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Harry Carson Loved The Military |
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Saturday, 03 February 2007 |
SAN BERNARDINO
Harry Lee Carson, Sr. died suddenly this past Sunday. He was
a veteran of the Korean War, stationed in Japan, where he worked in Small
Arms for 3 years and in the Air Force Reserves for 32 years as a Senior Master
Sergeant, working mainly with the Aerial Port Squadron. He worked for Norton Air Force Base for 33
years. He loved the military and
contributed much to his country and community.
 Harry Lee Carson
He moved to San
Bernardino, California
in 1953 to join his wife, whose civilian job had transferred her to Norton AFB
from Wright- Patterson AFB. Soon after,
he enrolled in San Bernardino
Valley College,
attended five years of evening classes and graduated in 1959 with an Associate
of Arts degree.
He and his family have been faithful members of St.
Anthony's Catholic Church in San
Bernardino since their arrival. He helped to build the school there under
Father Paul Hatch and he was an usher for at least 30 years. He coached St. Anthony's Little League team
and acted as the assistant scout leader during the early years of the
school. He served five years on the
Catholic Social Services Board, which later became the Catholic Charities
Board. Most recently, he became a
lay-member of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus; he was invited to join
by Father Charles Smith SVD, who was a pastor during the mid -90's at St.
Anthony located on the west side of San Bernardino.
In the community, he was known as the "Man With The Camera"
because he was always taking pictures; he captured such notables as Cab
Calloway, Martin Luther King, John and Robert Kennedy, Jimi Hendrix, and many
other celebrities. He had a radio show
on station KFMW-FM (99.9) where he was the "Jazz Witness". In 1988, some 20
years later, he recreated the "Jazz Witness" on his son's (Bill Carson ) radio
show the "Night Witness" in Helsinki, Finland.
Carson and Lois were very active during the Civil Rights Movement. They led the family in marches and he
participated in sit-ins at the San Bernardino School Board. He was a member of the Black Fathers and
African American Cultural Association (AFCA), which today is known as the Black
Cultural Foundation. He was a life
member of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). He served on the Norton
Community Credit Union Board of Directors for approximately 30 years,
concluding in 2004; he served as President of the Board for two separate terms.
He served on the Juvenile San Bernardino County Justice
Commission under Nancy Smith and in 2004, County Supervisor Josie Gonzalez, 5th
District, appointed him as a Commissioner on the Equal Opportunity Commission,
where they deal with equity and diversity matters relating to employment. He
served three separate terms on the San Bernardino County Grand Jury; 1975-76,
1986-87, and 2000-01.
For the City of San Bernardino,
he served on the Disability and Rehabilitation Commission and he and Lois
served as Ambassadors of Goodwill under Mayors, Bob Holcomb and Evelyn Wilcox;
they represented San Bernardino in Senegal, West Africa, Helsinki,
Finland, and Ife, Nigeria. He and Lois traveled the world over, visiting
every continent except Australia.
Recently, one of Harry's son discovered records of the Carson ancestry that
dated back to 1827 on Ancestry.com.
Harry expressed great delight in knowing how deeply rooted he was in
the country that he served and that two
great, great Carson
uncles served in Black regiments during WWI.
Harry is survived by his wife, Lois, six children (Harry, William, Patricia, John,
David and Felicia) six grandchildren, and four siblings (two sisters and two
brothers).
Bernice King came to Riverside to unveil the statue.
Martin Luther King, III came to the University of California, Riverside
while Dr. Rosemary Schraer was president and again for the SCLC’s
hearings on police brutality. And after protesting Tyisha Miller’s
death in an act of civil disobedience he was arrested.
Mrs. Coretta Scott King, 78, passed away in Rosarito, Mexico on Monday,
January 30, 2006. It has been widely reported that she was seeking
alternative treatment for a stroke and ovarian cancer. "She died
peacefully in her sleep," said Ambassador Andrew Young in an early
Tuesday morning statement.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Mrs. King's body was prepared for transport by Tillman's Mortuary in Riverside.
Once the autopsy was complete, King's body was prepared by Mr. Tillman
and transported to San Bernardino International Airport to meet a
private jet bound for Atlanta.
Mr. Tillman told the Black Voice News that he received a call from
Willie Watkins, a close friend and funeral director in Atlanta who
will receive her body.
"I received a call at 9:00 Monday night about King's passing. I was
instructed not to tell anyone not even my staff," Tillman told the
Black Voice News in an exclusive interview following their departure.
"She was moved from Mexico to the Ragsdale Mortuary in San Diego.
Watkins knows my work and wouldn't let anyone touch her but me. I
picked her up and brought her to my mortuary where an autopsy was
performed before I prepared her to ship. She will be dressed and put
into a coffin in Atlanta. I prepared her in an "air tray" which is
standard for shipping," he said.
When asked what his feelings were he said," this is something I can
give to my grands and great grands." He was at a loss for words as he
stood on the tarmac at the former Norton Air Force Base looking at what
appeared to be a government issued gray gun metal colored plane
preparing to leave with her body.
As he held his hands with a look of amazement and awe he said,
"everybody's loved one is important to family and friends and those who
know them, but Coretta Scott King is important to the world."
"I have been blessed to be in the presence of one of the greatest Black
women on earth. It was as if she were your own mother. I always do my
best when I have a case but I had to do extra for her. If something
normally took 10 minutes, I may have taken 12-15 minutes to make sure I
give the extra," said Tillman.
From Tillman to the limousine drivers, everyone involved in the six
hour ordeal was reeling at the part they were playing in history.
Tom Fleming and Robert Vega, both Executive Chauffeurs for the Carey
Chauffeur Company in San Diego, drove two vehicles - one with the King
family and the other carrying their luggage. "In my 15 years of driving
some of the most famous people in the world this has been the most
significant job I've performed," said Fleming. Vega chimed in, "He's
driven Oprah, the late Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, Vernon Jordan, many
of the rappers and more. He even received a $1000 tip but nothing
compares to this," said Vega.
Nate Rucker, Tillman Mortuary’s motor guard and escort said, “King's
arrival was shrouded in secrecy. She arrived in a 3/4 ton Penske
rented truck to camouflage her and to show respect for the family.”
Don Blue of Blue Aviation confirmed in a telephone conversation that
the plane was registered to Bishop Eddie Long’s Long Charter Air LLC,
the second plane was government issued.
The doctors who performed the second autopsy said the reason for a
second autopsy is to check the work of the first. They could not talk
about the cause of death. Vidal Herrera, founder of 1-800-AUTOPSY
performed the work.
While King's body was being prepared, the family and their entourage had dinner at the nearby Mission Inn.
After the body was prepared for transport, the family was escorted by a
Highway Patrol led motorcade to the San Bernardino Airport. The
motorcade received the highest security. Blue came out to escort the
motorcade consisting of two motorcycle CHP’s, the black family limo,
the white hearst, the luggage van, CHP car and private patrol Rucker.
The King family, their entourage, the airport staff and police officers
watched as a forklift gently loaded King's body onto a small cargo jet
before the family and friends boarded a second jet bound for Atlanta.
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