American Notes Prizes

The 80 winners of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor announced last week were an eclectic roll call of America's ethnic heritage; among the recipients were Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Walter Cronkite and Muhammad Ali. But the list was even more varied than the award's sponsors realized. James Tamer, 74, a Michigan country-club owner honored as a Lebanese-American activist, turned out to be a convicted felon as well. Tamer served five years for a 1934 bank robbery. In 1979 federal prosecutors alleged he had operated a Las Vegas hotel casino as a front man for Vito Giacalone, a reputed member of the Detroit Mafia. Before Jackie, Walter or the others could comment, Tamer declined the honor by telegram. "Continue your good work," he urged. A new Lebanese honoree will be named shortly.