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St. Louis American See page B1
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CAC Audited JULY 17 – 23, 2025
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H.G. Phillips home lost
Neighbors grateful for icon
Rita Henderson sitting in front of her Ville neighborhood home Thursday, July 10, 2025, that is still in need of repairs from the May 16 tornado that struck the St. Louis area.
By Ashley Winters St. Louis American Eighty-six-year-old Rita Henderson can’t forget May 16, 2025, because that was the day a vicious tornado roared through the historic Ville neighborhood, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, including the house she called home for 52 years. The famed structure on Cottage Avenue was once home to Homer G. Phillips, lawyer and civil rights advocate and co-founder of Homer G. Phillips Hospital. “The storm took my whole roof off,” Henderson said. Thankfully, she wasn’t home but was visiting her daughter in Florissant when the tornado hit. She still can’t believe that it was only a couple of months ago that her roof was lying in an open field across the street. Her home, where 11 of her children once lived, remains covered with a blue tarp. Her son, Don Thorton, who lives just a few houses away, lost his home, too. Her daughter, Bernetta Thorton, who lives next door to Don, was also severe-
See HOME, A6
Vol. 97 No. 15 COMPLIMENTARY
Dr. Alice Roach passes at 75
2015 Education Salute Lifetime Achievement honoree By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American Anyone who had experienced Dr. Alice Roach in her host of capacities over the more than five decades she devoted to the field knows she was born to be an educator. She planted seeds of creativity in the students of Carr Lane Middle School, the performing arts feeder school for Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. “The arts invoke a passion in us that causes us to be better people, more rounded people and to be more compassionate towards others,” Roach said. She transformed Dr. Alice minds – and the proRoach cesses of those who poured into them – as the founding principal of Carnahan High School of the Future. She created pathways for educational and professional development as administrative director of The Parsons Blewett Fund. Roach passed away on Friday, July 11, 2025. She was 75. “Rest well, Mommy,” Roach’s daughter Kimberly posted via Facebook. “Thy good and faithful servant, well done!” Roach was more than a teacher, principal and administrator. She was a moral compass, guiding light and a support sys-
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
See ROACH, A6
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Three-car collision
St. Louis firefighters work to free pasengers from a vehicle involved in a three-car collision that sent six people to the hospital Tuesday afternoon. The accident was near the intersection of West Florissant and Thrush in the city’s Walnut Park East neighborhood.
From ice cream parlor to executive suite Stewart retires after transforming St. Louis Transit
By Wendy Todd St. Louis American From the age of 5, when he was shelving bottles in his dad’s store, Charles A. Stewart knew he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an entrepreneur. He quickly graduated from stocking shelves to ringing up his friends’ purchases of chips, candy and ice cream — standing on a box behind the register after school. As he got older, Stewart’s father gave him more responsibility. “He taught me everything about running the businesses — bank deposits, inventory, everything,” Stewart said.
Charles Stewart
HEALTH
Young Doctors Project ‘Pipeline’ to careers in health care The Young Doctors Project (YDP) was born out of a concern about health disparities in their communities, as well as a vested interest in mentoring young Black men.
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Although he never planned to lead in the corporate world, Stewart’s strong analytical skills caught the attention of those who could support his rise. He eventually became the only Black executive at Bi-State Development, where he spent nearly 14 years before retiring this month as chief operating officer and executive vice president of Metro Transit. In that role, he oversaw day-to-day operations of the 46-mile MetroLink light rail system, a 308-vehicle MetroBus fleet and the Metro Call-ARide paratransit service with 123 vans. Stewart, a St. Louis native, didn’t know what he
Grant meets needs of youth impacted by tornado By Ashley Winters St. Louis American As families across St. Louis pick up the pieces after the May 16 tornado, the urgency for stable housing and student support is reaching a breaking point. In response, six local organizations have been awarded a combined $27,000 in microgrants from The Opportunity Trust’s Reinvention by Community (RBC) initiative to help youth facing housing instability and support families in need. “We can strengthen the responsiveness and effectiveness of our C3RT and CARE teams in the areas most impacted,” said Larry Davis, Director of Business Development at Behavioral Health Response. BHR is a grantee of the RBC. The $2,500 grant will be used to support mobile crisis services, allowing BHR to reach more people who need mental
See GRANT, A6
See STEWART, A6 SPORTS
Basketball roses bloom in July in Louisville
Spread over 100 courts at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center and Freedom Hall, this year’s Run 4 Roses included the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League.
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