Muhammad and LeRoy: A Friendship in Art

"“I’ll be here – waiting LeRoy”

Within a half hour he was still placed there in peace

I returned with water color cakes pan rags and brushes and (he snatched them straight away) and settled right (down) into work – ([?] had) he was a natural. At that point I had (Flash back) not clearly, but I did remember that first time I used color – 40 years ago. (How I feel) I left him excused myself I had something somewhere else to go.

'Come up before the weigh-in tomorrow morning” and I’ll finish this (A Fresh piece painting) tonight.'

Next morning around 11 I showed up he presented it proudly. (A Fresh watercolor) a confident work. The ring fighters – crowd circling – develop.

His wife Lonnie confident in my recently he is painting again – result I dedicated a book to him the first edition of _ _ _ _

and he’s at it again."

Letter belongs to the LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, and is on digital loan for this exhibit.