Tad Edwards has informed friends that his mom,  Joan Edwards, passed away this morning in a hospice. She was the widow of Benjamin Edwards, III, former past chairman, CEO and president of the brokerage firm, A.G. Edwards, Inc. Tad wrote, “We plan to have a memorial service followed by visitation and we’re thinking about Monday morning, May 14.”

Billed as “An Evening With Mitt Romney,” the invitations are in the mail for the event on June 7 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.  For only $50,000 – contributed or raised  – you can attend a 5 p.m. VIP private reception with Romney, $10,000 for a photo reception with the presumptive GOP nominee for president, $2,500 for the general reception or $50,000 – contributed or raised – for a private dinner with him “at a location provided upon completion of the commitment.”  The invite points out that the money will go to: Romney for President’s primary and general accounts; to the RNC and among the federal accounts of the Republican parties of Idaho, Massachusetts, Oklahoma and Vermont.

Some students at St. Louis University’s Parks College of Aeronautics, who are heading for a Bachelor of Science degree, will get the chance to fly globally next semester. . .The archdiocese is shuffling lawyers.  Bernie and Lucie Huger are out and Tom Buckley is in.  Buckley attends St. Ambrose on The Hill, where at least two sexually troubled priests from out-of-state quietly worked in recent years.  A cleric from Washington was sent here after photos of naked kids were found on his computer.  And a cleric from Kansas was sent here after being accused of sexually assaulting an adult parishioner. . .Kudos to St. Louis magazine on cinching four Great Plains Journalism Awards.  Among recipients: super-scribe Jeannette Cooperman (Magazine writer of the Year); columnist and co-owner Ray Hartmann (Magazine Column Writing). Considered one of the most prestigious journalism awards in mid-America, the Great Plains nods drew more than 500 entries from an eight-state region.

A record $12 million is expected to be raised in Los Angeles for President Obama’s reelection campaign: on May 10 a dinner with the President at George Clooney’s house in Studio City for which 158 guests – studio execs, celebrities and industry giants – have each paid $40,000; Obama will return to L.A. on June 6, for the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) gala featuring Alecia Beth Moore aka PINK.

Xernona Clayton and Michael McMillan

“We’re building a civil rights museum in Atlanta and are about to reach our fundraising goal,”  explained J. Todd Arnold of HOK Planning Group to Xernona Clayton at Kemoll’s on Thursday. Clayton, creator and executive producer of the Trumpet Awards was in town to be honored this week.  She emotionally  recalled her work with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  “I worked for Dr. King from 1963 until he died and coordinated his funeral,” she began. “He would often say, ‘I’m doing God’s will and want you to do the same.’ He was unselfishly motivated to solve injustice and could convince you that you have a gift and to make your voice heard.”  While Dr. King was born Michael and changed it to Martin, he preferred being called “Mike” or “Doc,” chuckled Clayton. His favorite hobby?: “Later in life he loved playing pool,” she added. Clayton was hosted at the luncheon by city License Collector Mike McMillan.

Dr. Earl Rose, who once did a residency in surgical pathology at DePaul Hospital, has passed away.  He’s better known as the Dallas County medical examiner, who, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, insisted that he should do the autopsy.  In a confrontation with presidential aides, Rose was overruled.

The latest Robert Caro book on Lyndon Johnson devotes a full page to how, in 1960, LBJ courted Howard Woods, editor of the St. Louis Argus, an African-American weekly.  The meeting between the two was suggested by August Busch, Jr., and arranged by Alfred Fleishman.  And, it worked: Woods wrote afterwards that Johnson “does not exclude” all the “craftiness and cunning attributed to him.  Rather, he is homespun and warm.”

Regarding Truman Bank vs. Shaun R. Hayes Revocable Living Trust, Hayes has refused to turn over documents relating to the trust.  On March 30, Truman filed a Motion to Compel. Hayes had until April 16 to comply but apparently has not done so.  The case is still pending.  Sedalia banker Louis Ahlemeyer’s suit against Hayes:  Shaun and his wife, Kelly, were served by special process server Victor Zotta on April 16.  Enter Vince Vogler for the Hayeses.  Granted a 30 days to respond and case is now pending.