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Yes, he was Jewish, and one of the best friends of my very Gentile grandfather, who was a simple North Carolina farmer (nicknamed "Lum" by those who knew him) who had migrated to Durham to carve exquisite ices at the Blue Ribbon Ice Cream company in Durham. An unlikely pair, a blond haired blue eyed North Carolina country boy with an eighth grade education, and the Jewish mayor of Durham- but they both had a huge streak of humanity and decency that formed a strong and enduring bond of friendship. When Mutt Evans was refused membership at the snobish Hope Valley Country Club, he built his own pool and tennis courts, and proudly invited my grandfather to come swim and play tennis. In response, with his great sense of humor, my financially poor, but spiritually rich grandfather replied, tongue in cheek, "Well Mutt, thanks, but I can take a dip over at Hope Valley....." He no more had the means to join a country club than go to the moon, so both men had a good hearty laugh over his remarks. My grandfather, with his connections in the country, helped scores of poor black and white people, secretly for the most part, along with Mutt. Both men were great humanitarians, and exemplfied the close friendships and spiritual bonds possible between Jew and Gentile. God bless both these wonderful men.

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