The Positive Community Corporation is thankful for the life of a great business leader and community servant, Mr. Richard Gidron Sr. We are grateful for his businesses, Gidron Cadillac and Dick Gidron Ford. For over 30 years he reigned over one of the largest and most successful African American-owned retail institutions. Dick Gidron brought wealth to our communities, not only through the creation of jobs, but also through his support of political, cultural and economic initiatives. For example, in addition to his general market advertising, the Gidron organization maintained a sizeable advertising budget for black-owned media outlets. In fact, Dick Gidron was the first advertiser in The Positive Community magazine. When radio legend and Inner City Broadcasting Group Chairman Hal Jackson made his return to the airwaves with Hal Jackson’s Sunday Morning Classics on WBLS, Gidron stepped up and Gidron Cadillac became the show’s lead sponsor.

Dick Gidron is among the most fascinating and inspiring people I have ever known. He was larger than life, a man’s man. My relationship with Mr. Gidron (I always referred to him that way) was for the most part professional. For nearly 30 years, he was my advertising client, the first 20 years at Inner City’s New York radio stations. I believe that our relationship evolved out of the tacit appreciation and respect of our mutual vocation—sales. Gidron was a master salesman and an exacting client. On more than a few occasions, I was privileged to observe and listen-in as he entertained and serviced his clients, who ran the gamut of professions—judges, political, clergy and community leaders, celebrity athletes and entertainers, millionaires, executives, postal workers, police officers, nurses, teachers, factory workers and the like. All were treated with equal kindness, dignity and respect. I was impressed with Dick Gidron, the friend and servant, particularly his deep relationship with Muhammad Ali. At the height of the legendary athlete’s boxing career, Gidron served as Best Man for Ali at his marriage to Veronica Porsche. Gidron was the ultimate go-to guy and team player. One day, during the 1988 presidential race, Jean Wells and I were meeting with Mr. Gidron to discuss his advertising on the radio stations. The meeting was interrupted with a phone call from the Rev. Herbert Daughtry. He called to say that the plane of presidential candidate Jesse Jackson would be landing in two hours. Mr. Gidron dispatched six cars with drivers to aid the Jackson campaign. Whenever there was campaign activity in town this courtesy was extended. Jackson won the New York City Democratic primary. The year David Dinkins was elected mayor of New York City , I served on the dinner committee for the Bronx Chamber of Commerce’s annual gala. Mr. Gidron was president. After the keynote address by boxing promoter Don King, Gidron took the podium to address what appeared to be a pro-Giuliani audience. In a ten-minute speech he made a bold appeal for votes for Dinkins.

When Rev. Al Sharpton was jailed for his protest against the Vieques bombings by the United States military training operations in Puerto Rico , Gidron provided support and resources to the Sharpton family. Gidron was also a major supporter and chief fundraiser for the election of Robert Johnson, the first African American District Attorney in Bronx County . The annual Super Bowl party at the home of Dick and

Marjorie Gidron was a highly anticipated social event that featured a who’s who in business, politics, clergy and community leadership. Gidron’s half-time honors, complete with engraved crystal bowls, were bestowed upon leaders who have had a positive impact on the lives of many. Gidron’s high level of community involvement was matched by his work ethic. You could find him most days at any one of his dealerships when the service department opened at 7:30 in the morning, greeting customers. He would be there until the showroom closed at 8 in the evening, including weekends. Above all, Dick Gidron was about the noble and ancient profession of sales. As parents, teachers and leaders, we should encourage our children to choose their heroes wisely. Successful businesses, prosperous communities and great civilizations have been built upon the exchange of goods and services at a fair price through trade and commerce — sales. Dick Gidron should be remembered as one of our great business leaders and a sales legend. In the last year of his life, he began to speak to me as a friend. He invited me to his home on several occasions and we talked and laughed together for hours. He had so much knowledge and wisdom to share. Mr. Gidron spoke about his difficulties and the trials and vicissitudes of his life with malice toward none. Rather, he spoke in praise of those who stood with him and his family in his most challenging times—Ed Meyers, Percy Sutton, Charlie Rangel, Mayor Dinkins, Revs. Calvin Butts, W. Franklyn Richardson,

Gregory Robeson Smith and Al Sharpton, Minister Kevin Muhammad, Paul Chapman, Londel Davis, Hazel Dukes and many, many others.

Through it all, Dick Gidron remained poised, unbroken and unbowed, with the determination, dignity and hope of a champion preparing for a comeback fight for the crown. He faced life head-on, with courage and faith— unbowed and unbroken.