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Thursday, March 28, 2024

What Bill Mays meant to me as mentor, publisher and friend

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William G. “Bill” Mays was the most important figure in Indianapolis’ African-American community and one of the leading figures in Indy itself in the last 35 years.

In the civic and business world, Bill Mays shattered many racial glass ceilings. He headed the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, United Way, serving on corporate boards as “the” leading Black businessman in this state.

Bill Mays and Mays Chemical came along at a time when Black-owned businesses were shifting from consumer-oriented businesses centered in Black-majority neighborhoods to more business-to-business oriented enterprises or consumer businesses in white-majority areas.

Bill’s power and influence grew right along with Mays Chemical. He used that power, or more accurately, responsibility, to help expand opportunities for Blacks in business and other professions.

Bill didn’t sit on his resources. He invested and re-invested in people, their ideas, their dreams. Some investments succeeded; others didn’t; but he wasn’t afraid to take chances on great ideas, great people, great dreams of other African-American men and women.

Anyone with money inevitably becomes a magnet for politicians and Democrats and Republicans courted Bill. He supported Democrats; but wasn’t afraid to go against the grain.

In September 2004, he stunned the African-American community during a broadcast of WTLC-AM (1310) “Afternoons with Amos,” when, accompanied by Mitch Daniels, he announced his support of the Republican candidate live on air.

Democrats were stunned and angry. But they’d forgotten one of Bill Mays’ attributes. He always followed his instinct; his gut; and sometimes that went against the prevailing winds.

I’ll never forget the day after the 2004 election, when a smiling Bill Mays stopped by our program unannounced with Governor-elect Daniels in tow.

Ah, that smile.

I remember it now, from so many, many occasions. The big smile on his face when he carried the Olympic torch here on the way to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

I remember when Bill bested Donald Trump. “The Donald” was caught flatfooted when he tried to get the better of Mays in an Indiana casino deal.

Even during the Links Roast when I talked about those “loud” sports jackets he used to wear during the 80’s.

Bill Mays was already wildly successful when he decided to investigate media ownership.

A story I can reveal now is Bill asking Al Hobbs and I to lunch at the iconic, now-shuttered Jong Mea restaurant, at 2137 N. Meridian St., across from the old WTLC on Meridian.

Bill asked what it would take to buy WTLC and would we be willing to go in with him. We were skeptical that he understood media and had the resources to do it. We’ll never know what would’ve happened if Al and I had said yes then.

But obviously, Bill had caught the media bug.

Sometime after that Jong Mea lunch, Bill acquired the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. A couple of years later, he teamed up with one of Indiana’s most astute broadcasters, Bill Shirk. Investing with Shirk, this endeavor eventually led to the launch of three radio stations and Indianapolis’ first and only minority-owned over the air TV station.

Media is part serious business and show business. The successful media owners and publishers are those who understand that those ingredients are critical to any media’s success. They are owners who give their people the freedom to do their thing; in a business-like manner.

I went to work for “Bill and Bill” in May 1994 to help put their radio, and especially the TV station, on the map.

I’ve had three influential mentors in my career.

Dr. Frank Lloyd started me on this journey.

Al “The Bishop” Hobbs was my teacher and the graduate school I never experienced.

Bill Mays allowed me to extend and expand a career that could’ve ended when I left WTLC. Bill Mays allowed me to now have a record of longevity and service in Indianapolis media unsurpassed by anyone of color.

You’re reading my words because William G. “Bill” Mays allowed me the privilege of writing my thoughts weekly in his newspaper for 21 years. I know during those times, my words made things uncomfortable for him; caused him some grief as people in power complained and cussed about something I’d written.

Bill Mays never once called me into his office or picked up the phone to complain. He stood by me just as the New York Times’ Sulzberger, Washington Post’s Graham, or the Indianapolis Star’s Pulliam stood by their columnists.

For that I’m eternally grateful.

The legendary African-American publishers, like the Chicago Defender’s Sengstacke, Ebony/Jet’s Johnson, Black Enterprise’s Graves and the Recorder’s Stewart had to be comfortable in their own skin to allow their publications to speak truth to power. Even if those truths are uncomfortable at times.

Many forget the time Bill spoke out in his own newspaper.

It was after the Mike Tyson trial, when Black ministers here and elsewhere were saying the convicted Tyson was a “Black role model.”

In a signed editorial, February 29, 1992; Bill Mays fired back writing, “If Mike Tyson is an African-American hero, as some of our ministers claim, God knows we don’t need another hero.”

The ministers were mad; but Bill held his ground as great publishers do.

I don’t want to alarm anyone, but if Bill Mays hadn’t bought the Recorder in 1990, in my opinion, chances are this historic publication wouldn’t exist today.

And that’s the sad part about his death.

There’s so many, many things Bill Mays made happen in this city and for our African-American community. In business – media – politics – philanthropy.

Distressingly, there is no one right now or on the horizon that can fill his shoes.

The death of Bill Mays leaves a leadership void the size of the Grand Canyon in our community.

Bill Mays left such a massive legacy of service; of helping others; of innovation; of being a powerful force for good that God’s calling Bill home has left a massive void.

It’s now up to the future African-American businesspeople and entrepreneurs to step up and raise the torch Bill Mays has set down. To pick it up and run the course down the trail he blazed.

If 21st Century versions of Bill Mays step up to move our community forward, from his perch in God’s Heavenly Mansion, William G. “Bill” Mays will be smiling.

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