Mathews-Dickey President, CEO & Co-Founder Martin L. Mathews. Mathews-Dickey Celebrates “Forever Young: Five for ’05”at 44th Annual Awards Weekend & Sports Showcase The Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club celebrated its anniversary in a new format during the 44th Annual Awards Weekend & Sports Showcase. The weekend kicked off with the invitation-only 16th Annual Alumni Sponsor Reception & Awards Program on February 19, at the Anheuser-Busch Corporate Headquarters. Sunday's sports showcase made its grand return to the Club's 4245 North Kingshighway facility. The Club awarded baseball, basketball, football and swimming trophies to 1,000 young people on February 20 in the upper and Jackie Joyner-Kersee gymnasiums. This year's theme was “Forever Young: Five for ’05” - in recognition of the organization's work to provide quality programs for St. Louis’ youth and the untiring exuberance of its President, CEO & Co-Founder Martin L. Mathews - who celebrates his 80th birthday. The theme spotlighted five significant moments in the Club’s history: Humble Beginnings, Shade Tree, Storefront, A Dream Comes True and The Next Generation. It also captured five 2005 programmatic focus areas: Career, Cultural, Education, Leadership and Outreach. KTRS Morning Show Co-Host Bill Wilkerson and KMOV News 4 in the Morning Anchor Richelle Carey emceed the festivities. Ameren Corporation Chairman, President & CEO Gary Rainwater Deloitte Office Managing Partner Mike Zychinski Plaze Inc. President John Ferring IV City of St. Louis 19th Ward Alderman Mike McMillan Missouri Black Expo President Thomas Bailey, Jr. KMOV News 4 in the Morning Anchor Richelle Carey Outstanding alumni and community leaders were recognized at Saturday’s reception. “The Spirit of St. Louis” award was presented to Ameren Corporation Chairman, President & CEO Gary Rainwater and Deloitte Office Managing Partner Mike Zychinski, Plaze Inc. President John Ferring IV and City of St. Louis 19th Ward Alderman Mike McMillan received the Meritorious Service award, as “In Appreciation of the Year” honors were bestowed upon Missouri Black Expo President Thomas Bailey, Jr. and Carey. The slate of Outstanding Alumni Award Winners included: LaTonia Collins, assistant supervisor, truancy unit, State of Missouri; Darnell Davis, head women’s basketball coach, Harris-Stowe State College; Brian Ferguson, case manager, MetLife Investors, Inc.; Charles Ferguson, attorney at law, Ferguson & Kilgore, LLC; Robin Foster, student government coordinator, St. Louis Job Corps Center; Jacques Fransaw, coordinator, Minority Engineering, University of Missouri - Rolla; Daniel Isom, commander, internal affairs division, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; Gloria McCollum, attorney, McCollum & Associates, LLC; David Robinson, security officer, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.; and Ruby Sims center coordinator, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. Alvin Jett & the Phat noiZ led a jazzy/bluesy romp from the 60s to the new millennium and several vocalists shared their talents: The Halfsteps youth choir - Rod Stewart classic “Forever Young”; Club alumnus Gerald Brooks - “Happy Birthday” salute to Mathews; and Club member Alexandria Butler - “God Bless America.” Renowned artist Billyo unveiled a portrait in honor of Mathews that evening. Sunday’s family-oriented gala featured two parts. During the showcase, Mathews-Dickey young people took center-stage as program presenters and there were special appearances by mascots from area sports teams, including Fredbird and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Weatherbird. Six young people received Medals of Excellence and top honors go the baseball, basketball, football and cheerleading coaches of the year. Performers included Club member and “God Bless America” vocalist Jasmin Woods, Best Talent Center, St. Louis Academy of Dance, Mathews-Dickey 14-Year-Old Bulldog Cheerleaders and Gateway Middle Drill/Step Squad. Then, to the winners go the spoils - 1,000 trophies were distributed in the Jackie Joyner-Kersee gymnasium. The roll call of the remaining award winners included: MEMORIAL Mary Allen Memorial - Arthelda Busch Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine Memorial - Michael Cole Rose Mae Ballentine - Kathleen Farid Garland Barnes Memorial - Michael Burns II Bessemer Carter Memorial - Charles Ryland Florence Carter Memorial - Cricket Vandover Eugene C. Crymes Memorial - Earl Green Larry Ford Memorial - Jerome Jones George Green Memorial - Jimmie Spain Marie Hankemeyer Memorial - Susan Fadem Anna B. Hines Memorial - Gwendolyn Moss Christine Jinkins Memorial - Dianna Merrill Barbara Mathews Memorial - Linda Green Cerman F. Mathews Memorial - Scott Bandle Eugene Miller Memorial - Paul Watkins Rhodia Miller Memorial - Anda Cason Vernice Trice Memorial - Darcella Prechard Tommie Younger Jr. Memorial - Pete Wade James Whiteside Memorial - Dele’one Williams Pearl S. White Memorial - Veola Martin Verlie D. Williams Memorial - Tiffany Days Samella Zomphier Memorial - Reggie Vitale Osbie Savage, Sr. Memorial - Jackie Robinson William Patterson Memorial - Mark Isaac MEDALS OF EXCELLENCE Bronze Medalists - Ayittey Farid and LaDonna London Silver Medalists - Jessica Preston and Eric Tyler Gold Medalists - Jasmin Woods and Travelle Williams ATHLETIC Mother of the Year - Pamela Brown Father of the Year - Eric Tate Baseball Hall of Fame - Philip Douglass Football Hall of Fame - Willie Ford Baseball Manager of the Year - Cory White Boys#8217; Basketball Coach of the Year - Manne Palan Girls#8217; Basketball Coach of the Year - Steve House Football Coach of the Year - Raeffel Merriweather Cheerleading Coordinator of the Year - Stephanie Shelton Mathews-Dickey serves more than 40,000 young men and women annually in the St. Louis-metropolitan area. The Club provides structured athletic, educational and cultural-enrichment activities. For more information, call Barbara A. Washington or Bill Fronczak at (314) 382-5952, ext. 234. For more information on the Bulldog Football & Cheerleading Campaign, Click Here. Archived: 43nd Annual Awards Banquet Weekend Celebration 42nd Annual Awards Banquet Weekend Celebration 41st Annual Awards Banquet Weekend Celebration © 2005 Mathews Dickey Boys' & Girls' Club site. Designed by the Moore Design Group.