I have just returned from watching the funeral of a great statesman, Tom Bradley. As I think of Mr. Bradley, I remember a very tall, handsome man with a smile and charm that would immediately put anyone he met at ease. Los Angeles has lost a great man.

For 20 years he was my mayor. For 20 years I lived under the leadership of a man, who wasn't just any man, but a man of great vision. Bradley saw a larger picture for this city he loved and wanted it to be a "world class city". A city that was not only a show place, but a city where different peoples could reach out and live side by side with understanding of one another.

Mayor Bradley (he has been the "former mayor" for four years, but for me he is still the Major.) could be seen throughout the city. When I worked at the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper he would come in from time to time and visit Mrs. Ruth Washington, the former publisher. The community where the paper was located was in the middle of the "Old Central Avenue Community". He knew this neighborhood well and it's people.

Once he came into the office and stood at the counter and smiled at us all and told us how the very spot we stood at was once a barber shop. He smiled and looked around and said in his soft spoken voice,"how things change". He then told us all to have a nice day and went on into meet with Mrs. Washington.