading that article, it said:"

Asked if the course would be open to the public, Mr. Robert Parker, who represented the Country Club group said, Any acceptable person will be allowed to play..

Now in Tallahassee, Fla. in 1956 in the context of a golf course, can you tell us what "any acceptable person" meant?

Mr. PROCTOR. Senator, I would say that it would be the same as any private club, any acceptable person.

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Senator KENNEDY. Isn't that really just another code name for whites only?

Mr. PROCTOR. I would not say so.

The CHAIRMAN. You don't believe it, do you?

Mr. PROCTOR. I beg your pardon, sir?

The CHAIRMAN. You don't believe it?

Senator KENNEDY. Wasn't there at the same time, was there a black golf course in Tallahassee?

Mr. PROCTOR. About the same time there was built a black golf course. I do not have the records of that. The city built a black golf course over near the Jake Gaither Park. Probably you have heard of Mr. Gaither. I do not have any dates. I could not tell you.

Senator KENNEDY. I would like to, Mr. Chairman, state on February 15 in this same article entitled "The Municipal Golf Course Leased to Private Firms" appears the following, and I am quoting, and it is on that page:

On a motion by Commissioner Fred Winterle, the commission also agreed to make the same deal on a Negro golf course now under construction to "any responsible group" that wants to take it over.

Mr. PROCTOR. Now under construction.

Senator KENNEDY. That is right. "*** to any responsible group that wants to take it over."

Don't you really think it is a fair inference that one club was going to be for the whites and one club was going to be for the blacks? Mr. PROCTOR. Well, I think it is a fair inference it was going to be a private club.

Senator KENNEDY. And one was going to be for the blacks and one was going to be for the whites?

Mr. PROCTOR. That is what this states.

Senator KENNEDY. That is the newspaper article?

Mr. PROCTOR. I have not seen this article before.

Senator KENNEDY. As you say, it was generally understood—
The CHAIRMAN. Wait a minute, let him read it.

Read the article.

Mr. PROCTOR. "Municipal Golf Course Leased To Private FirmVote Is 4 to 1 as City Makes Deal for $1.

"For the price of $1 greens fee the city commission yesterday leased the municipal golf course to the Tallahassee Country Club, a private corporation.

"The vote was 4 to 1, with Mayor J. T. Williams registering the objection

Senator KENNEDY. Could I ask on this part here, did you know that there was an objection that was raised by the mayor?

Mr. PROCTOR. At that time?

Senator KENNEDY. Yes.

Mr. PROCTOR. I do not remember. However, I did attend that meeting. I do not remember. That has been a few years ago.

The CHAIRMAN. Was there any question of race mentioned in that meeting?

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Mr. PROCTOR. No question of race mentioned in that meeting, and no question of race or discussion of race, of blacks during any of the formative stage of that private club.

The CHAIRMAN. What you are saying is that at no meeting was any question raised that entered

Mr. PROCTOR. Ever entered into our discussion at the board and the meetings at which we were forming this club.

Senator KENNEDY. And that club meeting that took place about 2 months prior to this meeting which was part of the development of this corporation.

Mr. PROCTOR. That is correct.

Senator KENNEDY. Then will you continue reading, please.

Mr. PROCTOR. Which one?

Senator KENNEDY. Just what you were reading. Try "After Cooling Off."

Mr. PROCTOR. All right.

"The action came after a 2-month cooling off period following the proposal's first introduction. At that time former City Commissioner H. G. Easterwood, now a county commissioner, blasted the lease agreement. He said racial factors hinted as the reason for the move."

Is that what you would like for me to read? Is that far enough? Senator KENNEDY. Yes. Does that refresh your recollection? Mr. PROCTOR. Not altogether.

Senator KENNEDY. Is it a fact

Mr. PROCTOR. Just a minute. I think I have an article in here that I would like to read.

The CHAIRMAN. I do not see what one politician said

Mr. PROCTOR. "First reaction to the move by several commissioners"-this is another article.

Senator KENNEDY. What date is that?

Mr. PROCTOR. This is dated on September 2, 1952.

"Country Club Organizers❞—

Senator KENNEDY. We are talking about 1956, are we not?

Mr. PROCTOR. We are, but I would just like to read you an article about the same person.

Senator KENNEDY. I would be glad to have the article read to me. I would like to just stay on this point.

Mr. PROCTOR. Let me read you just one little sentence here.

The CHAIRMAN. Proceed.

Mr. PROCTOR (reading).

Commissioner H. G. Easterwood said he would consider leasing the club if the corporation would take over all expenses. Mayor Commissioner B. A. Ragsdale and Commissioner H. C. Summit could not be contacted for comment.

Senator KENNEDY. According to this article, Mr. Proctor, there had been, at least in the opinion of former City Commissioner Easterwood, racial considerations and this had been raised at one of the formative meetings, according to this article, had it not?

Mr. PROCTOR. Well, I do not know whether this was a meeting or if this was at a city commission meeting which I did not attend. It said this. After cooling off, the "action came after a 2-month cooling

off period following the proposal's first introduction." That could have been a city commission meeting. I was not a city commissioner.

Senator Kennedy. But that would still be at the time of the formation of this club, would it not?

Mr. PROCTOR. It would be at the time of the formation of the club. Senator KENNEDY. And racial factors had at least been raised, according to this article, by City Commissioner H. G. Easterwood. I am not asking whether you were at the meeting.

Mr. PROCTOR. That is right.

Senator KENNEDY. According to this article they had been raised, had they not?

Mr. PROCTOR. Evidently they may have been raised. Commissioner Easterwood is no longer in this world, so I could not speak for him. Senator KENNEDY. But at least as reported on the front page of the newspaper?

Mr. PROCTOR. According to this article, yes, sir.

Senator KENNEDY. They had been a matter of consideration? The CHAIRMAN. But you never heard it?

Mr. PROCTOR. I have never heard Easterwood, I have never heard Julian Smith, mentioned in an article, raise any discussion of the blacks and whites during the formation of this club.

The CHAIRMAN. After all, the best evidence is not what one politician says in a newspaper, but it is what happened at those meetings. Now was any question raised at any of those meetings?

Mr. PROCTOR. It was not raised. It was not discussed at any of the formative meetings of the Tallahassee Country Club, Inc., by the directors or subscribing members before taking over the club. The article that I have here announced the fact that when the club was taken over, "and although it was a new private organization" that it was open to the public for daily, monthly, and yearly green fees. The CHAIRMAN. And it was your understanding that that club was open to all members?

Mr. PROCTOR. That is correct.

Senator KENNEDY. But it was also your understanding, further, that there were not any blacks that were either incorporators or members of that club?

The Chairman. He did not say that.

Senator KENNEDY. I am asking him.

Mr. PROCTOR. In the group that I worked with, no. If there were any blacks on the 450 to 500 members who subscribed to the original stock, I do not know.

Senator KENNEDY. Is it further your understanding that if the golf course had remained under city control, that it would have had to have been integrated?

Mr. PROCTOR. If it had remained under city control it may not have existed.

Senator KENNEDY. If it had existed, under the Supreme Court decisions of 1955 would it not have had to be integrated?

Mr. PROCTOR. Under your Supreme Court ruling I assume that it would. That was the law.

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Senator KENNEDY. And so that the group that took over the golf course was an all-white group, was it not?