Cathy’s Kitchen now cookin’ in Dellwood
@stlouisamerican
@stlouisamerican
St. Louis American See page B1
The
CAC Audited JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2024
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
stlamerican.com
Harry and Geoff Ratliff:
Named nation’s #1 Black newspaper By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
See AMERICAN, A8
COMPLIMENTARY
Remarkable Family
American again wins NNPA’s highest honor The St. Louis American was honored with the John Brown Russwurm Award for the 15th time since 1995 during the National Newspaper Publishers ‘Messenger Awards’ ceremony on June 20, 2024, at the annual convention in Baltimore. The American has been named the Russwurm winner eight times in the past decade. The awards recognize excellence in journalism and entrepreneurship among the Black Press of America. The American won 12 national awards including the Russwurm, which is the top honor of the competition. It is awarded to the newspaper with the highest cumulative score.
Vol. 96 No. 12
Father & son wealth management firm are a team that manages to work By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American Photo by Mark Mahoney / NNPA
The original charter was created in 1914 to function as the city’s constitution and roadmap for running its government. St. Louis Alderman Rasheen Aldridge introduced a bill of his own in May proposing a change to the charter that would give the board the ability to increase the city’s budget. The proposal would also eliminate the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, remove comptroller as an elected office and instead shift the responsibilities to a newly created finance department under the mayor’s office, and give the
“I like to tell people that it’s because I grew up and matured enough and he calmed down enough to where it works.” That was the amusing answer Geoff Ratliff gave when asked how he and his father, Harry Ratliff, have managed to operate their company - The Ratliff Wealth Management Group at Merrill Lynch - so efficiently over the years. Geoff, 47, and Harry, 76, have almost 50 years combined experience in advising private companies, nonprofits, families and individuals about how to best meet their financial goals. The duo offers a range of services that include portfolio management, estate Harry Ratliff and retirement planning, tax services and much more. Maintaining a successful family-owned business, however, is replete with challenges. According to SCORE.org, a business mentoring site, only 30% of family-owned businesses survive the transition from first Geoff Ratliff to second generation. Additionally, a mere 13% of those enterprises remain in the family for more than 60 years. The agency defines “family-owned” as “any business in which two or more family members operate the company, and the majority of ownership or control lies within a family.” Of n Geoff, 47, the 28.8 million and Harry, 76, businesses have almost 50 small in America, 19% years combined are owned by families. experience in Geoff’s advising private comment about companies, “maturing nonprofits, fam- enough” was ilies and individ- in reference to uals about how his early desire not to follow in to best meet his dad’s foottheir financial prints. Yes, he goals. and his sister, Jennifer, were aware of Harry’s hard work and determination to carve his own niche in the wealth management arena but neither were particularly keen on pursuing his entrepreneurial endeavor. Before the kids were born, Harry had already started an advertising and sales promotion firm servicing corporations and educational institutions. By 1979, he had transitioned to a sales rep for Bristol Labs of St. Louis. The 1970s were characterized by
See PROPOSALS, A8
See RATLIFF, A8
National Newspaper Publishers Association Chair Bobby Henry, NNPA Fund Chair Karen Carter Richards, and NNPA President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., presented Isaiah Peters of the St. Louis American with one of 12 awards the newspaper won at the 2024 National NNPA Foundation Messenger Awards in Baltimore on June 20.
Photo courtesy of the AP
Horsing around A rodeo rider leaps from his horse during the calf roping competition at the Southeastern Rodeo Association Black Rodeo at Chaifetz Arena on June 20. The 7:30 p.m. show sold out so quickly that a 1 p.m. show was added, which offered two opportunities for Black rodeo fans to enjoy the entertainment.
Charter Commission lists governance proposals By Marissanne Lewis-Thompson St. Louis Public Radio After months of public comment and meeting of working groups, the St. Louis City Charter Commission has released its draft proposal of amendments. “We care deeply about incorporating changes and making updates that are reflective of St. Louis City as it is right now,” said Briana Bobo, the commission’s chair. “Also, providing enough freedom to be malleable to how St. Louis can grow into the future.”
HEALTH
SPORTS
Serving those who served our nation
Napheesa Collier named to women’s USA basketball team
The St. Louis Dental Center is a federally qualified health center serving underserved and vulnerable populations. To date, more than 1,000 veterans have been screened and treated.
The former Incarnate Word Academy AllAmerican was selected to the United States women’s Olympic basketball team for the second time in her stellar career.
Page A6
Page B3