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kb : nape Memorandum to Mr. Rosen : CHARLES "SONNY" LISTON Nee" - - DETAILS: The "Washington Post and Times Herald" of 4-28-62 contained an article indicating that the three District of Columbia Boxing Commissioners were considering issuing a license for Sonny Liston to box here, Jocko Miller, Chairman, and Norvel Lee, Member, both indicated they would recommend a license be issued. Captain Joseph V Osterman, police member of the Commission, indicated he wished to review the findings of the New York Commission before deciding, The Director requested that a summary be prepared on Liston and the other Liston was born in 1927 in Little Rock, Arkansas, He was one of twenty-five children of a cotton-picking farmer, He left Litt Rock at the age of twelve to follow his mother to St. Louis, Missouri where she had gone after she left her husband, He grew up in povert: and from allindications had to fight for an existence, Liston has a long arrest record, having been charged with violations such as assault to kill, larceny, strong-arming, and in 1950 was sentenced to serve five years in the Missouri State Peni- tentiary for first degree robbery, At one time he very severely beat a police officer who was ticketing a car near the residence of Liston, While in the penitentiary at Jefferson City, Missouri, Reverend Alois Stevens, Prison Chaplain; Frank Mitchell, publisher of a well-known Negro newspaper in St, Louis; and others took an interest in Liston realizing that he eo potential as a boxer. Following his release from prison under pgrole in 1952, he was guided by Father Stevens, Mitchell and a Monroe/Harrison, He became a successful amateur boxer and this tareef brought him the Heavyweight Golden Gloves Championship in the United States, Thereafter he defeated the European champion for the International Golden Gloves and subsequently turned professional, Our files contain considerable in i i Liston associates and activities after he turned