Mathews-Dickey Celebrates “The Heart of A Champion" at 47th Anniversary Weekend
Club alumni and Robert Companies Owners Michael & Steve Roberts present a $10,000 check to the Club's $1 Million Operational Reserve Campaign.
Martin Mathews with Meritorious Community Service Award Winners Melanie DiLeo and Richard Mark.
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“The Heart of a Champion” beats proudly on the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club’s playing fields and classrooms. Hence the theme of the 47th Anniversary Alumni Celebration & Awards Showcase that was held on Feb. 17-18.
The festivities commenced with the black-tie optional alumni celebration at 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Anheuser-Busch Headquarters, One Busch Pl. Awards were presented to 12 outstanding alumni and 48 community leaders. On Sunday, Feb. 18, the Youth Trophy Showcase kicked off at 1 p.m. at Mathews-Dickey, 4245 N. Kingshighway Blvd. On that day, The Robert Co. Co-Owners and Club alumni Michael and Steve Roberts’ announced their co-chairmanship of a $1 Million “Save the Children” Operational Reserve Campaign to fund collaborations between law enforcement, schools, clergy, business and community. The Roberts gave a lead gift of $10,000.
“The Heart of a Champion is resolute, dependable and determined,” said Mathews-Dickey President, CEO & Co-Founder Martin L. Mathews. “Whether focusing on a World Series title, scoring high on a college entrance examination or acing a job interview, a champion gives each endeavor his or her all. This is the winning attitude that Mathews-Dickey instills within our young people.”
At Saturday’s invitation only affair, “The Spirit of St. Louis” award was presented to Macy’ Midwest, in recognition of their outstanding philanthropic leadership in the community and support of the Club’s Girls’ and Education programs. The Meritorious Community Service Award was presented to Citigroup St. Louis Contributions VP, Community Affairs Melanie DiLeo and AmerenUE VP, Missouri Energy Delivery Richard Mark. Slated to receive the “In Appreciation of the Year” honors were Leon Arties, president, Greater St. Louis Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, and Ted Savage, Ph.D., director, target marketing, St. Louis Cardinals, LLP.
The welcome was presented by 2006 Outstanding Alumni Award Winner Bruce Shead, geographic marketing manager, Anheuser-Busch. The other inductees were Gary Bell, Sr., senior management information systems technical support specialist, Anheuser-Busch, Inc.; Clifford Franklin, president, Fuse Advertising, Inc.; Reginald Gooden, deputy juvenile officer II, probation, St. Louis Family Court; LaWanna Harvey, environmental engineer — SRS Technologies; Edward Johnson, Jr., assistant principal & athletic director, Brentwood High; Kevin Robinson, special education teacher, Soldan International Studies High School; Brian Simmons, assistant director of facilities services, Washington University in St. Louis; Calvin Watson, chief executive officer, Best of the Midwest Fitness, LLC; Michael Watson, medical intern, Saint Louis University; Erika Wilkes, business education teacher, Jennings Senior High; and Mark Wright, realtor, ReMax Cornerstone.
KTVI Fox 2’s Bonita Cornute was the emcee and VP, PR & Special Events Barbara A. Washington highlighted the program’s purpose. Entertainers included Alvin Jett & the Phat noiZ, vocalist Michael Spann and Club Alumnus and Lead Work Productions President Jamie “King James” Dennis, who performed a musical selection and specially commissioned “Ode to the Heart of a Champion.”
The roll call of the remaining award winners included:
MEMORIAL
Mary Allen Memorial — Marilyn Schake
Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine Memorial — Donald Thompson
Rose Mae Ballentine Memorial — Dana Johnson
Garland Barnes Memorial — Robert “Bob” White
Bessemer Carter Memorial — Waymon Williams
Florence Carter Memorial — Sherry Simms
Eugene Crymes Memorial — George Martin, Sr.
Larry Ford Memorial — Gregory Sewell
George Green Memorial — Yohance Thompson
Marie Hankemeyer — Annie Preston
Anna B. Hines Memorial — Sharifah Williams
Catherine Hines Memorial — Maurice Tipton
Christine Jinkins Memorial — Regina Sullivan
Hildred L.C. London Memorial — Pat Burns
Barbara Mathews Memorial — Tranada Finley
Cerman F. Mathews Memorial — Michael Weiss
Eugene Miller Memorial — Henry “Terrell” and Chante Lynom
Rhodia Miller Memorial — Siinya Dulaney
Willie Morganfield Memorial — Raeffel Merriweather
William Patterson Memorial — Thomas Joyner, Jr.
Osbie Savage, Sr. Memorial — Edgar “Pete” Wade
Vernice Trice Memorial — Vye Mosley
Mary Vercer Memorial — Lisa Thompson
Pearl S. White Memorial — Keisa Johnson
James Whiteside Memorial — Michael Dixon
Verlie D. Williams Memorial — Donna Coble
Tommie Younger, Jr. Memorial — Anthony Richardson, Sr.
Samella Zomphier Memorial — Tiffany Days
MEDALS OF EXCELLENCE
Bronze— Joshua Temple & Brittany Williams
Silver— Ashley Hall & Dereis Lambert
Gold — Jaymz Saunders & Brittany Toliver
SPORTS
Mother of the Year — Esther Cox
Father of the Year — Leon Vaughn
Baseball Hall of Fame —Willie Lane
Football Hall of Fame — Henry Horton, Jr.
Baseball Manager of the Year — Marcus Townsend
Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year — Joel Pettus, Jr.
Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year — Lakisha Coleman
Football Coach of the Year — Robert White
Cheerleading Coordinator of the Year — Donnita Duff
The spotlight was taken on Feb. 18 by our 1,000 youth athletic achievers, who gathered in the Club’s upper gymnasium with their parents and coaches. Charter alumnus and Mathews-Dickey VP, Sports & Operations Tom Sullivan and alumnus and volunteer Leroy Witherspoon presided over the presentation of trophies in baseball, basketball, cheerleading and football. Three up-and-coming professional boxers had also made special appearances: Hollie Dunaway, the WIBA,WIBF &WIBC Women's Minimum weight World Champion, Jeri Sitzes, the NABF Women's Featherweight Champion; and Leon Bobo, undefeated at 15-0.
Corporate partners who made this event a reality were Anheuser-Busch, trophy underwriting; Macy’s, hospitality volunteers and youth goody bags; and Repco Graphics, souvenir program printing. 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.
Archived:
Mathews-Dickey Celebrates 46th Anniversary
Mathews-Dickey Celebrates “Forever Young: Five for ’05”
43nd Annual Awards Banquet Weekend Celebration
42nd Annual Awards Banquet Weekend Celebration
41st Annual Awards Banquet Weekend Celebration
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