* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] MUSIC. [Texas Black Legacy Fund Inaugural Event Celebrating Texas' Great Athletes Darrell Pierce Moderator / CEO, SNAP Management Group Stephanie Hayden Assistant City Manager Gaylon Clark Invocation Aaron Demerson Community Stakeholder Elaina Fowler Chair, African American Advisory Commission Introduces the Honoree Recipients: Rose Brimmer and Howard Ware Melvin White President, MRSW Management Introduces the Honoree Recipient: Rosemary Dupree and Roland Hayes Tyler Campbell Community Stakeholder Introduces the Honoree Recipient: Carlette Guidry-Falkquay and Carl Lewis Jeff Travillion Travis County Commissioner – Precinct 1 Max Lars Policy Strategist, Office of Mayor Watson Texas Black Legacy Fund – Proclamation ] GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. IF WE COULD HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET THE PROGRAM STARTED. FANTASTIC. HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY GOT A LITTLE APPETIZER AND HAVE A HEALTHY BEVERAGE TOP OF THE AFTERNOON. AND WELCOME TO THE TEXAS BLACK LEGACY FUND RECEPTION, CELEBRATING TEXAS GREATS. UH, I AM DE PIERCE CEO OF SNAP MANAGEMENT GROUP, AND IT IS A PLUM PLEASING PLEASURE TO BE YOUR MC FOR THIS EVENING. UH, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU, UH, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, STEPHANIE HAYDEN, WHO'S GONNA PROVIDE US, UH, WITH SOME MARKS, REMARKS AND FOLLOWING. UH, STEPHANIE, UH, LEE, PASTOR FROM GREATER MOUNT ZION. UH, GALEN CLARK IS GONNA GIVE US THE, UH, INVOCATION, SO THEY'RE GONNA RUN THE FIRST LEG OF THIS RELAY FOR US. GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON. OKAY, NOW, NOW WE'RE FAMILY. WE ALL, AND WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL WELCOME. SO I WAS GIVEN THE TASK OF SEEING WELCOME TO YOU ALL, BUT THIS IS OUR HOUSE AND WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD TIME. FIRST OF ALL, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. ON BEHALF OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO CITY HALL. THIS IS OUR FIRST INAUGURAL EVENT AND WE ARE SO EXCITED THAT THE TEXAS BLACK LEGACY FUND HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER. WE WANNA CELEBRATE OUR OWN GREAT ATHLETES. WE ARE EXCITED CITY, CITY HALL, MYSELF, ESPECIALLY MYSELF. I AM EXCITED TO CELEBRATE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A LONG PARTNERSHIP. WE KNOW THAT THE TEXAS BLACK LEGACY FUND WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT, NOT JUST ON AUSTIN, BUT ON THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE ARE EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES TO JUST SEE HOW WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE IN THIS INITIATIVE. AND FOR THE HONOREES. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF MEETING ONE EARLIER THIS EVENING. WE WANT YOU TO FEEL AT HOME. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. YOU HAVE JUST WARMED OUR HEARTS. AND WE JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, WE THINK THE WORLD OF YOU TODAY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS HISTORY BECAUSE THIS IS HISTORY. AND SO AS WE PRESERVE OUR LEGACIES AND BUILD BRIDGES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, WE KNOW THAT WE WILL BE THE CHANGE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME TO CITY HALL AND TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THANK YOU. LET'S PRAY. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS WORD HONOR, BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING, LORD, THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO US, THAT YOU WILL GIVE US GIFTS AND TALENTS AND ABILITIES AND THE CAPACITY TO TOUCH AND ALTER AND INSPIRE LIVES. WHAT AN HONOR YOU HAVE GIVEN TO US. AND LORD, IT IS TO THAT END THAT WE COME HERE ON TODAY BECAUSE WE REALIZE THAT AMONG US AND OUR OWN AND THOSE WHO ARE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, THERE IS HONOR THAT NEEDS TO BE PASSED OUT. THANK YOU LORD FOR THE IMPACT OF SPORTS, FOR THE IMPACT OF LORD, ATHLETIC ENDEAVORS. CAUSE EVERY ONE OF US, WE HAVE BEEN INSPIRED. WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THROUGH THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN, THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE IN ATHLETIC COMPETITION. AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR THE LESSONS THAT YOU TAUGHT US THERE. RESILIENCE, CONNECTION, TEAMWORK, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. WE REALIZE THAT THIS COMES FROM YOU AND I THANK YOU, FATHER, THAT, [00:05:01] UH, LORD, ALL OF US WHO ARE HERE, LORD, WE REALIZE THE WORTH OF HONORING OTHERS. NOW, WILL YOU MARRY WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY WITH EDUCATION IN THE DAYS AHEAD, IN WAYS THAT BUILDS BRIDGES FOR THE FUTURE, EVEN AS HAS BEEN LAID OUT BY THIS TEXAS BLACK LEGACY FUND? AND LORD, WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE THAT. WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE ALL THAT YOU DO THROUGH THIS, THIS ORGANIZATION. IN THE NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY, AMEN. THANK YOU STEPHANIE. THANK YOU PC. GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. AND THANK ALL OF YOU AGAIN FOR ATTENDING. UH, LET ME SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW DID WE ACTUALLY GET HERE. UH, STANDING HERE IN SEA HALL REMINDS ME OF ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, 2006. THEN OUR CITY MANAGER MANAGER WAS TOBY FOR TRAIL. AND TOBY MENTIONED THAT DUE TO SOME RACE RELATIONS WE HAD HERE LOCALLY, SHE DESCRIBED AUSTIN AS HAVING A HOLE IN ITS SOUL. NOW, SOME OF YOU'ALL WHO'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH MAY REMEMBER, UH, THOSE TIMES AND THOSE EVENTS THAT LED HER TO MAKING THOSE COMMENTS. THE CREATION OF THE TEXAS BLACK LEGACY FUND, UH, IS POSITIONED TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON FILLING THIS HOLE. SO IT'S NOT MY INTENTION TO TRY TO CONVINCE YOU HOW BIG THE HOLE IS OR HOW SMALL IT IS, BUT I WILL ASSURE YOU THE WHOLE DOES STILL EXIST. SO IT IS OUR GOAL TO HAVE AN IMPACT. UH, AFTER MANY QUESTIONS AND REFLECTIONS WERE MADE, UH, WE MOVE TOWARDS ACTION. IN ESTABLISHING WORK GROUPS WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS, WE CREATED A VISION, AND YOU'VE HEARD PART OF THAT THIS EVENING, HONORING THE LEGACY OF TEXAS BLACK ATHLETES AND BUILDING BRIDGES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. SO IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT WE KNOW TO HAVE A VISION, BUT LIKE ANY VISION, YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME CLEAR GOALS. AND THE GOALS THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED, WHICH WHAT BRINGS US HERE ON THIS INAUGURAL DAY FOR THIS INAUGURAL RECEPTION IS TO BEGIN TO HOST ANNUALLY, UH, AN EVENT, A RECEPTION THAT ALLOWS US TO ACKNOWLEDGE, CELEBRATE, AND HONOR TEXAS GREAT ATHLETES. THE SECOND GOAL THAT WE HAVE IS TO PROVIDE SEED FUNDING FOR BUSINESSES OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD LIKE TO HOST THEMATIC SOCIAL EVENTS, ENTERTAINMENT, COMMUNITY EVENTS AROUND THE RELAYS. UH, THERE WAS A TIME NOT TOO LONG AGO WHERE, UH, YOU HAD ONLY MANY MUSIC VENUE OPTIONS. YOU HAD ACTIVITY ON SIXTH STREET. YOU HAD, UH, FRATERNITY AND SORORITY GROUPS WHO WERE HOSTING EVENTS AT HOTELS. UH, HERE AT LOCALLY. UH, YOU HAD SOME ORGANIZED ACTIVITY, SOMEONE ORGANIZED, UH, SOMETIMES YOU HAD, UH, I WOULD SAY CAR SHOWS THAT WERE NOT NECESSARILY PLAYING. UM, BUT THEY HAD A CAR SHOW. BUT IN ANY EVENT, IT WAS A WAY THAT ORGANICALLY OUR CULTURE NATURALLY LIKES TO CELEBRATE. THAT'S DEFINITELY ARTICULATED. SO WE WANT TO BRING SOME OF THOSE CREATIVE IDEAS BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY. SO WHEN WE HAVE PATRONS WHO ARE COMING FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE, ALL ACROSS THE WORLD FOR THE TEXAS RELAYS, THAT THEY HAVE VENUES AND OPTIONS TO SEE HOW AUSTIN REPRESENTS ALL. AND OUR IDEA IS THAT WE WANNA BE TO PROVIDE SEED FUNDING FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAS AN IDEA. WE WANNA BE ABLE TO STAND THEM UP AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR BUSINESS OR THEIR BUSINESS IDEAL TO BECOME A REALITY. A THIRD GOAL, PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ATHLETES, NOT ON SCHOLARSHIP, BUT FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY STUDENT ATHLETE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A STUDENT ATHLETE AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY HARD, WORK HARD, BUT ENJOY THAT COLLEGE EXPERIENCE. AND OUR LAST GOAL IS TO PROVIDE INTERNSHIPS FOR STUDENT ATHLETES FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. YOU KNOW, EVERY STUDENT DESERVES TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A PROFESSIONAL, UH, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PROFESSIONAL BY WALKING IN THE SHOES AND HAVING PROFESSIONALS AS EXAMPLES. SO THAT WAS OUR FIRST SPRINT. OUR FIRST SPRINT BRINGS US HERE THIS EVENING. OUR SECOND SPRINT. WE HAVE ALREADY, UH, AS OUR, UH, HONOREE ACCOUNTANT SHARED WITH ME THIS EVENING, WE HAVE FILED FOR OUR E I N NUMBER. UH, WE HAVE THE NAME THAT'S BEEN FILED. AND SO THIS WILL ALLOW US IN OUR SECOND SPRINT WHEN WE COME BACK HERE A YEAR FROM NOW, TO BE MUCH FURTHER ALONG THAN THIS RACE AND [00:10:01] BE PREPARED TO SEE SOME OF THESE GOALS BECOME A REALITY. AN EVENT LIKE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT SUPPORT. AND SO I WANT TO CLEARLY, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, OUR SPONSORS. UH, OUR GOAL SPONSOR FOR THIS EVENT THIS EVENING IS THE AUSTIN REVITALIZATION, UH, AUTHORITY. AND WE CAN SAVE THE APPLAUSE UNTIL I READ ALL THE SPONSORS, PLEASE. UH, SILVER SPONSOR IS SNAP MANAGEMENT GROUP. I'M PROUD TO BE THE C E O OF OF SNAP, S T R CONSTRUCTION, AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE, AND SUNFLOWER BANK, WHO WILL ALSO BE SERVING AS OUR THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR. OUR BRONZE SPONSORS INCLUDES ADISA COMMUNICATIONS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS CLUB. PLEASE JOIN ME AND THANK YOU IN EACH ONE OF THESE SPONSORS FOR THE GRACIOUS SUPPORT. AND AS I SHARED, WE HAD MANY COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS THAT WERE A PART OF, UH, THIS SUCCESS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN BEING SO GRACIOUS TO HOST THIS FACILITY, WHICH WE THOUGHT WOULD BE IDEAL FOR A INAUGURAL EVENT. UH, BRANDY DAVIDSON FAN FROM ARA, UH, I'M GONNA ASK GREG TO GIVE HER AT LEAST TWO DAYS OFF IN ADDITION TO THE WEEKEND FOR ALL OF HER HARD WORK. UH, CHEF, UH, JAY RODDY, YOU ALL ARE ENJOYING SOME OF HER GREAT CUISINE. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD SOME, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU PARTICIPATE. AND AS I OFTENTIMES BELIEVE TEAMWORKS MAKE COMMUNITY CHANGE WORK. NOW FOR THE REAL REASON THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE, UH, IS TO RECOGNIZE A FEW TEXT GREATS. AND LET ME SHARE WITH YOU, I'VE BEEN VERY SPOILED IN BEING A HOUSEHOLD WITH ALL WOMEN. I HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS, MY WIFE AND I AM, HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF PRACTICE ON HOW MY ONE VOTE NEVER COUNTS . BUT THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE, WE'VE BEEN ULTIMATELY BLESSED AT A WHOLE NOTHER LEVEL OF BEING ABLE TO APPRECIATE TOUCHING GREATNESS, BEING AROUND GREATNESS, BECAUSE OUR TWIN DAUGHTERS, ONE OF THEM, HAD THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY OF BEING COACHED OR PLAYING AND BEING PART OF THE ORGANIZATION OF COACH DON STALEY AND WON A CHAMPIONSHIP AND NOW HAS WENT ON TO WORK FOR THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION. UH, HER SISTER HAD THE GREAT HONOR OF BEING A PART OF THE ORGANIZATION WITH COACH KIM MOKI. AND OF COURSE, THEY WON TW SEVERAL BACK TO BACK BIG 12. AND NOW, UH, SHE IS WORKING FOR THE BARCLAYS SYSTEM, UH, SYSTEM. THE YOUNGER SISTER DIDN'T WANNA BE OUTDONE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ALL THESE RINGS AND HARD WORK COMING INTO THE HOUSE, AND SHE'S THINKING THE BIG SISTERS GET ALL THE ATTENTION. SHE WAS JUST COMPLETED PLAYING LAST YEAR WITH A GREAT, UH, VOLLEYBALL COACH BY THE NAME OF JARED ELLIOT. ANYBODY HAPPENS TO KNOW THAT NAME, UH, AT ALL. AND THEY WON A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. SO YOU COULD SEE BY JUST BEING AROUND GREATNESS, WE HAVE A GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF ENJOYING AND CELEBRATING GREATNESS WHILE PEOPLE ARE LIVING. AND NOW SHE'S PLAYING FOR GEORGIA TECH AND WILL BE ONE OF THEIR STARTING MIDDLES, UH, THIS COMING YEAR. THANK YOU. SO LAWYERS NEVER PROVIDES ENOUGH OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE OUR APPRECIATION FOR GREATNESS WHILE WE ARE ON THIS SIDE OF THE DIRT. BUT TODAY WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO IT'S A PLEASURE FOR ME TO PASS THE BATON OVER TO MY TEAM MEMBER, AARON DEMERSON, WHO'S GOING TO INTRODUCE THE 2023 TEXAS BLACK LEADERSHIP FUND HONOREES. AARON, THANK YOU GERALD, AS ALWAYS, UH, A PLEASURE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH DELL. UH, KNOWN HIM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND SO HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS TWO, UH, THREE DAUGHTERS AND, UH, AND HIS WIFE DENISE, AND HE DOESN'T HAVE A VOTE. AND I HAVE TWO BOYS, MYSELF AND MY WIFE. AND I DON'T HAVE A VOTE EITHER, SO I WORKS THE WAY SOME BOYS AND GIRLS ALIVE WE'RE, WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. LET ME, FIRST OF ALL, THANK STEPHANIE, UH, FOR WELCOME US OUT HERE, MAYOR WATSON, UH, UM, FOR HAVING US HERE. AND ALSO THE PRAYER THAT, UH, REVEREND CLARK PROVIDED. IT'S JUST PHENOMENAL. IT KIND OF SAID IT ALL IN A SENSE OF, UH, BRIDGING, UH, THE FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH, UH, EDUCATION AND, AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. AND SO, UH, I HAD AN HONOR OF BEING ON, SERVING ON THE AWARDS COMMITTEE AND PROUD TO SERVE UNDER MELVIN WHITE. WHERE'S MELVIN? IF MELVIN WHITE AND ALSO ROGER DAVIS, I SAW ROGER OVER THERE AS WELL. THOSE ARE TWO MEMBERS OF THE AWARDS COMMITTEE, SO LET'S LEAVE THEM ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS WELL. AND SO IT'S BEEN SAID TODAY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE GREATNESS. AND WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE THAT GREATNESS IN THREE CATEGORIES THAT THIS AFTERNOON. FIRST, UH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE BOBBY JACKET COACHING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD. YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ABOUT BARBARA JACKET THROUGH A PROCLAMATION A LITTLE BIT LATER, AND YOU'LL FIND OUT AND REALLY RESONATE WITH WHY WE SELECTED BARBARA JACKET AND WHY WE SELECTED THESE [00:15:01] INDIVIDUALS UNDER THE BARBARA JACKET COACHING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD. NEXT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE JAMES COACH WILSON OFFICIATING THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD FOR MANY OF YOU GUYS THAT ARE HERE FROM AUSTIN, YOU, YOU DEFINITELY KNOW ABOUT COACH, UH, COACH WILSON AND ALL THAT HE'S DONE. YOU'RE GONNA HEAR INFORMATION ABOUT HIM THROUGH A PROCLAMATION AS WELL. AND YOU'LL SEE THE, UH, TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE RECOGNIZED UNDER THE JAMES COACH WILSON OFFICIATING THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD AS WELL. AND THEN LASTLY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE ATHLETIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OF WHITE THAT'S GONNA COME UP AND BE PRESENTED. THE HONORARY CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION OF THE AWARDS CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING. WE WERE LOOKING AT FOLKS THAT PARTICIPATED IN COLLEGE SPORT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHO ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY AN ESTABLISHED HALL OF FAME ORGANIZATION AS WELL. SOMEONE WHO'S OFFICIATED REFEREE OUR COACH FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. AND THEN LASTLY, SOMEONE THAT'S AFFILIATED WITH OR CREATED A COMMUNITY SERVICE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, UH, AS WELL. AND THE RECIPIENTS TONIGHT HAVE DONE ALL OF THAT PLUS SOME. AND SO THE RECIPIENT TONIGHT WILL RECEIVE EACH, UH, PLAQUE COMMEMORATING THIS OCCASION THAT ALSO RECEIVE A GIFT FROM THE UT CLUB AND A MOMENT THAT INVITATION THAT SIGNIFIES THIS EVENT. PLUS, AT A LATER DATE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A HISTORICAL DOCUMENT THAT CELEBRATES AND DOCUMENTS THIS INAUGURAL CELEBRATION THAT WE'RE HOSTING HERE TODAY. AND SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO BRING UP ELENA FOWLER, WHO'S THE, UH, CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION TO PRESENT THE DOC, THE FIRST AWARD, THE BOBBY JACKET COACHING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD. ELENA, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AARON. TONIGHT WE ARE HERE TO HONOR SOME VERY OUTSTANDING COACHES, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING THIS TONIGHT, AND IT GETS ME GREAT JOY. A LEADER IS ONE WHO SHARES EXPERIENCE ENSURES A BRIGHT FUTURE AND LEAVES A LEGACY OF SUCCESS IN OUR LIVES. THERE ARE MANY INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WHO INSPIRE MOLD, OUR CHARACTER AND FUTURE. THESE MENTORS, THESE ARE MENTORS, LEADERS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND FORMS, NEVER FAILING TO PROVIDE MOTIVATION AND ADVICE FOR A GREAT NUMBER OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ATHLETES. SUCH INSPIRATION. INSPIRATION COMES IN FORM OF A COACH. THESE RECIPIENTS, AZU COMMITMENT AND INFLUENCE GOES FAR BEYOND THE FIELD. A EXTENDING INTO THE CLASSROOM RELATIONSHIPS AND PERSONAL CONFIDENCE. WITHOUT YOU, MANY OF YOUR PLAYERS WOULD NOT HAVE THE SELF-CONFIDENCE, THE HUMBLENESS AND SUCCESS THAT THEY HAVE TODAY. AND YOUR SACRIFICE DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. YOU SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE OF WISDOM, SELFLESSNESS AND PASSION. AN EXAMPLE CARRIED BY ALL THOSE YOU HAVE TAUGHT AND OWN AND OFF OF THE FIELD TO MANY BLACK ATHLETES. YOU ARE THEIR ROLE MODEL. YOU SPEAK THE TRUTH IN INSTILL CONFIDENCE, AND YOU PASS THE TORCH FOR THESE TWO EXEMPLARY COACHES TONIGHT, ROSE BRIMMER AND HOWARD WARE. THESE TWO COACHES HAVE GIVEN THEIR COMMITMENT AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE SPORT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TO THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYER. THEIR DEDICATION HAS NEVER FAILED FOR THEM TO GIVE THEIR ALL. IT IS MY HONOR TO BRING UP MS. ROSE BREMER AND TO PRESENT HER WITH THE TEXAS RELAY'S BARBARA JACKET COACHING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD. YES, I KNOW. I'LL MISSER ONE MOMENT. I'M GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MS. BREMER. COACH BREMER, IF I CAN. COACH BREMMER IS A LONGTIME STAPLE, WAS A LONGTIME STAPLE AT WEST AT WESTBURY. BREMMER SERVED AS A TEACHER AND A COACH. COME ON HERE. A TEACHER AND A COACH OF TRACK AND FIELD CROSS COUNTRY BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL SINCE 1986, I'M GOING WAY BACK. . AS THE GIRLS HEAD, TRACK AND FIELD COACH, HER RASPBERRY SQUADS WON FOUR CONSECUTIVE CLASS FIVE A CHAMPIONSHIPS THROUGH 1997 TO 2000. IN ADDITION TO HER LEADING HER WESTBERRY SQUADS TO STATE PROMINENCE, COACH BRIMA ALSO HAS DEVELOPED THE LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONS AND ALL AMERICANS. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP WESTBURY STUDENT ATHLETES WENT ON TO COMPETE IN INTERCOLLEGIATE [00:20:01] TRACK AND FIELD WHILE NINE OF HER SENIORS FROM THE CLASS OF 2004 WERE SIGNED. NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT OVER OFFERED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE 2004 2005 ACADEMIC YEAR FOLLOWING HER CAREER AT REST, VERY HIGH. COACH BREMER WAS RECRUITED TO BRING HER CHAMPIONSHIP ATTITUDE AND BUILD AND LEAD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HERE IN AUSTIN. AND TRACK AND FIELD UPHELD BY HER COLLEAGUES AS A WELL-ROUNDED INDIVIDUAL WHO PASSIONATELY CARES ABOUT HER STUDENT ATHLETE. SHE EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF ACADEMICS AND FOSTERING A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR HER STUDENTS AND ATHLETES TO GROW IN. COACH GRIMER, WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR STUDENTS AND FOR YOUR TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES. THANK YOU. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME TO HAVE THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SAY SOMETHING. DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? DO I HAVE TO? YOU DON'T HAVE TO . I'LL SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE, THANK YOU TO ALL THESE GREAT PEOPLE. UM, AT FIRST I HEARD SOME OF MY KIDS, I WANNA BE FIRST IF I'M JUST GOING ACROSS THE STREET, SO YAY. FIRST . AND TO BE GETTING IT IN IN HONOR OF COACH JACKET IS A DOUBLE AMAZING, AMAZING THING. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND SHARING, WHICH I DIG UP THAT INFORMATION FOR. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT RECIPIENT IS MR. HOWARD WARE. WHERE IS MR. WHERE YOU, I'M GONNA THINK A COUPLE WORDS ABOUT ALL RIGHT. SOME MORE ON THAT. YES, SIR. UM, COACH, WE, FOLLOWING HIS EDUCATION AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, MR. W HAS DEDICATED DECADES OF EXCELLENCE THROUGH HIS LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO YOUTH AND HIS COMMUNITY. HIS DISTINGUISHED ACCOMPLISHMENT INCLUDE AM AMATEUR ATHLETIC UNION COACH OF THE YEAR, A DEDICATION OF HIS OWN DAY BY MAYOR BRUCE TODD IN 1992, FOUNDER OF THE AUSTIN STRIDER'S TRACK CLUB. THEN IN 19, THEN IN 1994, GOVERNOR ANN RICHARDS DECLARED AUSTIN STRIDER'S DAY OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH TRACK OF THE AUSTIN STRIDER'S TRACK CLUB IN 1989. AND HE FOUNDED IN 1989. HE WAS PERSON OF THE WEEK AND COACH OF THE YEAR IN 1999 BY STATE FARM. HE PRESENTLY SERVES AS HEAD COACH OF THE TRACK AND FIELD AT HOUSTON TILLESON UNIVERSITY COACH, WHERE WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GREAT SPIRIT AND COMMITMENT TO AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HERE IN AUSTIN. AND WE CONGRATULATE YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING AND STUFF. IT'S BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE. I LIVED IN AUSTIN A. LONG TIME. I'M A LOUISIANA MAN AND I CAN'T COOK , SO , BUT I, I'M PLEASED TO HAVE MY BROTHERS HERE AND UM, I JUST REALLY LIKE WHAT I DID IN AUSTIN, BUT RIGHT NOW I'M LIVING IN ACHE, WHICH IS OUR PLOS AND I'M FIRMLY COACHING AT NOR WEST HIGH SCHOOL. WE'VE WON THREE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. I'VE BEEN THERE FOR FIVE YEARS. WHAT CAN I SAY? THANK YOU. ANOTHER BIG APPLAUSE FROM ROSE, WE AND COACH HALL. SO NEXT WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO THE JAMES COACH WILSON OFFICIATING THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD AND PRESENTING THE JAMES COACH WILSON OFFICIATING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AWARD WILL BE MEL WHITE, UH, CHAIR OF OUR NOMINEE, UH, AWARDS COMMITTEE. MEL WHITE. THANK YOU AARON. WE WANTED TO START [00:25:01] OFF BY SAYING THERE ARE ABOUT FOUR QUALIFICATIONS TO BEING AN OFFICIAL. ONE MUST HAVE INTEGRITY, ONE MUST BE HONEST, ONE MUST BE FAIR, AND MOST OF ALL ONE MUST BE IMPARTIAL. AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT I KNEW COACH WILSON AND HE'S THE EMBODIMENT OF ALL OF THESE PLUS MANY MORE. AND I'M JUST HONORED TO BE ABLE TO STAND AND TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT COACH WILSON. YOU'LL HERE SOMETHING LATER. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT I WANNA, FIRST I'M GONNA DO MINE A LITTLE DIFFERENT. I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT THE HONORARY OF THE JAMES COACH WILSON OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD TO ROSEMARY DUPREE. CAN YOU COME FORWARD? STAND THERE. SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. SHE LATER ATTENDED WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY WHERE SHE LETTERED. MR. PREE HAS BEEN A TRACK AND FIELD OFFICIAL FOR 30 PLUS YEARS. AND IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TRACK AND FIELD MASTER CERTIFIED OFFICIAL, SHE HAS SERVED AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR SOUTH TEXAS AMATEUR ATHLETICS UNION TRACK FOR OVER A DECADE. SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE OFFICIAL COORDINATOR FOR ALL SOUTH TEXAS A A U SUMMER MEETS. AND HE STALLONE TRIPLE LONGHAND TRIPLE JUMP AT THE A A U JUNIOR OLYMPICS, WHICH IS THE LARGEST COMPETITOR FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY. 28,000. SOME OF OUR ACCOLADES INCLUDE SOUTH TEXAS A A U TRACK AND FIELD HALL OF FAME, TEXAS RELAY OFFICIAL FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE. AND THE A A U JUNIOR OLYMPIC GAMESES 28 YEARS OF SERVICE. SHE IS CURRENTLY THE ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH OF TRACK AND FIELD AT UNIVERSITY OF INCARNATE WORD. SHE HAS THREE CHILDREN, MICHAEL JUNIOR, RYAN, AND MARCUS. PLEASE HELP ME CONGRATULATE ROSE MARY FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION AND SERVICE IN THE CATEGORY OF LAST ONE. 1, 2, 3 OH OH. I'M SORRY. I'LL BE VERY SHORT. JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. UM, IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY. I'M STILL AT IT AS A COACH. UH, ABSOLUTELY ENJOY, UH, HAVING AN IMPACT ON YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIVES. UM, DO IT EVERY DAY. I'M HERE WITH MY OLDEST SON AND HIS WIFE AND TWO GRANDCHILDREN AND, UM, THIS IS AN AMAZING EVENT. UM, HOPE THAT IT CONTINUES ON AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT ARE IN ATTENDANCE AND A VERY APPRECIATIVE THANKS. THANK YOU. I'M ALSO PLEASED TO PRESENT THE HONOREE, THE OTHER HONOREE FOR THE JAMES COACH WILSON OFFICIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD TO MR. ROLAND HAYES. MR. HAYES WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MARSHALL, TEXAS. HE LATER ATTENDED LANGSTON UNIVERSITY AND EARNED A BA. HE THEN WENT ON TO MICHIGAN STATE WHERE HE EARNED AN MA. MR. HAYES BEGAN HIS FOOTBALL OFFICIATING CAREER IN 1967 IN DALLAS, TEXAS. THAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT INTEGRATION HAPPENED FOR OFFICIALS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. MADE HISTORY, IT GETS BETTER. MR. HAYES OFFICIATED CAREER WAS OVER 40 YEARS. HIS DESIRE TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL WAS TO HELP DIVERSIFY THE OFFICIATING IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS. MR. HAY, THE TRIBUTES, HIS PERSPECTIVE ON OFFICIATING TO THE STYLE OF THE LATE JAMES WILSON [00:30:01] AND HIS IMPARTIALITY IN OFFICIATING SOME OF MR. HAYES ACCOLADES INCLUDE HE'S PUBLICATIONS TO THE OF THE TEXAS STATE ASSOCIATION, THE HANDBOOK OF TEXAS. HIS INTERVIEW OF THE LAKE BARBARA JORDAN, WHICH IS A PART OF THE LBJ PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY. ORAL HISTORY. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR TEXAS EMPOWERMENT ACADEMY SCHOOLS, THE PART OF THE BLACK TEXAS BLACK HISTORY PRESERVATION PROJECT, THE TEXAS ALLIANCE OF BLACK SCHOOL EDUCATORS, JUST TO NAME A FEW. MR. HAYES HAS BEEN EMPLOYED AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE SINCE 1973 AND IS CURRENTLY A PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AND DIRECTOR OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE. HE IS MARRIED TO CHRISTINE AND HAVE FOUR CHILDREN, ROCHELLE RASHONDA, RASHARD, AND MONIKA. HE TOLD ME ALL THEIR NAME WAS R C H, JUST LIKE HE IS HIS INITIALS. . PLEASE HELP ME CONGRATULATE COACH ROLAND, MR. ROLAND FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION AND SERVICE. I'D LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR COMING TO THIS OCCASION. I WANNA START WITH MY WIFE. SHE COULDN'T BE HERE BECAUSE SHE'S HAVING SOME ISSUES, BUT WITHOUT HER I WOULD NOT BE HERE. BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY, EZER BAPTIST CHURCH MEMBERSHIP, OUR PASTOR AND THE MEMBERS. I WANNA THANK THE EMPLOYEES OF THE MY FELLOW WORKERS AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE. I'M ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE THAT PRAYED AND GOD ANSWERED AND GAVE ME WHAT I ASKED FOR. I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND I GOT A CHANCE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND GET A DEGREE AND GOT A CHANCE TO GET A GOOD JOB AT A PLACE THAT WANTS TO DO THAT IN A TOWN WHERE THE PEOPLE WANT IT TO BE DONE. AND I THANK GOD FOR THAT. YES, I COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT. I WANNA THANK THE OFFICIALS WHO WORK WITH ME ON THE FIELD, LIKE MY BROTHER THERE, BROTHER MAZE, AND ANY OTHER BROTHER THAT I MAY HAVE MISSED. AND I DON'T CARE WHAT COMPLEXION OR WHAT MISSES DO YOU ARE, I'VE BECAME A GOOD OFFICIAL BECAUSE YOU'VE MADE ME A BE OFFICIAL. YES. AND I APPRECIATE THIS HONOR. AND IN CLOSING THAT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A BETTER PERSON FOR THIS TO BE NAMED FOR JAMES WILSON, WHO INSPIRED, LET, LET US KNOW WAS MY INSPIRATION WHEN I CAME TO AUSTIN BECAUSE OF WHAT HE WOULD DO AND WHAT HE WOULD INSTILL IN US AS OFFICIALS. AND HE DIDN'T READ EVERYTHING I TOLD HIM. THANK GOD HE DIDN'T. BUT I BECAME A BETTER OFFICIAL AFTER I MET SOMEBODY LIKE JAMES RUSSELL AND CHARLES AKINS BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE SAW SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T SEE BECAUSE I DIDN'T GO TO, INTO OFFICIATING BECAUSE I WANTED TO DO SOME THINGS THAT PEOPLE THINK IT WANTED TO BE DONE. I WANTED TO BE ON THE FIELD TO BALANCE THE SCALE. AND I GOT A CHANCE TO DO THAT. AND I APPRECIATE IT. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING ME HONOR US AND ACCEPTANCE AWARD. GOD BLESS US ALL. LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE TEXAS BLACK LEGACY FUND. THIS IS, UH, AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME. THE LEGACY FUND AND THE RECIPIENTS. UH, THEY ARE, UH, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY GO OVER TO THE EAST VIEW CAMPUS AND VISIT WITH ROLAND. UH, THE RESOURCE CENTER, UH, IS THE MUSEUM IS PRETTY AMAZING. AND SO LASTLY, WE'RE GOING TO BRING UP THE ATHLETICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD. IN PRESENTING THAT AWARD CATEGORY WILL BE TYLER CAMPBELL WITH TC SPEAKS. TYLER, WHAT AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THESE NEXT TWO RECIPIENTS. [00:35:01] AND I THINK I CAN'T INTRODUCE THEM WITHOUT STATING THE FACT THAT WHAT MAKES THEM SO SPECIAL IS THEY UTILIZE THEIR ATHLETIC CAPABILITY TO BLOW OPEN A DOOR. BUT WHAT'S MORE IMPRESSIVE IS THE FACT THAT THEY STOOD BY THAT DOOR ONCE THEY OPENED IT, TO LEAVE IT OPEN FOR GENERATIONS TO CONTINUE TO WALK THROUGH. AND SO WE KNOW THEIR ACCOLADES, MANY OF US DO. BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS I HOPE YOU RECOGNIZE WHO THEY ARE AS A PERSON, ASIDE FROM THEIR ATHLETIC CAPABILITY WITH MISS CARLETTE GUIDRY. PLEASE COME UP HERE. HOUSTON STERLING LADY RAIDERS, CARLETTE GUIDRY NICKNAME TURBO COMPETED FOR STERLING HIGH SCHOOL FROM 1983 TO 1986. GID WAS COACHED BY EDWARD G. ROBINSON WITH HIS GUIDANCE. GID BECAME ONE OF THE GREATEST HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES FOR BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS. GID WAS A MEMBER OF THE LADY RAIDERS STATE FIVE A CHAMPIONSHIP AND CONTRIBUTED TO TWO OF THE THREE FIVE A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER COACH EDWARD G. ROBINSON. GID, YOU WAS THE FIVE A CHAMPION IN THE 100 METERS, 200 METERS LONG JUMP AND TRIPLE JUMP. Y'ALL MIGHT AS WELL GIVE HER THE WHOLE GID. YOU IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE FOUR BY 100 METERS AND THE FOUR BY 400 METER TEAM AS A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. Y'ALL LISTENED TO THIS AS A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, TURBO SCORED 43 POINTS AT THE FIVE A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND PLAY SECOND IN THE TEAM STANDINGS BY HERSELF, BY HERSELF. GIRE, CONTINUE THE COLLEGIATE EDUCATION AS A STUDENT ATHLETE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. Y'ALL GO AHEAD AND THROW IT UP. FROM 1987 TO 1991, WHILE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN GUIDRY CAPTURED 23 ALL AMERICAN TITLES AND GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN IN 1994 WITH A BACHELOR'S ARTS DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY. AFTER COMPETING AS A LADY I HORN GI COMPLETED BOTH NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY IN TRACK AND FIELD FOR 13 YEARS AND WAS RANKED IN THE TOP 10 NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY FOR SEVERAL YEARS. IN BOTH THE 100 AND 200 METER SPRINT, SHE HAD IT GOING ON. Y'ALL GID ON TO REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN 1992 AND 1996 OLYMPICS AND COMPETED IN THE 200 METERS AND FOUR BY 100 METER RELAYS. CARLETTE GID WON OLYMPIC GOLD IN THE FOUR BY 100 METER RELAY. GI DID YOU LET TO RENOWNED LEGACY AS THE FASTEST WOMAN SPRINTER IN THE SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE. KNOWN NOW TODAY AS THE BIG 12 CARLETTE GID ALSO RECEIVED HONORS OF THE SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE ATHLETE OF THE DECADE IN 2000, CARLETTE GID WAS INDUCTED HIS UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LADY LONGHORNS ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME. AND IN 2015, IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, TEXAS RELAYS RENAMED UNIVERSITY WOMEN FOUR BY 100 METER RELAY TO CARLETTE GUIDRY UNIVERSITY. HUNDRED CARLETTE CONTINUES TO GIVE BACK IN MANY SEEN AND UNSEEN WAYS, PROVIDING ADVICE AND WISDOM TO STUDENT ATHLETES AND MANY OTHERS PURSUING THEIR DREAMS. NOW YOU DON'T THINK I GOT THIS, BUT THIS CAME AS AN AUDIBLE. SHE ALSO HAS THE INTENSITY TRACK CLUB STUDENT SPONSOR. IS THAT CORRECT? ALL RIGHT, WE GOT THAT. I'M MAKING SURE I'M DOING SO I'M GET IN TROUBLE Y'ALL. ALL RIGHT. CARLE GUIDRY IS MARRIED TO CALVIN FWAY AND THEY ARE THE PROUD PARENTS OF MACKAY MARIE FWAY. PLEASE GIVE HER ANOTHER WARM ROUND OF APPLAUSE. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE TEXAS BLACK LEGACY, UH, FOR, UM, HONORING ME. UM, IT SEEMS LIKE, UM, WHEN I'M GOING THROUGH ALL THESE ACCOLADES THAT I'M, I'M HEARING ABOUT MYSELF, LIKE DID I REALLY DO THAT? BUT FOR ME IT WAS JUST I HAD A GOAL AND I HAD SOME DREAMS AND I HAD SOME GREAT SUPPORT AROUND ME TO ENCOURAGE ME TO DO THE THINGS THAT I WANTED [00:40:01] TO DO. SO ALL THOSE ACCOLADES THAT I ACHIEVED, THEY WERE EASY TO ACHIEVE BECAUSE I HAD A SUPPORT SYSTEM. I HAD A PRAYING MOM. I STILL HAVE A PRAYING MOM. AND, UM, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO FOR THAT. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE SOME WONDERFUL FRIENDS IN THE ROOM, DR. TAANA, UM, TONY KING, UM, MS. FLOO. UM, SO I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE EVERYONE HERE TO SUPPORT ME. UM, JUST SAY A FEW MORE THINGS. DON'T STAY TOO LONG, BUT EVERYTHING IN HERE, I'M SITTING THERE THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING COMES FULL CIRCLE. UM, I KNOW I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF, UM, COACHING, UM, YOUR DAUGHTER. UM, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEFORE I STARTED OUT WITH MY INTENSITY TRACK CLUB, I WAS PART OF THE AUSTIN STRIDERS TRACK TEAM. HE GAVE MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO BE A COACH AND ENCOURAGED ME. SO, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT HISTORY IN THIS ROOM, A LOT OF GREAT SUPPORT THAT I HAVE IN THIS ROOM. SO I SAY KEEP, KEEP GOING. KEEP SUPPORTING, UM, AFRICAN AMERICANS AND MINORITY STUDENTS BECAUSE AT THIS TIME THEY NEED A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT, A LOT OF MENTORSHIPS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HUG THEM HORNS FOR OUR NEXT RECIPIENT. I HAVE TO GET THIS RIGHT CUZ MY MOM, MY MOM IS A DIEHARD HOUSTON COUGAR CUZ THAT'S HER ALUM. SO I GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT I GET THIS CORRECT OR MY MAMA GONNA KILL ME. . OKAY, FOR OUR NEXT RECIPIENT, MR. CARL LEWIS. DURING HIS CAREER, CARL LEWIS WON NINE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS AND ATTENDED FOUR OLYMPIC GAMES, EARNING HIMSELF INTERNATIONAL RESPECT AND PLACE IN OUR HISTORY. AS ONE OF THE TRULY GREAT ATHLETES OF ALL TIME, WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING BACK AN ACTIVIST FOR FAMILY, YOUTH, EDUCATION, WELLNESS, AND FITNESS, CARL LEWIS BRINGS HIS INTERNATIONAL CELEBRITY TO ATTRACT AWARENESS FOR CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES SURROUNDING THESE ISSUES ALL AROUND THE WORLD. DURING HIS CAREER AS AN OLYMPIC ATHLETE, CARL LEWIS WAS PART OF FIVE AMERICAN OLYMPIC TEAMS WINNING 10 MEDALS. LORD HAVE MERCY, NONE OF THEM BEING GOLD. WITH UNSUPPRESSED TALENT IN THE LONG JUMP AND HIS SPEED IN THE SPRINTS, HE HAS GONE PLACES WHERE NO OTHER TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE HAS EVER VISITED. HIS FIVE OLYMPIC APPEARANCES ARE A RECORD FOR A MALE ATHLETE AND MANY OF HIS OLYMPIC PERFORMANCES WERE IN WERE IN WORLD OR WERE IN THE WORLD OF OUR OLYMPIC RECORD. IN IN WORLD OR OLYMPIC RECORD, TOM, EXCUSE ME, HIS IMPRESSIVE TRACK AND FIELD PERFORMANCES EARNED HIM THE TITLE OF THE ATHLETE OF THE CENTURY. SINCE HIS RETIREMENT FROM ACTIVE COMPETITION IN 1997, CARL LEWIS HAS DEVOTED A GREAT DEAL OF HIS TIME AND ENERGY TO CHARITY. FOUNDING THE CARL LEWIS FOUNDATION, WHICH SERVES AS AN UMBRELLA FOR THE MANY CHARITIES THAT LEWIS SUPPORTS, INCLUDING THE BEST BUDDIES ORGANIZATION, THE WENDY MARKS FOUNDATION, OR THE OREGON DONOR AWARENESS, RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES, AND MANY OTHER YOUTH FITNESS GROUPS. CARL IS ALSO A UNITED NATION'S AMBASSADOR FOR THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION AND THE HEAD COACH. COME ON, MAMA HEAD COACH OF TRACK AND FIELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. ROUND OF APPLAUSE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. MR. CARL DAVIS, I GOT YOU BROTHER MELVIN JUST WANTED HIM TO GET HIS ALBUM. HIS APPLAUSE, BROTHER, MELVIN WHITE WILL BE ACCEPTING CARL'S AWARD FOR TONIGHT ON BEHALF. THANK YOU TYLER. I AM NOT LEWIS , BUT IS THE CURRENT COACH OF U OF H AND THEIR TEAM THAT GOT STRANDED, BUT IF HE WILL BE AT THE TEXAS RELAYS, WE'LL MAKE SURE HE GET THIS AWARD. THANK YOU ALL. LET'S GIVE APPLAUSE. HE IS AN THOUGH. SO AS I, I TURNED, UH, THE BATON, UH, BACK OVER TO MY GOOD, UH, COLLEAGUE, FRIEND DALE PIERCE. UH, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO, TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE, BUT I I WANTED TO TAKE THIS POINT OF P PER UH, PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, UH, TO COME IN AND THINK DELL GREG IS A NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT ARE INVOLVED, BUT FOR THESE GENTLEMEN TO HAVE THAT VISION, FOR DELL, TO HAVE THE VISION, VISION, THE GIVE BACK COMPONENT OF THIS MEANS SO MUCH. UH, THIS IS AN INAUGURAL EVENT AND HE TAKES A VISION. I THINK PASTOR CLARK TALKED ABOUT THAT. UH, THIS VISION THAT'S, UH, REACHING BACK AND THESE INDIVIDUALS [00:45:01] THAT HAVE BEEN NAMED AND NOMINATED TODAY, UH, ALL COMES FROM THE HEART. AND SO I, I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT IT. ONE OF DELL'S MENTORS WAS A BELL HANCOCKS, YOU KNOW, BELL HANCOCKS SAYS, I SEE LORETTA EVEN, UH, UM, UH, DR. DELCO AND MS. DELCO AND JUST SO MUCH HISTORY THAT'S IN THIS ROOM, BUT THE GIVE BACK COMPONENT, UH, THAT THAT'S HAPPENING FROM THAT STANDPOINT, I WANTED US TO, UH, AGAIN, APPLAUD THIS TEXAS BLACK LEGACY FUND TEAM FOR DOING JUST THAT. LET'S GIVE THEM ROUND OF APPLAUSE. SO THE BATONS GOING BACK TO GAR PIERCE . ALRIGHT, TEAM, WE AGREE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. UH, AND TO DO SO, I'M GONNA ASK AVO UH, COMMISSIONER JEFF TRAVE TO COME FORWARD. HE'S GONNA READ TWO PROCLAMATIONS AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, CHRIS DECONTE IS GONNA CLOSE US OUT WITH THE FOURTH LEG. SO I'M CONFIDENT HE'S GONNA FINISH STRONG AND WE'RE GONNA FINISH HIS IN RECORD TIME. UH, SO WITH THAT BEING SAM, LET ME INTRODUCE TO YOU, UH, COMMISSIONER JEFF TRAVEN AND HE HAS SOME SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS TO SHARE WITH US. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL, THANK YOU. UH, LET ME JUST START BY SAYING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE GUYS THAT MOST OF THE GUYS UP HERE USED TO GET UP ON SATURDAY MORNING AND PLAY BALL OVER AT HT, A LOT OF YOU GUYS REMEMBER THAT. I AM JUST SO GLAD THAT HIS DAUGHTERS GOT THEIR ATHLETIC ABILITY FROM THEIR MOTHER . I'M JUST SAYING CAN CAN TESTIFY TO THAT, THAT, BUT, BUT YOU KNOW, UH, I I WANNA SAY THAT UM, THAT THIS IS, THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS REALLY SACRED. AND, AND WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY SACRED IS OUR COACHES, WERE OUR TEACHERS TOO MINUTES, MANY TIMES OUR SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS, OUR MATH TEACHERS, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT THEY TAUGHT US WAS DISCIPLINE, WAS RECOGNIZING WHO WE WERE, WHO WE WERE ATTACHED TO, AND WHO WE WERE REPRESENTING WHEN WE WERE OUT. TALKING WITH, WITH OUR SCHOOL'S NAME ON OUR CHEST IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS SACRED. BECAUSE MANY PLACES WE WERE NOT ALLOWED ACCESS TO, AND WHEN WE WERE NOT ALLOWED ACCESS TO PLACES, PEOPLE WITH A BACK WITH, WITH NOT A LOT OF BACKGROUND, EDU IN EDUCATION BUILT WITH THEIR HANDS, EVERYTHING THAT WAS NECESSARY FOR US TO EXCEL AND GAVE US THE MESSAGE. ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY CAN DO ENOUGH TIME, WORK AND PREPARATION, WE CAN DO IT TOO. AND WHEN YOU, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS BUILT WITH THAT GRIT, LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS NOT BUILT WITH DOLLARS AND CENTS, BUT WAS BUILT WITH SWEAT EQUITY THAT IT MEANS TO, TO HEAL AND BUILD AND, AND TO DO THE THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO MAKE A COMMUNITY GREAT. AND, AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS DONE EXCEPTIONAL THINGS. UM, YOU KNOW, I'M A CHILD OF THE SWAC SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE. I'M A JACKSON STATE GRAD. MY PARENTS ARE ALL CORN GRADS. UH, BUT MY FATHER TAUGHT AT PRAIRIE VIEW AFTER HE RETIRED WHEN ALL HIS GRANDCHILDREN WERE IN WERE IN TEXAS. AND, AND AT THESE SCHOOLS I SAW PRESIDENTS AND VICE PRESIDENTS AND COUNSELORS AND INSTRUCTORS THAT LOOK JUST LIKE ME AND MADE ME UNDERSTAND THAT THESE THINGS WERE ATTAINABLE. SO WHEN YOU HAVE A TEAM THAT PUTS TOGETHER A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, THIS IS SACRED AND WE HAVE TO TREAT IT THAT WAY. IT, YOU KNOW, UM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT THAT TRAVIS COUNTY DID ITS PART. UH, YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN ME THE HONOR TO SERVE YOU IN PRECINCT ONE. UH, BUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS FOR, UH, FOR THE, UH, FOR THE WINNERS OF, OF, UM, OF OUR, UH, WILSON AWARD AND OUR JACKET AWARD. UH, WE'RE GONNA GIVE THE FAMILIES FRAMED COPIES OF, OF THE, UH, PROCLAMATION. UH, WE'RE GONNA GIVE THE WINNERS FRAME FRAMED COPIES OF THE PROCLAMATION AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE THE ORGANIZATION FRAMED COPIES OF, OF THE, UH, OF THE PROCLAMATIONS BECAUSE THANK YOU. [00:50:01] BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE THIS WORK OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN KNOW OF THE SACRIFICE THAT CAME BEFORE THEM AND BUILT OUR COMMUNITY. A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THAT IT DIMINISHES THE COMMUNITY IN SOME WAY THAT WE KNOW EACH OTHER'S HISTORY. IT DOES NOT DIMINISH US. IT STRENGTHENS US. IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, YEAH, MY FAMILY, WE HAD SOME BAD BALLS TOO. YEAH, MY FAMILY, WE HAD SOME REAL FOLKS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT A COACH JACKET, YOU KNOW, I HAVE NEVER HEARD BEFORE IN MY LIFE, SOMEBODY WIN 23 COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS IN THE SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE. 23. THINK ABOUT THAT. OKAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UH, I'M TOLD I'M DOING A LITTLE BAPTIST, BUT IF I, THE PROCLAMATIONS S OF TAKING LONGER , BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I JUST WANNA SAY THESE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO DO. AND WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE ALSO THAT P V I L DOES NOT HAVE A HOME AND MAYBE WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO GIVE IT A HOME RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU. HELLO EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING. AND, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING US TO SUCH A BEAUTIFUL OCCASION. I AM, UH, THE NIECE CAREGIVER AND THE ONLY BALDEST DAUGHTER OF BARBARA JEAN JACKET. AND I'M HERE TO SAY THAT, UH, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WORDS TO EXPRESS HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR YOU THINKING ENOUGH OF HER TO HONOR ANOTHER ELITE COACH IN HER NAME. I THINK THAT IS AMAZING. UH, WE LOST COACH BARBARA LAST YEAR, JANUARY 6TH. UH, BUT SHE'S DEFINITELY STILL WITH US AND DEFINITELY WILL FOREVER BE IN MY HEART. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL WITH ALL OF OUR HEARTS. THANK YOU. AND DO WE HAVE A MEMBER OF THE WILSON FAMILY LIKE TO COME FORWARD TO RECEIVE YOU THE AWARD ON BEHALF OF COACH WILSON, ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY, UM, BLACK ATHLETES, OFFICIALS, COACHES, EVERYTHING, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU. WE LOST COACH ON UH, FEBRUARY 13TH THIS YEAR. AND, UH, THIS IS AN HONOR FOR ALL OF US TO RECEIVE. OKAY, THANKS. WE'RE CLOSING OUT WITH THE PROCLAMATION FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THEN WE'LL HAVE, UH, CRYSTAL LACONTE FINISHED THE RACE FOR US. MAX, GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. BEFORE I START, I WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS, UH, ABSOLUTELY A PLEASURE TO SEE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL BLACK FACES IN THIS BUILDING AND WELCOME YOU ALL TO YOUR YOUR CITY HALL. MY NAME IS MAX LARS. I'M HERE, UH, REPRESENTING MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, WHO COULD NOT MAKE IT HERE TODAY, BUT WANT TO EXTEND THEIR, THEIR CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR HONOREES. AND I HAVE A, A QUICK PROCLAMATION THAT I WANTED TO READ, UH, THAT PERSONALLY NOW AS I'VE HEARD THE STORIES OF SO MANY HONOREES IS REALLY MORE OF AN HONOR FOR ME TO EVEN GET TO READ IT. SO BEING KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE TEXAS RELAYS CELEBRATES ITS 95TH YEAR IN 2023 AND IS THE SECOND LARGEST TRACK AND FIELD EVENT IN THE UNITED STATES, [00:55:01] BRINGING, BRINGING TOGETHER THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES FROM TEXAS, THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD IN DRAWING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS EVERY YEAR. AND WHEREAS A GROUP OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS JOINED FORCES IN JULY OF 2022 TO BUILD A FOUNDATION TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF TEXAS BLACK ATHLETES TO REBAR, REVIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL EVENTS AROUND THE TEXAS RELAYS AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT ATHLETES THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS. AND WHEREAS TODAY WE GATHER THE HONOR COACHES, ATHLETES AND OFFICIALS FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD AND CELEBRATE THE CREATION OF THE TEXAS BLACK LEGACY FUND AS THEY HONOR THE LEGACY OF TEXAS BLACK ATHLETES AND BILL BRIDGES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AT THIS INAUGURAL EVENT. NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 29TH, 2023 AS THE TEXAS BLACK LEGACY FUND DAY IN AUSTIN. WELCOME SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE CHRIS COME UP. HE'S OUR ANCHOR. UH, LAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING CHRIS'S COMMENTS IF ALL HONOREES WILL MEET US IN THE MEDIA ROOM JUST FOR ONE QUICK TEAM SHOT. WE'LL MAKE IT REAL QUICK. UH, AND THEN WE CAN CON CONCLUDE THE EVENT FOR THE EVENING. UH, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF FOOD FOR YOU TO ENJOY. WE'LL HAVE MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND FOR YOU TO MIX AND MINGLE AS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SHARE, THIS IS OUR HOME. CHRIS DOUGLAS HOME, MY FRIEND. HI EVERYBODY. I THINK WE STARTED OFF WITH, UH, TC NO ONE CAN FOLLOW YOU, TC SPEAKS, BUT THE IDEA, WE STARTED THE WORD WITH HONOR. I THINK HONOR IS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WE'RE HONORING THE GREATS. BUT BEFORE WE GO FORWARD, I WANNA SHARE A LITTLE STORY ABOUT COACHES FOR A MOMENT. UH, I GREW UP IN A CHILDREN'S HOME IN TAOS, NEW MEXICO SPORT WAS MY OUT GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE MY LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION. SPORT WAS MY OUT THE COACH BELIEVED IN ME WHEN I DIDN'T BELIEVE IN MYSELF AND SAW SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN ME THAT I COULDN'T SEE. AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF A COACH. AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE BEING HONORED TODAY, UH, AS A OUTSTANDING COACH AND AS OFFICIALS, YOU MEAN MORE THAN YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING FOR RECOGNITION, FIGHTING FOR OPPORTUNITY, AND YOU LOOK AROUND AND YOU SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THERE'S A BUNCH OF KIDS IN THE CHILDREN'S HOME, THEY GO TO SCHOOL, YOU'RE GONNA GET TEASED, YOU'RE GONNA BE LOOKED AT, YOU BE PICKED ON. SPORT IS THE ULTIMATE EQUALIZER CUZ THE FIELD DOES NOT LIE AND ALLOWS YOU TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY. SO COACHES HAVE PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN MY LIFE AND THOSE THAT WERE HONORED TODAY, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT TO YOU BECAUSE YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHO YOU'RE GONNA AFFECT AS WE TODAY AND I BECOME A, A STUDENT HISTORY, WE'RE SOLIDIFY 95 YEARS OF THE TEXAS RELEASE, 1928 TRACK AND FIELD. AND OUR COUNTRY WAS WHAT INTEGRATED THIS COUNTRY, MY OPINION, 1936 OLYMPIC GAMES, JESSE OWENS, ROMAN RUDOLPH IN THE 48 OLYMPIC GAMES. WELL BEFORE JESSE OWENS. I MEAN BEFORE YOU THINK ABOUT JACKIE ROBINSON, MUHAMMAD ALI, THEY WERE THE FOREFRONT IN 1928. THERE WAS NOT AN AFRICAN AMERICAN RUNNING IN TEXAS RELAYS IN 1964. TODAY WE HONOR JAMES MEANS HE'S NOT HERE, BUT DOCUMENT MEANS HIS WIFE IS HERE. CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO, TO COME TO THIS CAMPUS AND PARTICIPATE IN TRACK AND FIELD? THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF PRECURSORS HAVE COME THROUGH TO PAVE THE WAY, PAVE THE WAY FOR A CELEBRATION TODAY. AND WE'RE NOWHERE NEARER WHERE WE NEED TO BE. BUT SPORT PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THAT ENDEAVOR AS WE CELEBRATE THE TEXAS RELAYS. UH, IT'S FUNNY, CARLETTE, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW FINE I THOUGHT YOU WERE BACK IN THE DAY WHEN YOU GOT THAT BATON. YOU WERE GONE. I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR NAME WAS TURBO . I WAS A STUDENT ATHLETE AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP. I KNOW I DID THREE TIMES. 1, 2, 3, SIT ON THE HIGH JUMP PIT AND JUST WATCH YOU ALL RUN. AND THEN YOU SING THE EYES AT THE END YOU'RE LIKE, HI, DAMN, CAN I JOIN THAT ? HOW DO I GET IN? I WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO RUN HERE, WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO GET IN SCHOOL, BUT THEY SURE AS HOW HIRED MY ASS. SO I'M LITTLE GOOD TO BE HERE. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. BUT TO WATCH YOU RUN, WATCH YOU [01:00:01] RUN AND TO SEE WHAT YOU DID, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. AND TO SEE WHAT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DID, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK AND CELEBRATE TO YOUR COACH'S BIRTHDAY. OH, TERRY CRAWFORD AND SHE WAS HAVING A BIRTHDAY TODAY. AND IRONICALLY SHE GOT HIRED AT CAL PARK WHERE MY FIRST JOB WAS. SO HER AND JANE FREDERICKS USED TO GIMME A BOATLOAD OF UT THE WHOLE TIME I WAS THERE. AND I, I GOT HERE AND I GET IT, I GET IT. BUT TODAY IS A THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, TEXAS RAISE IS HUGE. IT'S A MASSIVE, AND IT USED TO BE A MASSIVE CULTURAL EVENT IN OUR CITY AND OUR FOREFATHERS ARE TRYING TO BRING IT BACK. WE NEED TO BRING THAT BACK. YES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT THE CAR SHOW, IT'S NOT THE MUSIC FEST. IT'S A COMMUNITY COMING BACK AND SAYING, GUESS WHAT? THIS IS OURS. THIS IS OURS. RIGHT? AND THEN THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT'S ABOUT. SPORTS BRINGS US TOGETHER AND UH, YESTERDAY WE, WE, WE MADE A HISTORIC HIRE WITH RODNEY TERRY, ONE OF OUR OWNS HERE. AND I LOVE THAT WE GOT, WE GOT COACH FLA WHO BOUGHT HIS WIFE HERE. HE SAYS IN HIS STAGE, HE WAS A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER ACTOR THAN HE WAS, EVEN THOUGH HE'S A SIX TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION. BUT TODAY, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU ALL. DR. MEANS YOU'RE A LEGEND. YOU'RE, YOU'RE AND YOUR HUSBAND. YOU PAID THE WAY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND, AND THAT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. LET'S MAKE THIS ANOTHER LAST EVENT. BUT TO EVENT THE SPRINGBOARD IS BACK TO WHERE WE WERE. HOOK HIM. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.