Alonzo Warren Ashley

■ Date and place of birth: March 13, 1936, Tuskegee, Ala.

■ The thing I’m most proud of in my life: My parents. My mother and father were caring people, loving people. Our house was like the headquarters of the neighborhood. Everybody came by for Christmas and holidays. My dad was a very, very good bridge player, an excellent bridge player.

■ The best advice I’ve ever been given: My dad said, ‘Don’t be a follower. Be a leader.’ He was trying to tell me that when the boys went out to steal watermelons, don’t tell me that somebody led you to do that. If you wanted to steal it you should have done it on your own. Don’t let your friends sway you to do that.

■ My favorite meal: I like candied yams. I could take some spinach or broccoli, either one. Probably broccoli. I like it. And salmon.

■ If I could do one thing over: I would read more books.

■ My wife would say I’m: Always cold-natured. ■ No day is complete without: Me turning to the news. I want to know what’s going on in the world.

■ The time of day I like best is: Morning, because I know I got up. I’m a morning person.

■ Something I want people to know about me is:

That I’m fair and consistent in dealing with people.

■ One word to sum me up: Dedicated.