Florida Sentinel Bulletin

One of the most popular radio personalities to ever be on radio in Tampa passed away from a heart attack Saturday evening.

“Smiling” Tom Robinson was a favorite of everyone who listened to WTMP 1150AM radio, and loved everywhere he went. He was 58.

Lonnie Robinson, one of his 6 siblings, said Tom was the only child born in Georgia.

“He graduated from Miami Northwestern High School, then went on to attend Bethune Cookman University. He was a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.

“After leaving college, Tom went to work at NASA, and from there, he came to Tampa and straight to WTMP, where his legend was made.”

Lonnie said his brother always loved music, and after leaving the radio station, became a regular at the Cotton Club, and was a favorite at weddings and other events.

“Smiling” Robinson was the father of three children, and Lonnie said his love of music started with him playing at house parties when he was a teenager.

“He got his radio name from his classmates at Bethune Cookman. They said he always smiled, so he decided to keep the nickname and use it as his radio personality.”

Lonnie said “Smiling” Tom had been on dialysis for 2-1/2 years, and was diagnosed with a heart condition as far back as 2000.

“He kept his health problems to himself, and was far as the family knew, his health problems weren’t that serious. We only recently found out he was undergoing dialysis.

“He had been in the hospital for two weeks, and told us he was just battling the flu. But, after he passed, we found out just how serious his health problems had been. He was a stubborn man, and the doctors wanted to perform surgery on him but he refused.”

Lonnie said his brother always did whatever he could for everyone, and met a lot of great people throughout his life.

Services for “Smiling” Tom Robinson will be held Saturday, January 26^th, with the time to be announced at a later date. The viewing will be Friday from 5 p. m. until 8 p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 North Howard Avenue.

On Thursday evening, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputy, Troy Fallin, had to be hospitalized with a broken finger after an 8^th grade Greco Middle School student shoved him on a bus.

Officials said the incident started at 4:30 p. m. when Fallin noticed a school bus stopped at Sewaha Road and 56^th Street. The driver of the bus pulled over after a fight erupted over whether to keep a window on the bus open or closed.

As Fallin, 42, went on the bus to see what was going on, two Temple Terrace Police officers arrived to assist him. With all three law enforcement officers on the bus, 15-year-old Johndarious Wright (pictured), approached them and said he was going to leave. The officers told him to stay on the bus, and Wright reportedly shoved Fallin, causing him to fall onto the dashboard and windshield of the bus.

The two Temple Terrace officers tried to control Wright, but Wright continued to resist them by punching, swinging, and kicking. Other students on the bus tried to pull Wright to the back of the bus to allegedly keep the officers from gaining control of him.

While the officers struggled with Wright, the other students taunted them with profanity. Within minutes, Temple Terrace police took Wright off the bus and arrested him. He was taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center and held on charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, and disrupting a school function.

Officers also arrested four other students on the bus, charging them with battery.

What started out as a fight at a Nebraska Avenue nightclub, escalated into a police pursuit, and the death of a woman.

Tampa Police officers were called to the Interstate Lounge, 9403 North Nebraska Avenue, on a report of a fight between two females. When the officers arrived, both women were gone, and the officers were told one of the females left in a white 2002 Pontiac Grand Am.

The officers and witnesses saw the vehicle heading north on Nebraska Avenue when it suddenly sped up, swerved off the road, drove onto a sidewalk, and tried to hit two men. Police said the passenger in the vehicle and the two men on foot were yelling at each other as one of them jumped out of the way, and the other was knocked to the ground.

Police said the vehicle then made a u-turn and went south on Nebraska. The officer also made a u-turn and was trying to catch up with the vehicle. The driver reportedly ran the red light at Busch Boulevard and then turned off the headlights and began to speed up.

Patrick Simmons

The driver lost control of the car south of Hillsborough Avenue, and crashed into a pole in front of Martha’s Restaurant on Frierson and Nebraska Avenue.

The impact caused the driver to be ejected and the car to split in half. The passenger in the car suffered a broken leg and was hospitalized.

The driver of the car, identified as 25-year-old Kathleen Trombley, was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger was identified as 38-year-old Patrick Simmons.

The incident is still under investigation, and police said the two men the driver swerved to hit before the pursuit were not injured.

BY LEON B. CREWS

Sentinel Staff Writer

On November 20, 2012, online voting began for six African Americans nominated to be on the 2013 Florida State Wall of Fame.

The nominees were Sybil Barnes-Johnson, G.D. Rogers, Morris Wilbert Milton, Douglas Lee “Tim” Jamerson, Jr., Dr. Israel “Ike”  Tribble, and Harry T. Moore.

After the votes were tabulated, it was announced that Dr. Israel “Ike” Tribble would be honored.

Dr. Tribble died on June 21, 2003 due to complications from his third liver transplant operation. He was 61.

Dr. Tribble passed away just three days before the landmark  U. S. Supreme Court decision that strengthened the legal and constitutional standing of race-conscious college admission policies.

According to his wife of 18 years, Dr. Sheila Simmons-Tribble, her husband was a native of New Jersey. He graduated from Montclair State University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then went on to earn a pair of Master’s Degrees from California State University, and Stanford University.

“Ike came to Florida to work at Edward-Waters College,” said Dr. Simmons-Tribble.

“After that, he worked for the Florida State System of Higher Education.”

Among the organizations Dr. Tribble was affiliated with are: Tampa Chamber of Commerce where he was voted the first African American chair in 1997; a board member of the Chamber and Tampa Bay Partnership; a board member of the United Way of Hillsborough County; trustee of the National Urban League Board; USF Foundation; Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and a member of the Community Education Council.

Dr. Tribble was the first president of the Florida Education Fund. Since 1984, the organization has assisted 159 African Americans earn their doctorate degrees at various universities in the state of Florida through the McKnight Fellowship Program.

Dr. Simmons-Tribble, said when she got the news of the honor by the Florida State Fair Authority, it brought such joy to her heart.

“It’s so wonderful he would be honored this way. He really loved Tampa, and was a champion of the community. He believed in the notion that we all have to be there for one another, and embrace one another.

“What always impressed me about him was his desire to improve the lives of others. He thought that would protect their spirit, and by doing that, they would be a better person.”

Dr. Simmons-Tribble said her husband was a true activist in terms of education and life in general.

“He continued to advocate and push forward the things he believed in. When it came to social justice, it was part of his upbringing, coming from a very economically depressed childhood. His life was full of love in spite of their struggles, because of his mother.

“He also loved African proverbs. One of them he’d often recite is, ‘Tall trees catch much wind.’ That meant stand tall for our convictions.”

Dr. Simmons-Tribble said her husband was a very humble man and everyday person.

“Just before we were married, he spoke at my parents’ 50^th wedding anniversary. He used another one of his favorite African proverbs.

“Ike never met a stranger in his life, and would introduce people he’d meet to others. The very notion of friendship stood out with him.”

James Ransom said he would describe Dr. Tribble as a very gifted, articulate, and educated man.

“He helped fund an arts festival, and he chaired the selection committee for a new president for Hillsborough Community College. He was involved with exceptional property ideas for Channelside, and the Tampa Organization for Black Affairs (TOBA) recognized him by naming their leadership award in his honor.”

Dr. Simmons-Tribble said her husband wanted people to be proud of, and show pride in, their community.

Dr. Tribble has two daughters, Ahsha Tribble-Schockley, and Aiyisha  Tribble.

Trevor Dooley, a 71-year-old Valrico man who said he was standing his ground when he shot and killed a 41-year-old man in September 2010, was sentenced Thursday by Circuit Judge Ashley Moody to 8 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation.

Dooley had walked onto a basketball court near his home to confront a skateboarder. David Wright intervened, and he and Dooley got into an argument.

Dooley testified that he shot Wright in self defense after Wright had grabbed him by the throat and pulled him to the ground causing his gun to discharge. Wright died. Dooley’s defense team used the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law in the case. However, Judge Moody ruled against it.

In November 2012, a jury found Dooley guilty of manslaughter in the incident that was witnessed by Wright’s 8-year-old daughter.

Dooley was facing up to 30 years in prison for the offense. However, due to his age, he was give the lesser sentence.

PINELLAS COUNTY – Last week when Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies found 24-year-old Destynee Nekole Burkes dead inside a hotel room at the La Quinta Inn. Detectives immediately suspected her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Jamaal Jenkins.

On Monday after police found 30-year-old Tieyannie Dewitte Hollis with a gunshot wound to the head, they again looked at Jenkins as the suspect, because he had reportedly been fighting with Jenkins.

Jenkins, 25, who is known to stay in hotels around the St. Petersburg area, is being sought by two law enforcement agencies on two counts of murder. Detectives are not clear on how long Jenkins and Burkes allegedly dated. Burkes, a home health aide, was pursuing a nursing degree, and was allegedly dating both Hollis and Jenkins, detectives said.

Investigators report that in December, Burkes and Jenkins spent the night in a hotel together. However, a day after Christmas, Burkes was at an intersection in Pinellas Park when another vehicle rammed the back of her car, causing it to spin out, according to a police report. Witnesses identified the driver that rammed her car as Jenkins.

On January 6th, detectives said Jenkins and Hollis were arguing at a park. Early the next morning, Burkes checked into room #120 at the La Quinta Motel. Jenkins allegedly joined her, but left 30 minutes later. He was seen leaving without a shirt and driving a silver 2012 Chrysler Burkes had rented.

Twelve hours later, hotel staff members found Burkes dead inside the room. She had been shot in the head. Officials don’t know if Jenkins is still driving the car Burkes rented, and report that the license plate number is Florida K911WU. But he has stated he has no intention of going back to prison.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Jenkins is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (727) 582-6200.

Tampa’s own recording artists, Cepeda McKay and No Limits will make their national debut on the Bobby Jones Gospel Show, on BET, Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 9 A. M. locally.
And if that’s not enough, they will release their new single, “As One,” nationally, the following day, January 21.

Cepeda states, “Although I am only 21, this type of honor and recognition has been a long time coming.  Most people do not realize that I have been ministering in music and song with my group, for over ten years.  We have worked very hard and the Lord is exalting us in this season.”

When asked how did this opportunity present itself?  Cepeda said, “The Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) was here in the Tampa Bay area approximately three years ago, I was introduced to Dr. Jones’ co-host.  She invited us to appear on the Bobby Jones Presents Show in Nashville, which aired on The Word Network.

“We appeared on that show twice and they literally fell in love with us.  We were told that it was a strong possibility that we would be invited to appear on the next season of the Bobby Jones Gospel Show.  However, it did not seem real until we received an email from the Executive Producer of the show who informed us that we were highly recommended by Dr. Jones.  She also stated that she looked us up on the internet and agreed 100%, with Dr. Jones’ recommendation and invited us to Washington, D. C. for the taping of the show.”

Continuing, he said, “It was surreal to minister on that stage where the top gospel artists in the country perform.  Dr. Jones jokingly stated, ‘No pressure, you are only going to perform for over a million people on any given Sunday morning;  NOW GO TEAR UP MY STAGE.’  I am humbled even the more to be granted this opportunity.”

The group’s single “As One” will also be released nationally.  A campaign has been launched to have the single played in both Major and Minor Gospel Radio station markets throughout the country and abroad.

“The past year I have been mentored by one of the Top Gospel Billboard artists in the industry, Troy Sneed.  He states our ministry deserves to be heard by the nation.  Thus he is assisting us to this end.”

Not only is the single being released to radio, it will be available to be purchased/downloaded at most digital retail outlets such as, iTunes, Amazon, etc. “Our prayer is to gain as much momentum on this single that it makes sense for us to release our next full CD project.”

BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer

The final phase of the $1.8 million 22nd Street Enhancement Project began Monday morning, with the area from 21st Avenue to 23rd Avenue to be done.

The first phase of the project began at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and ended at Lake Avenue. The second phase began at Lake Avenue and will end at 26th Avenue. It is expected to be completed in May 2013.

Project Engineer for the project, Albert P.J. Calloway, said traffic traveling north on 22nd Street will be maintained throughout the project, and southbound traffic on 22nd Street will use the current detoured routes with no changes.

“This phase of the project will include a round-a-bout where the streets merge at 22nd and 21st, and will be constructed in two phases.”

This phase of the project will include vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian mobility improvements that will include the round-a-bout, concrete curbs, sidewalks, a 10-foot multimodal trail, bus stop and shelter improvements, landscaping, irrigation, monument, decorative crosswalks, and pedestrian lighting.

Calloway said the project will be completed by late August 2013, and there will be some inconvenience to residents and businesses in the area. “We will try to keep the noise level down during construction, and the equipment being used for the project will not be intrusive to the community.

“If anyone has a complaint about noise or equipment on their street, call me at (813) 635-3400.”

Verizon warns its customers that some may experience unintended service interruptions during the project. Those customers are advised to call Verizon direct to request service be restored. Verizon will not respond to a city or contractor notification of service interruption.

BY GWEN HAYES
Sentinel Editor

Just 14 days ago, a Tampa native stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, learned that he had been promoted to Colonel. On Sunday, January 13, 2013, Lieutenant Colonel Michael L. Dawson, passed away suddenly at his Valrico home.

His family is baffled by what has occurred, since he had no known illnesses. They are awaiting toxicology reports. He was 51 years old.

On New Year’s Day, Lt. Colonel Dawson, who was Deputy Commander, Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE), MacDill Air Force Base, learned that he had been promoted to Colonel.  His decoration pinning ceremony was already set for February 1, 2013.

Colonel Dawson’s mother, Pastor Anna Gibson, said that he was her oldest son. He graduated from Brandon High School, where he played football and ran track. Today, people still remember him as the quarterback at Brandon, Pastor Gibson stated.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems in 1991 from Grambling State University, where he also played football.

He has a Master’s of Science degree from Strayer University, Master of Military Operational Art and Science (Air Command and Staff College, 2003) and Master of Strategic Studies (2011), Air War College. His education extends to other advanced training.

His dates of promotions were: Second Lieutenant, July 22, 1991; First Lieutenant, July 18, 1993; Captain, July 18, 1995; Major, June 1, 2002, Lieutenant Colonel, May 1, 2007; and Colonel, January 1, 2013.

In 2008, Lt. Colonel Dawson spent 7 months in Afghanistan as the Deputy Director of Communications, Security Transition Command. He returned to his hometown in June 2011, as Deputy Commander.
He received several major awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star.

A family man who loved to read, Pastor Gibson said Colonel Dawson was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He and his wife, Lydia would have celebrated 18 years of marriage in March. They are the parents of a 12-year-old daughter, Breanna. His other survivors are 2 brothers, Marlon and Maurice Gibson and sister, Felicia Gibson-Jaycox. His father was the late Sim Gibson.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.