Fred Douglas Madden Sr. (In Memorial) Poem by Luke Easter

So much accomplished in 100 years, here’s a brief bio,
First Black to own a Shell franchise in Cleveland, Ohio,
At East 145th & Kinsman in the zip code area of 44120,
The year 1941 and long before MLK was tagged a hero.

His early years Rambunctious, which sometimes he had to be,
Jeremiah 51: 27, “set ye up a standard” his Black Community,
No doubt many were against him and surely he had to Recite,
God placed a huge responsibility on his shoulders to Reunite.

H to happiness & E for experience, both were essential to life,
Passing along these qualities as success is not only for White,
An Entrepreneur in the early stages we need not wonder why,
His race is also Americans as anybody’s grandma’s apple pie.

I could almost go on forever and still not get close to being done,
Many African American’s own, operate stations due to this one,
Each inch, foot, yard and mile was earned through faith & sweat,
Madden made it the old fashioned way lest anyone tried to forget.

A seemingly outdated tradition in today’s world is one reason why,
Fred Douglas never ventured outside without his trademark necktie,
Believing you never get a second chance to make a first impression,
With pants worn below the butt obviously many skipped this lesson.

Not a saying but a lifestyle, “the apple does not fall far from the tree, ”
Grandson Mike incorporated the branches in his auto body company,
Along with two brothers Richard and Leonard success was achieved,
Nothing takes the place of hard work nor can it be replaced with greed.

Romans 4: 17, “call those things which be not as though they are, ”
Speaking only what he saw would his dream have gone very far?
United, it was the common goal for these three Madden Brothers,
Lack of togetherness is why the mountain top eludes many others.

Ripe old age of 100 not assisted living but off Lakeshore Boulevard,
An apartment whereas by this stage in life he made easy what is hard,
Be well acquainted with family history as too many lives are sadden,
Surely God used the mold before and after creating Mr. F.D. Madden.

Like my father Abraham before me, many a fruitful seed I have sown,
Stop for a minute now take a look around, plenty young, many grown,
Do not let this passing be a time of sadness let gladness fuel the tears,
For how many people have lived a life, blessed for 100 hundred years?