Randle Catron, 76, of Memphis, a United States Navy Veteran, the Executive Director of the Beale Street Development Corporation died July 6, 2015 at home.
Catron was the son of the late Robert Catron Sr. and Fannie Catron. Catron family was described by the Commercial Appeal (May 14, 1978) article as "One of Memphis most prominent families". Catron lived up to that name along with his brother, Boss Ugly Bob and his dad, Robert Catron, a retired Engraver for many notables including Elvis Presley and Elvis mother.
Mr. Catron, a STAX Records songwriter for Otis Reddings, Sam & Dave and others loved music. Mr. Catron passion for change later involved him in the Civil Rights Movement, where he traveled with and marched side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King. After Dr. King death, Mr. Catron returned to Memphis and became one of the history makers in the million(s) of dollars Beale Street Development Corp. (BSDC) received for the Redevelopment, Revitalization of the Historic Beale Street. Catron, was the founder of W.R.A.P. and The Beale Street Royal Wax Museum.
Catron was the King of the Royal Cotton Makers Jubilee, a former Executive Committee member of the Shelby County Democratic Party and he ran for Mayor. Mr. Catron owned, managed the Historical Daisy on Beale Street, Lucille's Boutique and This and That in Oxford, Mississippi.
Randle Catron is survived by his wife, Lucille Catron; four daughters, Sheri Catron Cooper, Stacie Mack, Cristina Catron, Melana Mack; two sons, Randle Terrell Catron, Randle Carmen Catron Jr; two sisters, Inez M. Jamison, Juanita Savage; two brothers, Earl Catron, Andrew L. Hobson; 14 grandchildren, his mother-in-law, Lucille Mack, Sr., and four special people, Dr. Irma Catron, Eric Marshall, Matthew Bearden Sr. and Maurice McWay.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Terisenne Andedra Catron.
Published in The Commercial Appeal on July 12, 2015 -
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Tri-State Defender 9 Jul 2015
The late Randle Catron’s name is not the first one most people think of when the Beale Street entertainment district comes to mind. But no conversation about it is complete without him.
As regular as clockwork on Beale Street for three-plus decades, Mr. Catron – once a Stax Records songwriter – died Monday, succumbing to diabetes, his wife Lucille Catron told The New Tri-State Defender on Wednesday. He was 76.
The longtime executive director of the Beale Street Development Corporation (BSDC), Mr. Catron was in the trenches working for the resurrection of Beale Street long before it became a top tourist destination for Tennessee. For years he fought for money the BSDC was entitled to as the entertainment district’s master leaseholder.
No one who knew him ever mistook him as a person reluctant to speak up or speak out against anybody or anything not in line with what he knew to be right, proper and/or deserved. He led the charge against Performa, the company tapped to manage Beale Street operations, sounding an alarm that Performa was illegally withholding funds that should have gone to the BSDC.
By virtue of a 1982 agreement, Performa was to receive a portion of merchant rent payments for managing the district. BSDC and the City of Memphis were supposed to get the remainder. Over the years, sales tax money has flowed to the city, but nothing more, with Performa and its chief operator saying there was no leftover to speak of.
Today the entertainment district is managed by a city board that came into existence as the result of an “agreement” that followed a court ruling.
Asked to share Mr. Catron’s impact on the Beale Street of today as seen from her vantage point, Lucille Catron said, “The impact is so great that if it were not for Mr. Catron’s dedication and commitment all these years with the corporation, Beale Street would not be in existence. He carried the torch once George Miller (BSDC founder) had to step down,” she said.
“For the last 30 years, at least close to 30 years, he’s been trying to right the wrong that was committed against the corporation and himself. So that has been his charge for over 25 years.”
Mr. Catron had managed diabetes well up until November, his wife said. “When it showed itself, it showed itself full force. He got really sick.”
In and out of the hospital, neither his love for Memphis nor Beale Street waned, said Lucille Catron.
“Actually until the final days, that’s what he wanted. He wanted to come to Beale Street. He’d (tell) me, ‘Let’s go. Let’s go riding.’ I’d ask, ‘Where do you want to go?’ (He would say) ‘to my office.’
“And he wanted Beale Street. He’d want to come down here and visit the other venues down here. That was his love. That was his life,” she said. “He committed his life, his money, his soul to Beale Street.”
On June 26, the BSDC board elected Lucille Catron as executive director.
“Not to take the place of my husband,” she said, “but to continue what he loved and to try to right the wrongs and I’m just pulling from his energy and his legacy.”
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Catron was the son of the late Robert Catron Sr. and Fannie Catron. Catron family was described by the Commercial Appeal (May 14, 1978) article as "One of Memphis most prominent families". Catron lived up to that name along with his brother, Boss Ugly Bob and his dad, Robert Catron, a retired Engraver for many notables including Elvis Presley and Elvis mother.
Mr. Catron, a STAX Records songwriter for Otis Reddings, Sam & Dave and others loved music. Mr. Catron passion for change later involved him in the Civil Rights Movement, where he traveled with and marched side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King. After Dr. King death, Mr. Catron returned to Memphis and became one of the history makers in the million(s) of dollars Beale Street Development Corp. (BSDC) received for the Redevelopment, Revitalization of the Historic Beale Street. Catron, was the founder of W.R.A.P. and The Beale Street Royal Wax Museum.
Catron was the King of the Royal Cotton Makers Jubilee, a former Executive Committee member of the Shelby County Democratic Party and he ran for Mayor. Mr. Catron owned, managed the Historical Daisy on Beale Street, Lucille's Boutique and This and That in Oxford, Mississippi.
Randle Catron is survived by his wife, Lucille Catron; four daughters, Sheri Catron Cooper, Stacie Mack, Cristina Catron, Melana Mack; two sons, Randle Terrell Catron, Randle Carmen Catron Jr; two sisters, Inez M. Jamison, Juanita Savage; two brothers, Earl Catron, Andrew L. Hobson; 14 grandchildren, his mother-in-law, Lucille Mack, Sr., and four special people, Dr. Irma Catron, Eric Marshall, Matthew Bearden Sr. and Maurice McWay.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Terisenne Andedra Catron.
Published in The Commercial Appeal on July 12, 2015 -
+++++
Tri-State Defender 9 Jul 2015
The late Randle Catron’s name is not the first one most people think of when the Beale Street entertainment district comes to mind. But no conversation about it is complete without him.
As regular as clockwork on Beale Street for three-plus decades, Mr. Catron – once a Stax Records songwriter – died Monday, succumbing to diabetes, his wife Lucille Catron told The New Tri-State Defender on Wednesday. He was 76.
The longtime executive director of the Beale Street Development Corporation (BSDC), Mr. Catron was in the trenches working for the resurrection of Beale Street long before it became a top tourist destination for Tennessee. For years he fought for money the BSDC was entitled to as the entertainment district’s master leaseholder.
No one who knew him ever mistook him as a person reluctant to speak up or speak out against anybody or anything not in line with what he knew to be right, proper and/or deserved. He led the charge against Performa, the company tapped to manage Beale Street operations, sounding an alarm that Performa was illegally withholding funds that should have gone to the BSDC.
By virtue of a 1982 agreement, Performa was to receive a portion of merchant rent payments for managing the district. BSDC and the City of Memphis were supposed to get the remainder. Over the years, sales tax money has flowed to the city, but nothing more, with Performa and its chief operator saying there was no leftover to speak of.
Today the entertainment district is managed by a city board that came into existence as the result of an “agreement” that followed a court ruling.
Asked to share Mr. Catron’s impact on the Beale Street of today as seen from her vantage point, Lucille Catron said, “The impact is so great that if it were not for Mr. Catron’s dedication and commitment all these years with the corporation, Beale Street would not be in existence. He carried the torch once George Miller (BSDC founder) had to step down,” she said.
“For the last 30 years, at least close to 30 years, he’s been trying to right the wrong that was committed against the corporation and himself. So that has been his charge for over 25 years.”
Mr. Catron had managed diabetes well up until November, his wife said. “When it showed itself, it showed itself full force. He got really sick.”
In and out of the hospital, neither his love for Memphis nor Beale Street waned, said Lucille Catron.
“Actually until the final days, that’s what he wanted. He wanted to come to Beale Street. He’d (tell) me, ‘Let’s go. Let’s go riding.’ I’d ask, ‘Where do you want to go?’ (He would say) ‘to my office.’
“And he wanted Beale Street. He’d want to come down here and visit the other venues down here. That was his love. That was his life,” she said. “He committed his life, his money, his soul to Beale Street.”
On June 26, the BSDC board elected Lucille Catron as executive director.
“Not to take the place of my husband,” she said, “but to continue what he loved and to try to right the wrongs and I’m just pulling from his energy and his legacy.”
+++++
Randle Catron, 76, of Memphis, a United States Navy Veteran, the Executive Director of the Beale Street Development Corporation died July 6, 2015 at home.
Catron was the son of the late Robert Catron Sr. and Fannie Catron. Catron family was described by the Commercial Appeal (May 14, 1978) article as "One of Memphis most prominent families". Catron lived up to that name along with his brother, Boss Ugly Bob and his dad, Robert Catron, a retired Engraver for many notables including Elvis Presley and Elvis mother.
Mr. Catron, a STAX Records songwriter for Otis Reddings, Sam & Dave and others loved music. Mr. Catron passion for change later involved him in the Civil Rights Movement, where he traveled with and marched side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King. After Dr. King death, Mr. Catron returned to Memphis and became one of the history makers in the million(s) of dollars Beale Street Development Corp. (BSDC) received for the Redevelopment, Revitalization of the Historic Beale Street. Catron, was the founder of W.R.A.P. and The Beale Street Royal Wax Museum.
Catron was the King of the Royal Cotton Makers Jubilee, a former Executive Committee member of the Shelby County Democratic Party and he ran for Mayor. Mr. Catron owned, managed the Historical Daisy on Beale Street, Lucille's Boutique and This and That in Oxford, Mississippi.
Randle Catron is survived by his wife, Lucille Catron; four daughters, Sheri Catron Cooper, Stacie Mack, Cristina Catron, Melana Mack; two sons, Randle Terrell Catron, Randle Carmen Catron Jr; two sisters, Inez M. Jamison, Juanita Savage; two brothers, Earl Catron, Andrew L. Hobson; 14 grandchildren, his mother-in-law, Lucille Mack, Sr., and four special people, Dr. Irma Catron, Eric Marshall, Matthew Bearden Sr. and Maurice McWay.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Terisenne Andedra Catron.
Published in The Commercial Appeal on July 12, 2015 -
+++++
Tri-State Defender 9 Jul 2015
The late Randle Catron’s name is not the first one most people think of when the Beale Street entertainment district comes to mind. But no conversation about it is complete without him.
As regular as clockwork on Beale Street for three-plus decades, Mr. Catron – once a Stax Records songwriter – died Monday, succumbing to diabetes, his wife Lucille Catron told The New Tri-State Defender on Wednesday. He was 76.
The longtime executive director of the Beale Street Development Corporation (BSDC), Mr. Catron was in the trenches working for the resurrection of Beale Street long before it became a top tourist destination for Tennessee. For years he fought for money the BSDC was entitled to as the entertainment district’s master leaseholder.
No one who knew him ever mistook him as a person reluctant to speak up or speak out against anybody or anything not in line with what he knew to be right, proper and/or deserved. He led the charge against Performa, the company tapped to manage Beale Street operations, sounding an alarm that Performa was illegally withholding funds that should have gone to the BSDC.
By virtue of a 1982 agreement, Performa was to receive a portion of merchant rent payments for managing the district. BSDC and the City of Memphis were supposed to get the remainder. Over the years, sales tax money has flowed to the city, but nothing more, with Performa and its chief operator saying there was no leftover to speak of.
Today the entertainment district is managed by a city board that came into existence as the result of an “agreement” that followed a court ruling.
Asked to share Mr. Catron’s impact on the Beale Street of today as seen from her vantage point, Lucille Catron said, “The impact is so great that if it were not for Mr. Catron’s dedication and commitment all these years with the corporation, Beale Street would not be in existence. He carried the torch once George Miller (BSDC founder) had to step down,” she said.
“For the last 30 years, at least close to 30 years, he’s been trying to right the wrong that was committed against the corporation and himself. So that has been his charge for over 25 years.”
Mr. Catron had managed diabetes well up until November, his wife said. “When it showed itself, it showed itself full force. He got really sick.”
In and out of the hospital, neither his love for Memphis nor Beale Street waned, said Lucille Catron.
“Actually until the final days, that’s what he wanted. He wanted to come to Beale Street. He’d (tell) me, ‘Let’s go. Let’s go riding.’ I’d ask, ‘Where do you want to go?’ (He would say) ‘to my office.’
“And he wanted Beale Street. He’d want to come down here and visit the other venues down here. That was his love. That was his life,” she said. “He committed his life, his money, his soul to Beale Street.”
On June 26, the BSDC board elected Lucille Catron as executive director.
“Not to take the place of my husband,” she said, “but to continue what he loved and to try to right the wrongs and I’m just pulling from his energy and his legacy.”
+++++
Catron was the son of the late Robert Catron Sr. and Fannie Catron. Catron family was described by the Commercial Appeal (May 14, 1978) article as "One of Memphis most prominent families". Catron lived up to that name along with his brother, Boss Ugly Bob and his dad, Robert Catron, a retired Engraver for many notables including Elvis Presley and Elvis mother.
Mr. Catron, a STAX Records songwriter for Otis Reddings, Sam & Dave and others loved music. Mr. Catron passion for change later involved him in the Civil Rights Movement, where he traveled with and marched side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King. After Dr. King death, Mr. Catron returned to Memphis and became one of the history makers in the million(s) of dollars Beale Street Development Corp. (BSDC) received for the Redevelopment, Revitalization of the Historic Beale Street. Catron, was the founder of W.R.A.P. and The Beale Street Royal Wax Museum.
Catron was the King of the Royal Cotton Makers Jubilee, a former Executive Committee member of the Shelby County Democratic Party and he ran for Mayor. Mr. Catron owned, managed the Historical Daisy on Beale Street, Lucille's Boutique and This and That in Oxford, Mississippi.
Randle Catron is survived by his wife, Lucille Catron; four daughters, Sheri Catron Cooper, Stacie Mack, Cristina Catron, Melana Mack; two sons, Randle Terrell Catron, Randle Carmen Catron Jr; two sisters, Inez M. Jamison, Juanita Savage; two brothers, Earl Catron, Andrew L. Hobson; 14 grandchildren, his mother-in-law, Lucille Mack, Sr., and four special people, Dr. Irma Catron, Eric Marshall, Matthew Bearden Sr. and Maurice McWay.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Terisenne Andedra Catron.
Published in The Commercial Appeal on July 12, 2015 -
+++++
Tri-State Defender 9 Jul 2015
The late Randle Catron’s name is not the first one most people think of when the Beale Street entertainment district comes to mind. But no conversation about it is complete without him.
As regular as clockwork on Beale Street for three-plus decades, Mr. Catron – once a Stax Records songwriter – died Monday, succumbing to diabetes, his wife Lucille Catron told The New Tri-State Defender on Wednesday. He was 76.
The longtime executive director of the Beale Street Development Corporation (BSDC), Mr. Catron was in the trenches working for the resurrection of Beale Street long before it became a top tourist destination for Tennessee. For years he fought for money the BSDC was entitled to as the entertainment district’s master leaseholder.
No one who knew him ever mistook him as a person reluctant to speak up or speak out against anybody or anything not in line with what he knew to be right, proper and/or deserved. He led the charge against Performa, the company tapped to manage Beale Street operations, sounding an alarm that Performa was illegally withholding funds that should have gone to the BSDC.
By virtue of a 1982 agreement, Performa was to receive a portion of merchant rent payments for managing the district. BSDC and the City of Memphis were supposed to get the remainder. Over the years, sales tax money has flowed to the city, but nothing more, with Performa and its chief operator saying there was no leftover to speak of.
Today the entertainment district is managed by a city board that came into existence as the result of an “agreement” that followed a court ruling.
Asked to share Mr. Catron’s impact on the Beale Street of today as seen from her vantage point, Lucille Catron said, “The impact is so great that if it were not for Mr. Catron’s dedication and commitment all these years with the corporation, Beale Street would not be in existence. He carried the torch once George Miller (BSDC founder) had to step down,” she said.
“For the last 30 years, at least close to 30 years, he’s been trying to right the wrong that was committed against the corporation and himself. So that has been his charge for over 25 years.”
Mr. Catron had managed diabetes well up until November, his wife said. “When it showed itself, it showed itself full force. He got really sick.”
In and out of the hospital, neither his love for Memphis nor Beale Street waned, said Lucille Catron.
“Actually until the final days, that’s what he wanted. He wanted to come to Beale Street. He’d (tell) me, ‘Let’s go. Let’s go riding.’ I’d ask, ‘Where do you want to go?’ (He would say) ‘to my office.’
“And he wanted Beale Street. He’d want to come down here and visit the other venues down here. That was his love. That was his life,” she said. “He committed his life, his money, his soul to Beale Street.”
On June 26, the BSDC board elected Lucille Catron as executive director.
“Not to take the place of my husband,” she said, “but to continue what he loved and to try to right the wrongs and I’m just pulling from his energy and his legacy.”
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