Chaminade rises to challenge of rugged schedule
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St. Louis American See page B3
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Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
CAC Audited FEBRUARY 13 – 19, 2025
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Salute to Business Networking and Awards Luncheon
Corporate growth
Jeremy Williams a dynamic leader with Bayer team By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
Jeremy Williams says he has always been interested in science. “I’ve been a science geek as long as I can remember,” he told the St. Louis American. Williams came to the United Sates as an immigrant of African descent from Georgetown, Guyana to attend Swarthmore College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and French. His talent could have led him in many directions, but fate sent him to St. Louis where he attended Washington University and earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics in 1999. Williams said he gained “broader exposure” at Wash U. and through “a lucky coincidence,” was a co-founder scientist of the start-up company
See WILLIAMS, A6
Vol. 96 No. 45 COMPLIMENTARY
Alphonso Trottman, dental pioneer, passes By Melanie Trottman For The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Jeremy Williams serves as Head of Climate LLC, Digital Farming and Commercial Ecosystems for the Crop Science division of Bayer.
Alphonso Trottman was born in St. Louis, Missouri, at a time when U.S. hospitals and schools were segregated, racial discrimination was rampant, and opportunity for Black people was scarce – especially one with a single teenage mother of limited means, a father he never knew, and a temporary stay at an orphanage, with his older brother, while their mother sought a better life for them in East Chicago, Indiana. He died as an attentive, beloved father of three; former U.S. Air Force Officer; retired trailblazing orthodontist and dental professor who built thriving practices and mentored many in dentistry Alphonso and beyond; and as Trottman an advocacy-oriented thought leader who by age 30 was featured in U.S. news articles about the scarcity of dental care, especially orthodontics, for Black people. Throughout, his belief in justice and faith in God fueled his passion for helping the underserved, bravery to break down barriers, and tenacity to achieve with his signature mix of outspokenness, earnestness, and grace. Simply put, he made a way out of no way with help from key people. His life was a series of firsts: He was the first Black orthodontist in Missouri (and one of few in the U.S. then), among
See TROTTMAN, A7
Crime continues to drop in city ‘Building a safer St. Louis’
By Avin A. Reid St. Louis American Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Mayor Tishaura Jones responds to criticism from mayoral candidate Cara Spencer about government corruption during Monday’s mayoral forum. She was joined at the forum by Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler and Andrew Jones.
Mayoral candidates clash on issues Crime, snow among topics
By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American If icy stares were laser beams, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones could have burned holes in Alderman Cara Spencer’s back as she paced the floor during Monday’s forum.
Jones clearly objected to Spencer’s soliloquy, “Governments are failing our communities, and the city of St. Louis is failing our communities,” said Spencer. “And if I’m elected mayor, what I’ll do to rebuild trust is root out corruption in every single city department…zero tolerance for corruption.” Despite the occasional eyeroll or piercing glances, Jones kept her composure by repeatedly informing the
BUSINESS
Financial considerations for multigenerational households
Research indicates there can be financial benefits to multigenerational living, and having multiple family members under the same roof can help improve health outcomes, reduce loneliness for older adults.
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audience that she was not going to talk about what she was “going to do” but “I’m going to tell you what we’ve already done.” During her introduction, Jones reminded the crowd of the conditions in City Hall when she took office: “We inherited a whole host of antiquated systems and have been working really hard to improve those sys-
See CANDIDATES, A7
The trend of receding crime in the city of St. Louis continued in January, as did the effort to seize control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department by state legislators. In 2024, according to police statistics, the city recorded an 11-year low in homicides. There was a continuation in the decrease in violent and property crimes in January of 2025, with the number of homicides committed – a 55% reduction compared to January of 2024. “Each life lost or affected by crime is one too many, so these continued improvements encourage us to keep the momentum going,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said in a release. “We will keep building a safer St.
See CRIME, A6
HEALTH
Study explores sickle cell impact on thinking
In addition to the prolonged pain and suffering endured by sickle cell patients, a recent study has concluded that there could be a significant impact on cognitive thinking.
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