Mathews-Dickey "Fielding Dreams Today for Tomorrow" at 52nd Anniversary Celebration & Awards Showcase
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The Rev. William G. Gillespie Spirit of St. Louis Award Winners
Lynn Beall & Thomas Voss
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The Meritorious Service Award Winners Eleanor Higgins, Greg Marecek, and Jeffrey Schwartz.
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The In Appreciation of the Year Award Winner is Robert Russell, Jr.
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The Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club celebrates 52 years of dedicated service to St. Louis’ youth by “Fielding Dreams Today for Tomorrow.” The festivities unfold at the 52nd Anniversary Alumni Celebration & Awards Showcase on Feb. 11-12. The entire weekend is dedicated to Co-Founders Martin Luther Mathews and the late Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine.
“For 52 years our goal has remained to give youth the vision, courage and determination to achieve personal and career success,” said Mathews. “We’re expanding this outreach to children in the North County area with the restoration of 10 baseball diamonds at the Mathews-Dickey at Bob Russell Park.”
The invitation-only, black-tie optional alumni celebration honoring distinguished community leaders, occurs at 5 p.m., Saturday Feb. 11 at the Sheraton West Port Chalet, 191 Westport Plaza Dr. KTVI Fox 2’s Bonita Cornute and veteran broadcaster Bill Wilkerson are the co-emcees.The Meritorious Service Award Winners Eleanor Higgins, Greg Marecek, and Jeffrey Schwartz.
Headlining the entertainment is New York’s WBLS Radio & Soultown Sirius DJ Jeff Foxx, “The Foxx that Rocks the Box.” Foxx has rocked interviews with stars such as the “Godfather of Soul” James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Roberta Flack...just to name a few. The entertainment showcase also includes Collage Pianist Tim Huskey, professional recording artist Jamie “King James” Dennis with Lady Sovereignty, and international vocalist Sandra Jamerson of Chicago who serenades Mathews for his 87th birthday.
The Club’s highest honor, The Rev. William G. Gillespie Spirit of St. Louis Award, is presented to NewsChannel 5 President & General Manager Lynn Beall and Ameren Corporation Chairman, President & CEO Thomas Voss. The Meritorious Service Award goes to Eleanor Higgins, regional marketing manager for American Family Insurance; Greg Marecek, founder/president, St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame; and Jeffrey Schwartz, a Stolar Partnership attorney. Robert Russell Jr., director of economic development for the City of Florissant, takes home the “In Appreciation of the Year” plaque. Outstanding Alumni honorees are Patricia Gillespie, Anastasia Gordon-Stevenson, Jaison McCall and Osbie Savage Jr.
Club Board Education Chair Keith Williamson, Centene’s senior vice president, corporate secretary & general counsel, bestows an inaugural $1,000 scholarship upon Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville teacher education major Zachary Sanderson in memory of St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Cleveland Hammonds, Jr. Hammonds’ widow Yvonne, and Dr. Linda Morice, SIUE associate professor and Department of Educational Leadership chair, will take part in the ceremony.
“We’re very thrilled to honor a trailblazer for education,” said Club VP Public Relations & Special Events Barbara A. Washington. “Special thanks to the Hammonds Family and other supporters for helping us create a lasting tribute to a great man.”
On Sunday, Feb. 12, the Youth Trophy Showcase kicks off at 2 p.m. at Mathews-Dickey, 4245 N. Kingshighway Blvd., as 1,000 youth athletic achievers gather in the Club’s Richard B. Loynd Gymnasium. Mathews-Dickey Vice President Sports & Operations Tom Sullivan and Director of Sports & Operations Leroy Witherspoon emcee the gala, with KTVI Fox 2 Sports Anchor/Reporter Maurice Drummond offering commentary on sportsmanship and character development.
The roll call of remaining award winners for the Saturday evening affair included:
MEMORIAL
John Albert, Jr. Memorial - Robert Smith
Mary Allen Memorial - Rita Frazier
Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine Memorial - Jacoby Wesley
Rose Mae Ballentine Memorial - Helen Williams
Garland Barnes Memorial - Anthony Wilder
Bessemer Carter Memorial - Michael Daughtery
Florence Carter Memorial - Arlen Chaleff
Eugene Crymes Memorial - Sherille Harris
Larry Ford Memorial - Cory Henderson
George Green Memorial - Korey Gilbert
Robert Grote, Jr. Memorial - Denny Heinze
Cleveland Hammonds, Jr. Memorial - Robert Hensley, III
Marie Hankemeyer Memorial - Odessa O’Shea
Anna B. Hines Memorial - Mary Swanson
Catherine Hines Memorial - Andrea Stewart-Douglas
Carl Jackson Sr. Memorial - Gregory Wayne, Jr.
Christine Jinkins Memorial - Felicia Robinson
Hildred L.C. London Memorial - Angela Fantroy-Ford
Nelson Martin Memorial - Thomas Sieckhaus
Barbara Mathews Memorial - Jeanie Wells
Cerman F. Mathews Memorial - Albert Huebner
Eugene Miller Memorial - Curtis & Sandra Cornell
Rhodia Miller Memorial - Carol Mayfield
Willie Morganfield Memorial - Tiffany Anselmo
William Patterson Memorial - Christopher Smith, Jr.
Osbie Savage, Sr. Memorial - Alfonzo Fowler
Vernice Trice Memorial - Alfreda Dabney
Mary Vercer Memorial - Margaret Berry
Pearl S. White Memorial - Sheila Bruton
James Whiteside Memorial - Robert White, Sr.
Larnzell Williams Memorial - Sandra Latimore
Verlie D. Williams Memorial - Angie Carey
Tommie Younger, Jr. Memorial - Harold Collard
Samella Zomphier Memorial - Marissa Morton
MEDALS OF EXCELLENCE
Bronze Medalists - Mekkah Richards & Joshua Smith
Silver Medalists - Madison Brand & Brandon Thomas
Gold Medalists - Eriyon Bailey & James Fuller
SPORTS
Mother of the Year - Shanta Dozier
Father of the Year - Eric Williams
Baseball Hall of Fame - Jackie Robinson
Football Hall of Fame - Andrew Jameson
Baseball Manager of the Year - Christopher Smith, Sr.
Boys' Basketball Coach of the Year - Renee Moore
Girls' Basketball Coach of the Year - Moses Regular
Football Coach of the Year - Leon Vaughn
Cheerleading Coordinator of the Year - Virginia Eldridge
Major sponsors of the anniversary celebration were Ameren Missouri, Emerson, INTERCO Charitable Trust and United Way of Greater St. Louis. Mathews-Dickey provides structured athletic, educational and cultural-enrichment activities for more than 40,000 young men and women annually. For more information, call Barbara Washington or Bill Fronczak at (314) 382-5952, ext. 234.
