COMPLIMENTARY

stlamerican.comVol. 83 No. 11CAC Audited

JUNE 16 – 22, 2011

First Place#1 Black Weekly in U.S.

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Wedding bells and business boostsGood news and vibes from STL spread to Motown, Vegas and beyond.

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By Michael Kennedy Jr.For The St. Louis American

As I mentor young kids who have charis-ma, athletic talent, intelligence and musical

gifts, but nofather figure, Ihear my dad’svoice speaking tome as I wasgrowing up.

As presidentof the companyhe founded, KAIDesign & Build,the wisdom hegave me through-out my life pre-pared me fortoday and I amproud to pass iton.

“If you can’tcommunicate,then you can’tlead, sell, borrowor trade,” saysmy dad, MichaelKennedy Sr.,

even to this day. I interpreted “communication” as talking

to my classmates, until I ended up in the hallfor disrupting a class. I communicated, butwithout purpose other than to entertain.

“There is a time and place for entertainingyour friends” was another lesson. My dadhas a gift of gab and a great sense of humor.He is a purposeful communicator, which is

Lessonsfrom myfather

See NIXON, A6

By Rebecca S. RivasOf The St. Louis American

On May 13, the last day of Missouri’s2011 legislative session, the so-called“Aerotropolis” proposal died when legisla-tors couldn’t resolve their differences ontax credit reforms to a larger economic

development bill.Aerotropolis hadbeen bundled as partof that developmentpackage.

Advocates ofAerotropolis claimits tax incentiveswould spur the cre-ation of 23,000 con-struction jobs and13,800 new perma-nent full-time jobs.

They also say itwould put St. Louisin a better bargain-

ing position to attract major new cargo andpassenger landings at the airport, whichcould attract other kinds of business devel-opment by making Lambert a more acces-sible and competitive air hub.

For any of this to be possible, legisla-tors need to come to a resolution soon, said

See KENNEDY, A7

By Kenya VaughnOf The St. Louis American

The sanctuary, both overflow corridors and the basement ofCote Brilliante Presbyterian Church were all at capacity Saturday

morning for the finalservices for the Rev.Dr. William Gillespie.

Rev. Gillespiepassed away Friday,June 3, 2011 at the ageof 80 after more than ahalf-century of serviceto his parishioners and

the St. Louis community.At his Homegoing service, he was praised by leaders of the

HOMEGOING FOR REV. DR. WILLIAM G. GILLESPIE

See GILLESPIE, A7

Michael KennedyJr. reflects on MichaelKennedy Sr.

‘He lived his life as a servantwho loved to the utmost

� “We are not here to saygoodbye to Rev. Gillespie, weare here to celebrate his life.”

– Martin Mathews

� “It’s time forus to act tobring this thinghome. It’s real.We are wellpositioned atthis moment.”

– State Sen.Eric Schmitt

Photo by Wiley Price

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

Michael Kennedy Sr.and MichaelKennedy Jr. of KAIDesign & Build

Nixonstalls oncallingspecialsessionAerotropolisadvocates saythe time to act is now

Aloha Mischeaux warmed up with about 64,000 other runners before the start of theSusan G. Komen Race for the Cure Saturday morning in downtown St. Louis. Therace is the largest annual fundraiser for the St. Louis Affiliate of Susan G. Komen forthe Cure. Last month the local affiliate awarded more than $3.1 million to fund breastcancer screening, treatment, education and support programs in its service area.

Aloha for the cure

Pallbearers bring thebody of the Rev. Dr.William G. Gillespie,civil rights leader andlongtime pastor ofCote BrilliantePresbyterian Church,to the hearse outsidethe church with hisfamily following closebehind after serviceson Saturday.

Photo by Wiley Price