Freddy Fixer preparations (New Haven Register, March 11, 1964).

n Sept 15, 1962, a cleanup campaign was started in the Dixwell Community. The campaign originated from a desire to help the elderly in fixing up their houses. Its purpose was to get residents to demonstrate pride in their community by both picking up trash and by "fixing up" the areas around their homes.

"When we got the winos to help us clean up the alleyways, we knew we were on to something," Mr. Grant said.

Although my father didn't originate the idea, he strongly promoted it. Because of the respect he had developed as both a black community and civic leader, who had practiced medicine in the community for 30 years, his endorsement and involvement provided essential credibility.

Out of this clean-up campaign, a 37-year tradition (as of this writing) of parades and other events celebrating black pride in community was launched.

Members of the Redevelopment staff and unpaid volunteers, including my father, came up with the idea of creating a fictional character, who would symbolize the spirit of community maintenance and rebuilding.

At a meeting that my father did not attend, those present, including Mr. Charles Twyman—a Winchester School administrator and, like my father, a 1957 Dixwell Council Awards Dinner Honoree—tried to come up with a name for the fictitious character. After a number of names had been considered and dismissed, according to Mr. Twyman, someone facetiously suggested, "How about 'Freddie the Fixer?'"

Everyone laughed at the double meaning of the term "fixer": someone who alters the result of an event, such as a boxing match, for illegal, monetary gain, as well as a person who maintains or "fixes up" something to enhance its appearance and functionality.

My father was kidded, good naturedly, about the name. He got as much of a kick out of the joke as anyone else. The name was shortened to "Freddie Fixer," and it stuck!