Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club

The festivities commence with the invitation-only, black-tie optional alumni celebration at 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, at the St. Louis Marriott West. On Sunday, Feb. 17, the Youth Trophy Showcase kicks off at 1 p.m. at Mathews-Dickey, 4245 N. Kingshighway Blvd., as 1,000 youth athletic achievers gather in the Club’s upper gymnasium with their parents and coaches.

“Creating a change in our society is like turning one’s course in a river — where hatred, ignorance and poverty lie on one side and the other holds credibility, integrity and accountability,” said Martin L. Mathews, president, CEO & co-founder. “At Mathews-Dickey, our goal is to help young men and women cross that river to bring about a transformation.”

At the Feb. 16 reception, acclaimed Atlanta-based triplets provide the Outstanding Alumni Award testimonials to epitomize the life-changing transformation the Club inspired in them. Kultiere Clothing Group’s CEO Craig Miller, Business Manager Cornell Miller and Board Member Cedric Miller are esteemed entrepreneurs and Morehouse College graduates, who were spotlighted on “Oprah” and HG TV’s “Deserving Designers.”

That same evening, awards are presented to 10 outstanding alumni and 48 community leaders, and the Club celebrates Mathews’ birthday. “The Spirit of St. Louis” award is presented to Michael F. Neidorff, chairman & CEO, Centene Corp., and James D. Weddle, managing partner, Edward Jones. Honored for Meritorious Community Service are City of St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green and Armstrong Teasdale Partner Stephen Jones. Carole Buck, the wife of the late Jack Buck, is invited to receive the “In Appreciation of the Year” Award. A memorial college scholarship, dedicated to the late St. Louis-Metropolitan Police Department Officer Reginald Williams, also will be presented to two graduating seniors.

James D. Weddle

Awardees 2004
Stephen Jones

Awardees 2004
The 48th Anniversary theme.

Michael F. Neidorff

Awardees 2004
Darlene Green

Awardees 2004
Carole Buck

Joining the Miller triplets on the alumni slate are Maurice Bradford, patient care advocate, Express Scripts, Inc.; Reginald Farrar, manager, human resources, BJC Behavioral Health; Gregory Moore, CEO, GDon Investigative Services; Martise Scott, loss prevention supervisor, Walgreens; Lorenzo Scott, Jr., outfielder, Florida Marlins Farm System; Brandy Wayne, accountant, Boeing Co.; and Alvin Yates, manager, Lowes Home Improvement.

KTVI Fox 2’s Bonita Cornute and veteran broadcaster Bill Wilkerson are the co-emcees. Club Board Chairman and Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church Pastor Rev. William G. Gillespie presents special awards and VP, PR & Special Events Barbara A. Washington highlights the program’s purpose. Entertainers include Alvin Jett & the Phat noiZ, vocalist Evelyn Shields-Benford and Club Alumnus and Lead Work Productions President Jamie “King James” Dennis, who performs “A Change is Gonna’ Come.”

The roll call of remaining award winners for the Saturday evening affair include:

MEMORIAL
Mary Allen Memorial — Judy Best-Person
Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine Memorial — Daryl McAdoo
Rose Mae Ballentine Memorial — Dorothy Dunn
Garland Barnes Memorial — Robert Smith
Bessemer Carter Memorial — Jesse Sanders, III
Florence Carter Memorial — Donna Coble
Eugene Crymes Memorial — Fernando Gines
Larry Ford Memorial — Robert White
George Green Memorial — Cory White
Marie Hankemeyer — Alma Green
Anna B. Hines Memorial — Marguerite McClelland
Catherine Hines Memorial — Shirley Washington
Christine Jinkins Memorial — Keena McBride
Hildred L.C. London Memorial — Phakisha Horne
Barbara Mathews Memorial — Capt. Mary Edwards-Fears
Cerman F. Mathews Memorial — Frank Robinson, Sr.
Eugene Miller Memorial — Jose & Faith Aguayo
Rhodia Miller Memorial — Peggy Henderson
Willie Morganfield Memorial — Thomas Rhodes
William Patterson Memorial — Lorenzo Tolliver
Osbie Savage, Sr. Memorial — Michael Daugherty, Sr.
Vernice Trice Memorial — Wanda Sams
Mary Vercer Memorial — Jan Jackson
Pearl S. White Memorial — Elizabeth Heitman
James Whiteside Memorial — Leroy Witherspoon
Verlie D. Williams Memorial — Anita Harris
Tommie Younger, Jr. Memorial — Christopher Smith, Sr.
Samella Zomphier Memorial — Barbara Pierce

MEDALS OF EXCELLENCE
Bronze Medalists — Cortez Childs and Joi Townsend
Silver Medalists — James Latimore and Maya Perry
Gold Medalists — Alex Evans, Jr. and Kyle Mitchell

SPORTS
Mother of the Year — Donna Hynes-Farris
Father of the Year — Raeffel Merriweather
Baseball Hall of Fame —Carl Jackson, Sr.
Football Hall of Fame — Jackie Robinson
Baseball Manager of the Year — Thomas Joyner, Jr.
Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year — Charlie Reed
Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year — Anthony Condra
Football Coach of the Year — Marcus Townsend
Cheerleading Coordinator of the Year — Stacey Latimore

Taking the spotlight on Feb. 17 are the youth trophy recipients. Charter alumnus and Mathews-Dickey VP, Sports & Operations Tom Sullivan presides over the presentation of trophies in baseball, basketball, cheerleading and football.

Mathews-Dickey provides structured athletic, educational and cultural-enrichment activities for more than 40,000 young men and women, annually. For more information, call Washington or Bill Fronczak at (314) 382-5952, ext. 234.