Traveling Vice Lords

The Travelers: 1962

The Traveling Vice Lords had their beginning in the year 1962 when a group of pre-teen and teenage African American youths in East Garfield Park began congregating around California Avenue and Flournoy Street. The boys were aged 11-16, but mostly aged 16 and there were 15-20 of them. The boys gathered in front of Zion Travelers Church, 2938 W. Flournoy street which shows this group hung out as far west as Sacramento Boulevard. 16 year old Thomas “Diablo” Wells came up with the name “Travelers” because he stated, “From now on we Travelers and we’ll travel anywhere to Stomp a motherfucker in the Dirt!” The group was now named the “Travelers” because of what Wells said and because they hung out in front of Zion Travelers Church. At that time, the Vice Lords were entering the East Garfield Park for the first time in the early 60s and they were well established in the neighborhood by then. Even though Vice Lords dominated the Travelers weren’t going to answer to the Vice Lords. The Travelers were the one of the first significant African American gangs in East Garfield Park. Travelers loved to venture into North Lawndale into Conservative Vice Lord neighborhood as they hung out in Holy City. The Travelers lived up to their name as they wondered into neighboring communities on the west side and many other places living up to their name and Traveling would become a major feature of the TVLs throughout their history which can make for a dangerous and rugged life but it also means their members through the decade were not soft.

The original Travelers were: Thomas “Diablo” Wells who was a founder and the first leader. Earl Frank (sometimes known as Ugly Frank) who was a founder. “Peecho” who was a founder. Pinky, who was the first Chief Enforcer. Clarence Clinkscales, who was a founder. Darius “Ray Charles” Edwards, Bobo, John “JJ” Jones, Snowball, Lemon, Leonard Hackett, Big Fred Possum, Duke, Bro.Daniels, Pedjoe, CDP, Indian, Demetrius, Chuck Montgomery, Deep, Pea Body, Gregory Keys (Pee Wee Traveler leader), John “Cote” Daniels (Pee Wee Traveler leader), and Eddie Wells.

Some of the original Travelers went on to become successful. John “JJ” Jones became a successful repairman for Montgomery Ward and even got to take home his own company truck which was sometimes used by TVLs for stickups or to hide members, JJ was looking out for Travelers into the 1990s. Clarence Clinkscales became a successful International Union organizer and he continued to work with Travelers as well when he got older.

The Travelers were founded by former Vice Lords. Earl Frank was the founder of the California Vice Lords and received a blessing from Edwin Perry himself to form a chapter of Vice Lords in East Garfield Park along California Avenue, making Earl Frank one likely the founder of East Garfield Park Vice Lords…period. Thomas Wells was a Albany Vice Lord prior to founding the Travelers; therefore, these founders of the Travelers were already big players in the Vice Lords and were founders of East Garfield Park Vice Lords. Earl Frank was the leader of the Travelers until 1966, many have called him “Ugly Frank” but he is often mistaken for the younger brother or Thomas Wells who was the actual “Ugly Frank.”

1966-1967

In the year 1966, Earl Frank gave the leadership title to Thomas Wells. Early Frank had a strong background in the California Vice Lords and was a heavy hitter in that group and the founder of the group. It was because of Frank’s exceptional leadership in the California Vice Lords that got his initial following for the original Travelers, now his acquired respect would get him an easier opportunity for the Travelers to be chartered in with the Vice Lord organization directly blessed by Pepilo Perry and further validated by Bobby Gore who admired the Traveler name because they always traveled from California and Flournoy to Holy City at 16^th and Lawndale.

Thomas Wells was only the leader for only for about 9 months until he moved to Howard Street in the suburb of Evanston, after Wells left, Darius “Ray Charles” Edwards took over in 1967 and remained the leader for a long time.

Late 60s TVL baseball teams and the early years Neil Wallace

In the year 1968 the Traveling Vice Lords assembled their own baseball team called the “Question Marks.” Baseball for the Travelers became so popular that they assembled another baseball team in 1969 called “The Travelers.” During this period young Neil Wallace joined he Traveling Vice Lords.

Neil Wallace was born April 3, 1956 and by the later 60s and earlier 70s, he was beginning his time as a TVL. Neil combined the Question Marks and the Travelers teams into one baseball team known as “California Gold” in 1984. Andrew “Bay Bay” Patterson was instrumental in the California Gold as he was looking for a way to keep young Travelers out of the streets. California Gold competed in the championship of the USSSA in La Crosse, WI in 1992. Which symbolized the street the TVLs came from and the gold color they wore with the black.

The Outlaws

Sometime in the late 60s, the younger brother of Thomas Wells, Eddie Wells, who was born in 1951 created his own group in the East Garfield Park area called the “Outlaws.” By the early 70s at latest the Outlaws joined the nation of Vice Lords and became the “Outlaw Vice Lords.” Sometime in the early or mid-70s the Outlaw Vice Lords joined the TVLs and became the “Outlaw Traveling Vice Lords.”

The Traveling Vice Lords: 1970, Holy City

In the year 1970, the Travelers connected with Holy City Conservative Vice Lords and were granted an official charter into the Vice Lord nation and from 1970 and forward the Travelers became the “Traveling Vice Lords.

When the Travelers joined the Vice Lord nation in 1970 they would establish permanent territory in the North Lawndale community north and east of Douglas Park in the vicinity of California and Roosevelt. This is where the “Trav Land” TVLs and “Straight out of Douglas” TVLs originate.

West Humboldt Park: 1975

1975 was a landmark year for Chicago gangs in West Humboldt Park. Prior to 1975, West Humboldt Park was full of Latin Kings, Gaylords, Simon City Royals, P.V.Ps, Supreme Gangsters and Black Souls. Latin Kings ran the east north of Division and east of Central Park Avenue. PVPs, Gaylords and Royals were in the last white section of the community in the northwest. Supreme Gangsters and Black Souls were south of Chicago Avenue and north of Ferdinand/Franklin. By the mid-70s the Black Souls and Supreme Gangsters had mostly left the southern area and the whites moved out as did their gangs leaving only Latin Kings. Several African American families moved into the area of Ferdinand/Franklin up to Division Street and as east as Pulaski in 1975 and Conservative Vice Lords, Insane Vice Lords, Black Gangster Disciples and Traveling Vice Lords followed. TVLs set up and took over a large portion of the area south of Chicago Avenue to Ferdinand/Franklin and established themselves strong at the corner of Kedzie and Ohio which was a former original Latin King neighborhood, now it belonged to the TVLs. TVLs would take over most of the south east from St. Louis to Sacramento. TVLs also became strong between Augusta and Chicago Avenue mixed in with many other mobs which brought them into heavy odds with other Vice Lord groups and GDs. TVLs have kept a permanent spot in West Humboldt Park.

Travelers in Austin and the rise of King Neil: 1970s

in the year 1970, the TVLs the earliest TVL group in Austin was the “Cicero Traveling Vice Lords” founded by Isaac Adams. Adams made the newspaper right away in the Chicago Tribune June 24, 1970 when Issac Adams robbed and killed Robert Mengler who happened to be the son of Cicero police Lieutenant. Mengler was from the suburb of Cicero and came to the corner of Kilbourn and West End to pick up Vera Mae White. Addams lives two blocks down the street on West End at Kilpatrick and West End; therefore, it was likely Addams may have known White and he knew to attack the couple on the other side of Cicero Ave at Lavergne and Fulton. I am not positive if Issac Adams founded the TVLs in Austin but his group was at least one of the first.

In the year 1976, Traveling Vice Lords would return to the Austin neighborhood but this time the legacy would remain permanent. It is possible Neil Wallace may have been the one to coordinate the establishment of TVLs at Division and Central to Long Avenue. Neil Wallace was not the leader of the TVLs at the time but he was a rising star and becoming highly respected.

By the mid-70s, from North Avenue and south had become majority African American but the racial conflicts between white youths and African Americans would continue until the end of the 70s. Gaylords and Taylor Jousters were just north of North Avenue and the legendary Rice Boys were south of North Avenue still living among African Americans. Rice Boys and Traveling Vice Lords battled viciously in the late 70s and these battles earned the TVLs of Austin their keeps. Four Corner Hustlers, Black P Stones and Vice Lord groups got involved heavily in the drug game in the mid-70s and the TVLs got in on the action too and did business with Four Corner Hustlers. Because of these early battles and money making, the TVLs have become permanent in Austin for decades.

West Garfield Park: 1970s

I am not sure the exact year it all began but sometime in the 70s, TVLs made their way into the West Garfield Park neighborhood along Madison Street between Kildare and Pulaski near the edge of Four Corner Hustler, Unknown Vice Lord and Black Soul territory. By the 80s, the main leader of these TVLs was “Big Yank” who was big time in the 80s. I am not sure how long the TVLs lasted in West Garfield Park.

Rockwell Gardens: 1979

Beginning in the year 1979, the Rockwell Gardens projects were no longer a grass roots project complex and now became neglected by the Chicago Housing Authority that once took good care of the buildings. When this era began crime swept the projects as did blight and drugs. Gangs began to take over these buildings in 1979 and one of the largest gangs to move in was the Traveling Vice Lords in 1979. A TVL from Flournoy and California nicknamed “Scull” was the founder of the Rockwell TVLs and was appointed the rank of “Minister.” The TVLs recruited heavily within the 2501, 2417, 2515, 2450, and 2514 buildings and in later year, the 2215 building they took from the GDs. Conservative Vice Lords, Gangster Stones and Imperial Insane Vice Lords, and Black Gangster Disciples grew into the Rockwell buildings but not as large as the TVLs.

The TVLs would be the biggest gang in the Rockwell Gardens as they brought in millions of dollars in drug profits over time. Scull ran the TVLs for some time in the 80s then “Chief Elite” took over the projects until Minister “Shotgunn” took over by the late 80s. Eric A.K.A “God” was nominated a Prince and became the only Prince in the Rockwells. TVLs would remain in these buildings strong until they were torn down in the 2000s.

Maywood and Bellwood TVLs

As early as 1979 and as late as 1980, TVLs would settle in the suburbs of Maywood and Bellwood, two Chicago land’s western suburbs. TVLs in these two towns settled alongside Gangster Disciples, Conservative Vice Lords, Insane Vice Lords, Black P Stones and Four Corner Hustlers which created a gang conflict that was severe in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. In recent decades the conflicts calmed but TVLs remain one of the stronger gangs in both suburbs presently.

King Neil Wallace

In the year 1980 or 1981, Ray Charles stepped down from leadership and the leadership spot was given to Neil Wallace who was in his mid-20s at the time. This was a major vote among elders of the TVLs because of Wallace’s excellent leadership and charismatic ways. Wallace was considered the “King of Kings” and the “Lord of Lords.” Wallace was given the title of “King” and Wallace followed through with his promises to keep it old school and work with the elders. Wallace brought Hip Hop music to the neighborhood during a time when the music was not commercially popular. Wallace worked with a free breakfast program and brought it the California Avenue. Wallace owned a record store and game room in the neighborhood and held break dancing competitions in his record store. Wallace was not only respected by TVLs, he was highly respected by the whole community and he encouraged TVLs to stay in school and get college degrees and achieve entrepreneurship. Wallace was not perfect but he was also not a sawed off evil gangster destroying the community.

Altgeld Gardens: 1981

In the year 1981, the Altgeld Gardens on the far south side of Chicago in the Riverdale neighborhood began to experience higher crime and gangs from other communities. Conservative Vice Lords and Black Gangster Disciples were the biggest gangs to move in but Traveling Vice Lords would have a very strong presence in these projects starting in 1981. TVLs and CVLs would become tight in these buildings as they made large amounts of money together in the 80s and 90s. In later decades multiple TVL buildings flipped to Black Disciples but TVLs still maintained a presence and may still.

Roseland

Sometime in the early 80s Traveling Vice Lords developed in the Roseland neighborhood on Chicago’s far south side. These TVLs formed around Palmer Park near Conservative Vice Lords and on 109^th Street. TVLs have been deep in Roseland since the 80s and remain strong in the community.

The death of King Neil Wallace: October 14, 1986

In October of 1986, the Traveling Vice Lords got into it with the Albany Vice Lords over bad drug deals and Neil’s Chief Enforcer Jettie “Bo Diddley” Williams was at the center of it. Bo Diddley was eventually convicted of the murder of “Lucky” of the Albany Vice Lords and this shooting led the shooting death of King Neil. On October 14, 1986 Neil Wallace was at a mini mart at Roosevelt and Sacramento, after coming outside of the mart Neil was shot three times in the head, neck and shoulder, 6 hours later he was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.

After Wallace was killed the title of “King” died with him as did some of the most golden years of the TVLs. Neil Wallace is perhaps one of the most celebrated Chicago gang leaders even in recent decades. It is fascinating that even young Travelers tend to know who King Neil was when many young GDs don’t even know who Larry Hoover is. For many years after Wallace’s death in the late 80s and the 90s “King Neal” or “King Neil” was sprayed on the walls.

Double Solid: 1988

In the year 1988, in the Rockwell Gardens public housing project the Traveling Vice Lords and Four Corner Hustlers were getting along so well that Minister Shotgunn of the Traveling Vice Lords got together with Duncan of the Four Corner Hustlers in a meeting to strengthen their ties officially. TVLs claimed “Tall T” while Four Corner Hustlers claimed “Mackateers” and “Maniac.” They both claimed to be “Solid” and “Solid” toward one another. This is when they created the “Double Solid” Concepts in the Rockwell Gardens and it spread outside of the projects. This alliance would also strengthen drug operations between TVLs and 4s.

Money moves of the 90s

Flournoy and California was the TVL’s biggest operation by the 1990s as they were pushing $5,000 to $30,000 a day in drug sales according to court documents.  Andrew “Bay Bay” Patterson was allegedly directly supervising this section until it was raided in 1995 after an undercover dirty cop helped bring it down.  Patterson and several others were convicted of drug conspiracy.

When “Fly” came home from the military in the early 90s, him and Angelo Roberts of the Four Corner Hustlers hooked up to flip several several gang members of other gangs like the Gangster Disciples, Conservative Vice Lords and Gangster Stones under the Double Solid banner. These two men then set up the largest drug operation the Rockwell Gardens had ever witnessed, even after Angelo was killed in 1995. TVLs and Four Corner Hustlers ran these projects keeping other gangs minimal until the buildings were razed in the 2000s.

TVLs became so large they spread into other states as they opened large operations in cities like Memphis and North Carolina. The Memphis chapter was even featured on the popular TV show “Gangland.”

Outlaw Lunatic Traveling Vice Lords

I don’t know the whole story but somehow an individual named “Ugly Frank” of the Outlaw Traveling Vice Lords broke off creating the “Outlaw Lunatic Traveling Vice Lords” in the Rockwell Gardens and in West Humboldt Park at the intersection of Springfield and Ferdinand. Last I heard the breakaway was because of jealousy over drug profits. The OLTVLs only lasted until the 2000s decade

Presently

The TVLs still have a strong presence in Roseland, East Garfield Park, North Lawndale and Austin. The TVLs were built upon strong leadership which has allowed them to carry on into current decades.

Austin neighborhood, Established 1970-present years

Decks of Austin

Wabansia & Long

Lemoyne & Cicero

Traveling Vice Lords and Conservative Vice Lords-Monroe & Central

Traveling Vice Lords and Conservative Vice Lords-Quincy & Central

Wabansia & Cicero

Wabansia & Long

Augusta & Kilpatrick

Calumet Heights neighborhood

Decks of Calumet Heights

Traveling Vice Lords-91st & Colfax

East Garfield Park neighborhood, Established 1962-present years

Decks of East Garfield Park

Madison to Jackson, Rockwell to Campbell partially in Near West Side

Harrison to Lexington, Central Park Ave to Spaulding

Harrison to Flournoy, Sacramento to Francisco (Harrison Courts projects, Harrison Boys)

Harrison to Polk, California to Western

Harrison & Sacramento (Harrison Courts projects, Harrison Boys)

Lexington from California to Francisco (Harrison Courts projects)

Central from Harrison to Congress

Central Park Ave from Harrison to Congress

Albany from Taylor to Harrison

Morgan Park neighborhood

Decks of Morgan Park

104th & Racine

Near West Side neighborhood, Established 1979-present years

Decks of the Near West Side

Jackson to Van Buren, Western to Oakley (St. Stephens)

Madison to Jackson, Rockwell to Campbell partially in East Garfield Park

Lexington & Campbell

Jackson & Campbell (Rockwell Gardens projects, shared with Conservative Vice Lords, Renegade Vice Lords and Four Corner Hustlers)

Madison & Rockwell (Rockwell Gardens projects, shared with Conservative Vice Lords, Renegade Vice Lords and Four Corner Hustlers)

North Lawndale neighborhood, Established 1970-present years

Decks of North Lawndale

Filmore to Roosevelt, Troy to Sacramento (Straight out of Albany, Douglas Park)

Roosevelt to Ogden, California to Rockwell (Trav Land)

Filmore & Homan

Albany & Roosevelt

Grenshaw & Central Park Ave (CPG)

(Former Outlaw Lunatic Traveling Vice Lord territory)-18th & Hamlin

Kedzie from Ogden to 19th

Riverdale neighborhood, Established 1981-present years

Decks of Riverdale

Conservative Vice Lords and Traveling Vice Lords-130th to 133rd, Langley to Corliss (Altgeld Gardens projects) Established 1979-present years

Roseland neighborhood, Established 1981-present years

Decks of Roseland

112th to 113th, Perry to State (DBC)

107th & Normal

113th from Edbrooke to Indiana (Palmer Park)

Uptown neighborhood 

Decks of Uptown

Conservative Vice Lords and Traveling Vice Lords-Leland & Magnolia

West Garfield Park neighborhood 70s, 80s, 90s

Decks of West Garfield Park

Traveling Vice Lords-Madison & Springfield

West Humboldt Park neighborhood Established 1976-present years

Decks of West Humboldt Park

Augusta & Kilpatrick

Chicago Ave & St.Louis

Chicago Ave & Trumbull

Chicago Ave & Lawndale (TUC, Traveling Unknown Conservative Vice Lord City)

Ohio & Kedzie

Augusta to Chicago, Kolmar to Kostner

Augusta to Iowa, St. Louis to Homan

Chicago to Franklin, St. Louis to Homan (Demon side)

Suburbs

Bellwood Established 1980

Cicero

Maywood Established 1980

Rockford