Volume LII • Number 15
‘City
of
Roses’
www.portlandobserver.com
Wednesday • August 7, 2024
Committed to Cultural Diversity
All the Way from Mississippi
Honoring Jerome
Polk and His
Accomplishments
Internationally Acclaimed Gospel Artist
JJ Hairston
A Cultural
Celebration
Soul2Soul Welcomes
Internationally
Acclaimed Gospel Artist
J.J. Hairston and Youthful Praise
(affectionately known as YP) con-
tinue to make waves in the Gospel
Music Industry while garnering na-
tional and international recognition.
Founded in 1991, the once 35-mem-
ber church choir from Bridgeport,
CT has transformed into a Billboard
chart topping national gospel artist.
Recently, J.J. Hairston & YP have
garnered much success with the re-
lease of “You Deserve It,” an infec-
tious worship song that has taken the
nation by storm.
The single was named #1 in 2017
by Billboard Magazine on four
charts: The Hot Gospel Songs Chart,
Hot Gospel Song Artists Chart, the
Gospel Air Play Chart, and the Gos-
pel Digital Songs Chart.
Continued on Page 7
Jerome Polk was born in Mississip-
pi and raised in Portland, Oregon. He
comes from a large family. Jerome was
the 8th of 11 children. He is a business-
man and an avid golfer. Well, this is not
the book on JP.
Jerome came to Portland with his
father and two siblings when he was 7
years old. Jerome has traveled the world
but has called Portland home ever since.
Jerome graduated from Washington
High School. JP, as he is known, start-
ed a family shortly after high school
and has three children, a daughter La-
Nae, and two sons Anthony and Mar-
cus. He has been married to his wife
Brenda for over 43 years. He also has
13 grandchildren.
After graduation Jerome began
working different jobs but landed as
a longshoreman. He continued his
union employment from 1969 until his
well-deserved retirement in 1996. How-
ever, JP was not to be idle.
Jerome started a business in his home
in1988. It was a framing business that
began to outgrow his basement. With
JP’s personality and business acumen
customers were coming at all hours.
In 1992 an opportunity to establish a
place of business presented itself. Je-
rome took full advantage of the oppor-
tunity and he put out his shingle, JP’s
Custom Framing. JP’s Custom Fram-
ing is located at 418 NE Killingsworth
St. just east of MLK Jr. Blvd.
JP’s Custom Framing is not only a
place of business, but customers also
enjoy the welcoming spirit of Jerome,
his sister Sadie, and his niece Eddie.
They always greet everyone with a
smile and a sincere welcome.
JP is an avid golfer. He was first in-
troduced to the game by Leon McK-
enzie. Mr. McKenzie was a member
of Leisure Hour Golf Club (LHGC).
That was around 1965 and Jerome has
been playing golf ever since. JP doesn’t
do anything half-way. He is known to
Jerome Polk
practice for hours to improve his game.
He has served LHGC as president three
times and as sergeant-at-arms. Over the
years, JP has influenced many young
people. Jerome has given informal les-
sons to those that request it. JP is patient
and has given life lessons through golf.
Jerome has been a member of Lei-
sure Hour Golf Club for almost 60
years. He has also supported the Lei-
sure Hour Junior Golf Program. LHGC
was started back in 1944 by several
African-American golfers. Those golf-
ers were concerned about the lack of
access to golf courses around Portland.
Those founders were also concerned
about the lack of diversity in golf.
LHGC is a club for all golfers of differ-
ent skill levels. Leisure Hour Golf Club
is open to all races, ethnicities, genders
and gender identity. LHGC is the most
diverse golf club in Oregon. They held
their first tournament at Eastmoreland
Golf Course. This year LHGC will be
celebrating 80 years. They will have
their Arvoll Rae Scholarship Tourna-
ment at Heron Lakes Golf Course. The
event will be held August 17-18 at the
Great Blue and Greenback courses re-
spectively. LHGC offers scholarships
to our youth whether they are going to
college or trade school. Non-tourna-
ment play is scheduled for Friday, Aug.
16th at the Greenback course starting
at 11:00am.
JP will be honored at the 80th an-
nual celebration at SEI on Saturday,
August 17th. There will be a formal
program, dinner and dance. For more
information about the event or golf
contact Keith Edwards (503)957-7189
or Jimmy Brown (503)887-0136. The
deadline for entry to the tournament
isThursday, August 8, 2024.