Mathews-Dickey Makes the Best Better
at 51st Anniversary Celebration
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The 2011 Outstanding Alumni Award Winners.
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The Mathews-Dickey Boys' & Girls' Club's 51st Anniversary Alumni Celebration & Awards Showcase Medals of Excellence are presented by Chairman Emeritus Rev. William G. Gillepie (middle) and President, CEO & Co-Founder Martin Luther Mathews (far right) to youth participants Eve Novak, 13; Walter King, Jr., 12; Taron Dennis, 11; Onyai Tuner, 14; and Trudi Gatteys, 18.
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Outstanding Club Alumnus & “Ballers of the New School” Author Dr. Thabiti Lewis addresses the Youth Trophy Showcase audience.
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A distinguished roster of community leaders were recognized at the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club’s 51st Anniversary Alumni Celebration & Awards Showcase on February 12. Left to Right: Club President, CEO & Co-Founder Martin Luther Mathews with Meritorious Service Award Winner Ruth Smith, president & CEO of Human Development Corporation of Metropolitan St. Louis; “The Spirit of St. Louis” honoree Spencer Koch, president & general manager, KTVI Fox 2/KPLR 11; and Mathews-Dickey Board Chairman Rev. Earl Nance, Jr.
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Sodexo's Scott Pace receives the In Appreciation Award from Club Board Chairman Rev. Earl Nance, Jr.
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The Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club celebrates 51 years of dedicated service to St. Louis’ youth by “Making the Best Better.” The festivities commenced at the 51st Anniversary Alumni Celebration & Awards Showcase on Feb. 12-13. The entire weekend was dedicated to Co-Founders Martin Luther Mathews and the late Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine.
The invitation-only, black-tie optional alumni celebration honoring distinguished community leaders, occurred on Feb. 12 at the Sheraton West Port Chalet. KTVI Fox 2’s Bonita Cornute and veteran broadcaster Bill Wilkerson were the co-emcees. The Club’s VP/PR & Special Events Barbara A. Washington opened festivities, and awards were presented by Club Board Chairman and Greater Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Rev. Earl Nance, Jr. Pianist Tim Huskey, the 3 Central jazz group and professional recording artist Jamie “King James” Dennis, supplied entertainment.
On Feb. 13 the Youth Trophy Showcase kicked off at 1 p.m. at the Club as 1,000 youth athletic achievers gathered in the Richard B. Loynd Gymnasium, while their parents and coaches proudly applauded. Emerson Senior Vice President/Administration Bob Cox made a $500,000 “Turn on the Lights” grant presentation to support the Club’s ongoing efforts. Radio One’s Steve Byes emceed the Youth Trophy Showcase with Mathews-Dickey VP, Sports & Operations Tom Sullivan and Director, Sports & Operations Leroy Witherspoon. Outstanding Club Alumnus Dr. Thabiti Lewis also conducted a book-signing for “Ballers of the New School: Race & Sports in America.”
“Making the best better is about demonstrating a commitment to constant improvement in the community and the world in which we live,” said Mathews. “As the Club enters its 51st anniversary year, our message to young people, to make the best better, has remained consistent. We thank companies like Emerson for helping our youth continue to achieve their best results on the playing fields and in the classrooms.”
A distinguished roster of community leaders was recognized at the Feb. 12 affair. The Club’s highest honor, “The Spirit of St. Louis” award, was presented to KTVI Fox 2/KPLR 11 President & General Manager Spencer Koch for long-time media partnerships to benefit the Club’s positive programs. The "Meritorious Service Award" went to Ruth Smith, president & CEO of the Human Development Corporation of Metropolitan St. Louis, for her major support of the Club’s Summer Day Camp and Yeatman Middle outreach mentoring programs. Scott Pace, director at Sodexo at SSM St. Clare Hospital, took home the “In Appreciation of the Year” award, in recognition of outstanding contributions to ensuring quality food service for the summer camp.
Outstanding Alumni honorees included Darrell Jefferson, firefighter/emergency medical technician, City of Berkeley; Daryl McAdoo, executive director, Preclarus Mastery Academy; Erica McAdoo, budget analyst, St. Louis Public Schools; Kelli McCrary, president, Secure V.I.P., Inc.; Harub Taalib, president & founder, Maat Karate Do; and Avery Young, freelance film producer/editor, Avery Young Films.
The roll call of remaining award winners for the Saturday evening affair included:
MEMORIAL
John Albert, Jr. Memorial — John Albert, III
Robert Grote, Jr. Memorial — John Grote
Cleveland Hammonds, Jr. Memorial — Tracy Guillory
Carl Jackson, Sr. Memorial — Carl Jackson, Jr.
Larnzell Williams Memorial — Eric Williams
Mary Allen Memorial — Lt. Renee Kriesmann
Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine Memorial — Melvin Paster
Rose Mae Ballentine Memorial — LaChelle Prude
Garland Barnes Memorial — Christopher Croft
Bessemer Carter Memorial — Robert White
Florence Carter Memorial — Madonna Cotlar
Eugene Crymes Memorial — Christopher Smith
Larry Ford Memorial — Abdul-Kaba Abdullah
George Green Memorial — Reva Blanks
Marie Hankemeyer — Karen Runk
Anna B. Hines Memorial — Lisa Davis
Catherine Hines Memorial — Julie Soffner
Christine Jinkins Memorial — Carla Harris
Hildred L.C. London Memorial — Audrey Watson
Barbara Mathews Memorial —Dr. Nina Caldwell
Cerman F. Mathews Memorial — Oscar Fransaw
Eugene Miller Memorial — Darris & Juakena Callion
Rhodia Miller Memorial — Debra Handley
Willie Morganfield Memorial — Marshall Jennings
William Patterson Memorial — Jamel Williams
Osbie Savage, Sr. Memorial — Julius Conner, Jr.
Vernice Trice Memorial — Cynthia Cluff
Mary Vercer Memorial — Heather Griffin
Pearl S. White Memorial — Deirdre Jackson
James Whiteside Memorial — Keith Weaver
Verlie D. Williams Memorial — Marquita Bowers
Tommie Younger, Jr. Memorial — Cory White
Samella Zomphier Memorial — Angela Martin
MEDALS OF EXCELLENCE
Bronze Medalists — Walter King, Jr. and Eve Novak
Silver Medalists — Taron Dennis and Onyai Turner
Gold Medalists — Trudi Gatteys and Paul Gill
SPORTS
Mother of the Year — Burma Grace Jackson
Father of the Year — Rolando Merriweather
Baseball Hall of Fame — Frank Robinson, Sr.
Football Hall of Fame — Derek Craft
Baseball Manager of the Year — Michael Roberts, Jr.
Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year — James “Jim” Briscoe
Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year — Lauren Witherspoon
Football Coach of the Year — Curtis Cornell
Cheerleading Coordinator of the Year — Deyunna White
Major sponsors of the anniversary celebration were AmerenUE and Anheuser-Busch, Inc. 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.
