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Clarence Rhone (draft page sandbox only!)

Mentor, entrepreneur, and “Father of Medford Tennis”

Clarence Rhone, the “Father of Medford Tennis,” was a multitalented and generous man who served the community of West Medford. He became a landmark through his involvement in coaching tennis and mentoring youth, as a founder of the West Medford Community Center (WMICC), and as an entrepreneur with a pioneering business.

Early life, sports, and entreprenuership
Clarence (or “Cleedie,” as he was known) was born in Boston in 1893 as the second of five children and moved with his family to 85 Jerome Street in West Medford shortly afterwards. The young Clarence had many hobbies, and on school days used to wake up early to play ice hockey at the Kelley Riding stables. But although he enjoyed ice hockey and skating, his real passion was for tennis.

Later, he met his wife, Louise, in a five-and-dime store in which she worked. They married and had a daughter, Joan. Clarence and his brother Herbert were the first African Americans to own a moving company in the Boston area, and ran their successful business from Clarence‘s home. The Rhone Brothers Furniture Moving Van Company was a source of pride in their community: as Mabray ‘Doc’ Kountze writes in his 1969 book, This Is Your Heritage, West Medford residents exclaimed “There goes Rhone!” when they saw the van. The Rhone brothers were also well known for assisting handicapped people by providing them with jobs.

"Father of Medford MA Tennis"
Clarence Rhone brought tennis to West Medford: he was responsible for getting the tennis courts built on Dugger "ark. and successfully petitioned to get lights installed on the courts. He spent most of his summer months teaching West Medford youth how to play, as his daughter Joan recalls:

My father inspired people to play tennis. If you didn't have a racket, he'd supply you with a racket. And that’: how he got the people interested. He got the tennis courts built, and they came. Like they say, “you build it and they will come. " Well, that‘: what happened, ‘cause he was interested in youth and tennis. He wanted the black people to get into tennis and he supplied the rackets, ‘cause people couldn't afford them.

He coached the Medford Park League players, who became champions of their league on several occasions, and was Team Captain at the Boston Tennis Club for a couple of years.

In addition to motivating youth through tennis, Clarence was one of the co-founders of the West Medford Men 's Association in 1934, which later became the West Medford Community Center (WMCC) in 1943. Together with friends from the Association, be transported a Quonset Army hut piece by piece on his moving van and assembled it to create the Community Center. In the WMCC he led Friday night teenage dances that were enjoyed by all the youth.

“My father inspired people to play tennis. If you didn’t have a racket, he’d supply you with a racket. He got the tennis courts built, and they came. ” —-Joan Lovett

Death and Legacy
Sadly, he passed away in 1970 in a tragic car accident. On September 2nd, 1972, the tennis courts in Dugger Park were renamed the “Rhone Tennis Courts,” and a memorial stone next to the courts was dedicated to his memory as the “Father of Medford Tennis.’ Clarence Rhone was a legend in West Medford. His legacy of community improvement, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship will live on in the WMCC, which is currently being rebuilt.

Maya Lima. April 2006

Resource persons: Joan Lovett, Alice lsaacs, and Wallace Kountze.

This is your heritage : a newspaperman's research, sketches, views & comment, United States, hometown, & world history / by Mabe "Doc" Kountze Kountze, Mabe. BOOK BOOK | c1969 Available at MEDFORD/Reference (Medford Reference/ 974.44 Kountze Index-1998) plus 17 more

Edward Dugger (June 6, 1894 - March 5, 1939) was a military commander and prominent African American citizen in Medford, Massachusetts. During his career, he served in World War One, commanded Company K of the 372nd Infantry Regiment ultimately rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was President of the West Medford Men's Community Club and Chair of the Citizen's Committee bringing Boy Scouts Troop No. 11 to the area. Dugger was the first African American to be appointed to the Medford City Planning Board and to have a Medford public park named after him, "Dugger Park." Dugger died in 1939.

Early life and education
Dugger was born in Finchley, Virginia on June 6, 1894. As a young boy he moved with his family to Natick, Massachusetts, where he received his elementary education and was a member of the Boys' Patrol. Dugger's family eventually moved to Boston and he attended Boston English High. During his high school years, he was a track star and a member of his school's military regiment. Upon graduation in 1914, Dugger signed up for the National Guard and later enlisted in the famous Company L of the 6th Massachusetts Infantry. He was commissioned 1st Lieutenant on October 14, 1917 at Fort Des Moines, and weeks later married a West Medford native, Madeline Mabray Kountze.

Military career
In June 1918, Dugger began his duty overseas. The British had been training American soldiers as they arrived but refused to train the 92nd and 93rd Divisions. To avoid trouble, the United States turned these men over to the French Army, who had been requesting extra troops. In addition to racism, the men faced the many maladies of war. Dugger's son, Cortland, recounts:

"They slept in the trenches... Everything they did — they ate, they did, they fought in the trenches... in rain, sleet, whatever else, cold weather. It was an awful war... You know they were gassed, their clothing wasn't adequate, they had a whole host of diseases over the place."

Local service
Dugger won distinction for bravery and returned home in March 1919. He joined the Boston Police Force and later the Postal Service, where he worked until his retirement fifteen years later. Edward and Madeline had six children between 1919 and 1930, and had a house built on Jerome Street in West Medford for their big family. During this time period, Dugger had been commissioned a Major and made Captain of Company K of the 372nd Infantry Regiment. He became the Commanding Officer in December 1930 and devoted much of his energy to the unit until his retirement in 1936.

At home and in the community, Dugger served as a model of duty and leadership. He was President of the West Medford Men's Community Club and Chair of the Citizen's Committee that brought Boy Scouts Troop No. 11 to the area. In 1936, he was appointed the first black member of the Medford City Planning Board by Mayor Irwin. However he would serve for only two years due to illness.

Illness and death
Between 1936 and 1938, Dugger retired from all these positions. He had been sick with polycystic kidneys for many years and found his health failing. On March 5, 1939, Dugger died in the U.S. Naval Hospital Chelsea, Massachusetts, at the age of 44.

Dugger Park dedication and remembrance
Later in 1939, for the first time in its history, the City of Medford honored an African American citizen in naming a public park after him. Called the "Dugger Park", the area along the Mystic River at Harvard Avenue has grown to include tennis and basketball courts, a baseball field, and a playground. Attorney Matthew Bullock remarked at the dedication that the park was "destined to be a large factor in moulding the lives of the children of this community." And indeed it was. The park plays host to myriad community events and a sign post at the intersection of Harvard Avenue and Mystic River Road boasts graffiti letting passersby know that local children consider it: "The Action Plase [sic]".

In addition to Dugger Park, the Medford Public Library, has an exhibit about Dugger under "Leaders in the Military."