‘Legends Way’ In Essex County Honors Attles, Pascrell, Payne, Shapiro

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Essex County. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. dedicated four bronze plaques in honor of NBA Hall of Fame player and Newark native Alvin Attles, Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. and Peter Shapiro, who was elected as the first person to serve as Essex County Executive. The dedication ceremony was on Tuesday, October 29th at the Essex County Hall of Records complex in Newark. The plaques are located along Essex County Legends Way at the Essex County Government Complex in Newark.

“Al Attles, Bill Pascrell, Donald Payne, Jr. and Peter Shapiro all were proud of their connection to Essex County and became examples for others to follow because of their hard work, the barriers they broke and their lifelong accomplishments. They are deserving of being remembered as Essex County legends,” DiVincenzo said. “Our government complex is a special place for us to honor the men and women who have positively impacted our lives both on a national and local level. The statues, plazas, buildings and plaques are our opportunity to remember them and teach current and future generations about their importance,” he added.

The plaque for Alvin Attles begins with his own quote: “The single most important thing that you play for in a team sport – there's only one reason you play – to try to win. You need to do whatever is necessary to win. If you win, that means you ALL share in it.” It continues: “After graduating from Weequahic High School in Newark and North Carolina A&T State University, Al Attles joined the Philadelphia Warriors of the National Basketball Association in 1960. He was with the club for over six decades as a player, coach, general manager and community ambassador, which is the longest any one person has spent with one team. As a player, Attles was a fierce competitor and earned the nickname of ‘The Destroyer’ because of his defensive abilities and physical style of play. He served as a player-coach at the end of his playing career and is the longest serving coach (13 years) and has the most wins (557) in Warriors’ history. As one of the first African American coaches in the NBA, he has the distinction of being the second African American coach to win an NBA championship when he led the Warriors to a title in 1975. He has earned numerous recognitions and awards, including being inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2019 and having his jersey number 16 retired by the Warriors. When young people remember Al Attles, we know his story of perseverance and hard work will inspire younger generations pursuing their dreams.”

“At Weequahic High School, we conquer adversity and live the legacy of Al Attles every day. This is a great honor and one that we will embrace at the school,” said Weequahic High School Principal Kyle Thomas, who was accompanied by basketball coach Charles Alexander and student-athletes Deslie Ayerh and Riyahd McDonald.

The plaque for Bill Pascrell begins with an anonymous quote: “If you have a strong belief in yourself, in what you are doing and what you want to do, no adversity is too difficult to overcome.” It continues: “For almost half a century, residents in Northern New Jersey could count on Bill Pascrell, Jr. being their representative at some level of government in New Jersey – from School Board Member, State Assemblyman, Mayor and Congressman. We in Essex County were lucky to have him as our 8th Congressional District Representative for 12 years before district lines were redrawn in 2012. Bill was a staunch defender of Democracy, equality and fairness in government and was known for his ardent support of first responders, homeland security initiatives and infrastructure projects. A senior member of the House of Representatives who was elected to 14 terms, he used his platform to lobby for his home state and defend our country and Constitution. It was not uncommon to see Bill at odds with those who attacked our freedoms or threatened our democracy with their own personal agendas. No matter what the issue, we always knew he had our best interests at heart and always was ready to fight for us. His determination, strength and unwavering commitment to public service are his legacy to which future elected officials will strive to equal.”

“This is such a wonderful tribute to my father and the other wonderful people being honored today. My family really appreciates this,” said the congressman’s son Bill Pascrell III.

The plaque for Donald M. Payne, Jr. begins with his own quote: “I've said that I'm following a legacy and I'm not backing away from that.” It continues: “Serving the public and helping others seemingly were in the DNA of Donald Payne, Jr. As a teenager, he founded and was the first president of the Newark South Ward Junior Democrats. Active in the Essex County Democratic Committee, he was elected to the Newark City Council, eventually being chosen by his peers to lead that body as its President, and to the Essex County Board of Freeholders (now the County Commissioners). When his father Donald M. Payne, Sr. passed away in 2012, Donald Jr. stepped up and filled the seat for the next 12 years. While he recognized and was proud of the accomplishments made by his legendary father, Donald Jr. stepped out from behind his father’s shadow and forged his own path battling for women’s rights and equal pay, promoting homeland security initiatives, expanding diabetes resources and supporting investments in infrastructure and transportation. What was special about Donald was that despite the acclaim and responsibilities of being a Congressman, he never changed his demeanor, always remembered his roots and continued to communicate with and understand the residents he represented.”

“I want to thank Joe D. for remembering my father this way. We’ve all grown up with a lot of you and you are all like family to us,” said the congressman’s son Jack Payne, who was accompanied by his mother Beatrice and sister Yvonne.

The plaque for Peter Shapiro begins with a quote by Albert Schweitzer: “I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” It continues: “After graduating from Harvard, Peter Shapiro went to work for Governor Brendan Byrne, but resigned six months later to run for the NJ Assembly. It was a bold move to challenge an established party candidate, but Peter pulled off the victory and became the youngest person ever elected to the NJ State Assembly at the age of 23. Three years later, he supported a grassroots movement that had become disgruntled with ineffective leadership at the County level and campaigned to change the form of government. He became their candidate for Essex County Executive and, running off the party-backed line for the second time in his political career, Peter won the election in 1978 to become first-ever Essex County Executive. Even though he left politics after a failed gubernatorial bid in 1985, he remained active behind the scenes, serving as a mentor and sounding board to future County Executives, including Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Even though he made history by winning elections at a very young age, Peter’s legacy is how he was able to restore the public’s faith and trust in their elected officials by practicing good government.”

“Thank you to Joe DiVincenzo for remembering Peter in this way,” said Ray Codey, who served as Shapiro’s chief of staff.

The former 13th Avenue on the southern side of the Essex County Hall of Records was transformed into a tree-lined promenade when the Jurors’ parking garage was opened in 2008. It was later named “Legends Way” and features bronze plaques recognizing people who have made significant contributions to Essex County. The plaques feature Major League Baseball Hall of Fame players Yogi Berra, Larry Doby and Monte Irvin; the late Pearl Beatty, who was the first Freeholder President under the current form of County government; the late Kenneth A. Gibson, who was the first African American Mayor of Newark; the late Lebby Jones, who was a member of the Board of Freeholders and Irvington Township Council; the late Trish Morris-Yamba, who was the Executive Director of The Newark Day Center and the Fresh Air Fund; the late Ramon Rivera, who was the founder and former Executive Director of La Casa de Don Pedro; the late Monsignor William Lindor, founder and director of New Community Corporation; the late author and Newark native Philip Roth; the late Balozi Harvey, who was Director of the Essex County Office of Cultural Diversity and Affirmative Action & the Essex County Economic Development Corporation; the late Dr. Leon Smith, who was an infectious disease specialist; the late Lawrence “Lonnie” Wright, who was a two-sport professional athlete and Director of Minority and Underrepresented Student Recruitment at UMDNJ; the late John J. Clancy, who served as the first Director of the Essex County Division of Youth Services; the late Adrian M. Foley, Jr., who served as Essex County Surrogate; the late Samuel Brummer, owner of Hobby’s Delicatessen and veteran who landed at D-Day during World War II; the late Cephas Bowles, longtime WBGO Executive Director; the late Larrie West Stalks, former Essex County Register; the late Clement A. Price, Rutgers University History Professor and Newark and Essex County Historian; the late D. Bilal Beasley, Irvington City Councilman and Essex County Freeholder; the late Raymond Durkin, long-time Chairman of the Essex County Democratic Committee and New Jersey Democratic Party; the late Philip Thigpen, Essex County Register and long-time Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman; the late Thomas Durkin, a prominent Essex County attorney; the late Lena Donaldson Griffith, a cultural arts and civil rights pioneer in Newark and Essex County; the late Raymond Brown, a civil rights leader and long-time attorney; the late Superior Court Justice Thomas “Timmy” McCormack, who was one of the authors of the County’s current Administrative Code and Freeholder By-Laws; the late John Alati, who was a former government official and co-owner of LaGuardia Entertainment: the late Wynona Lipman, who was the first female African American to serve in the NJ State Senate; the late Casto Maldonado, who was the President and CEO of FOCUS Hispanic Center for Community Development, Inc., and the late Calvin West, who was the first African American to serve as an At-Large Councilman in Newark.

In addition, several buildings and open spaces in the Essex County Government Complex have been named after prominent people who have influenced the development of Essex County. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Building and a 20-foot bronze statue honor Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; the park next to the Historic Courthouse and statue in front of the Hall of Records honor Barringer High School graduate and U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr.; a plaza in front of the Essex County Veterans Courthouse and a statue honor Civil Rights pioneer Rosa Parks; the plaza in front of the LeRoy Smith Public Safety Building and a statue honor the late Congressman Donald M. Payne, Sr., who was the first African American Congressman in New Jersey; the plaza at the south entrance of the Veterans Courthouse and a statue honor former New Jersey Governor and Essex County Prosecutor Brendan Byrne; and the plaza in the Essex County Veterans Memorial Park and a statue honor the late Jorge Oliveira, a 10-year veteran of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office who was killed while serving his country in Afghanistan. The Veterans Courthouse and the Essex County Veterans Memorial Park are named as a tribute to the men and women who have defended our country and freedoms while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The Essex County LeRoy F. Smith, Jr., Public Safety Building is named for LeRoy Smith, a Newark resident who served as Deputy Director of Emergency Medical Services for the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey for 38 years before retiring in 2007. The 14th floor conference center in the LeRoy Smith Building is named for the late Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, who was the first African American woman to serve as Assembly Speaker and the first African American woman elected as Lt. Governor. In Brennan Park is a monument recognizing the late Charles Cummings, who served as the official Newark historian and librarian with the Newark Public Library for over 40 years. The plaza in front of the Historic Courthouse is named for former Essex County Prosecutor James Lordi. The lobby of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Justic Building also features bronze busts of Congressman and Civil Rights leader John Lewis, Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Thurgood Marshall and Sonya Sotomayor, Congressman Peter Rodino, Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver and Civil Rights leader Rabbi Joachim Prinz.

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