Tangazo

Michael Roberts and I go one on one about his late father Victor Roberts and Mike’s career as a media mogul and international businessman. Michael says that everything began with a seventy-five hundred dollar loan from his father, Victor Roberts,  to purchase and renovate his first house, after law school, in Lewis Place, midtown St. Louis.------ We talk about how he, along with his brother Steven Roberts, Mike Jones, Waymon Smith and Virvus Jones created the first Aldermanic Black Caucus. Michael ran for several higher offices, including President of the Board of Aldermen and he also led a very effective write-in campaign,  for mayor of the city of St. Louis.----- Michael and his brother Steven Roberts bought the Sears Building in 1982, as the giant retailer began to close its stores in urban areas. That led to the ownership of their first television station, channel 46 which became,  a home shopping channel, followed by a wireless partnership with Sprint. It was off to the races with additional purchases