Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 7-24-18

Local
Organizations Pay Tribute To Warren Hope Dawson
Hostesses Of ‘2nd Time Around’ Grandparents, Guardians Brunch Pleased With Success Of Event
On Friday, July 20, 2018, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, together with the Tampa Or- ganization of Black Affairs (TOBA) and the Saturday Morning Breakfast Group (SMBG), hosted a reception in honor of Warren Hope Dawson, a veteran civil rights lawyer and a great American. The reception was held at One Buc Place.
In 1975, Mr. Dawson, along with 11 other local com- munity leaders were asked to serve on an Advisory Board to the brand-new Tampa Bay NFL Franchise. In that ca- pacity, Mr. Dawson partici- pated in choosing "The Buccaneers" as the name for this new team and was among the very first season ticket holders.
As a leader in the Tampa Bay Black community, he welcomed the likes of Lee Roy and Dewey Selmon, Ricky Bell, Doug Williams, Anthony Davis, David Lewis, Richard Wood, Cecil Johnson, Jimmie Giles, and the other Black players and coaches, who, at the time (the mid and late 1970’s), had some racial concerns about what their life would be like in this place referred to as Tampa Bay.
As we all know, those players and many others have been genuinely em- braced by the entire commu-
Attorney Warren Hope Dawson is presented a football by Brian Ford, Chief Operating Officer of the Tampa Bay Bucca- neers.
nity. Yes, there was some tension within the Black community when in 1982, the Buccaneer ownership at the time refused to extend a respectable contract to quar- terback Doug Williams. Even then, it was the calm and wise voice of Warren Hope Dawson who assured the community that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers foot- ball team was still worthy of their support.
And today, 43 years later, Mr. Dawson continues (without interruption) as a premium charter season
ticket fan of the Buccaneers and Doug Williams, Lee Roy Selmon, and Jimmie Giles are, at the pleasure of current ownership, in the Ring of Honor at Raymond James Stadium.
While Mr. Dawson freely acknowledges he was never an athlete – although he has been inducted into a Lawyer’s Hall Of Fame – he has over the years made a significant contribution to the effort of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to be a community partner and a good corporate citizen of Tampa Bay.
PASTOR DERRICK BLUE ...Guest Speaker
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Evangelist Gloria Brooks Williams and Paula Lang are still beam- ing with joy over the success of their “2nd Time Around” Grandparents and Guardians
Brunch.
The event was held on
June 28th at THAP Co- Working Collaboration Ex- change at 5508 N. 50th St.
With the support of sev- eral community partners, the Yes You Can Women’s Fel- lowship recognized several grandparents, guardians and other relatives who are care- givers of family members. With the help of the commu- nity, the Women’s Fellow- ship was able to give each of the honorees gifts and gift cards.
Mrs. Mary Priester of New Mt. Zion M. B. Church, served as the Mistress of Fel- lowship, and Pastor Der- rick Blue of New Beginning Church, Plant City, and Chief Executive Officer of Tampa Hillsborough Action Plan (THAP) was the guest speaker. Robert Davis of the Life Enrichment Center gave remarks.
Mayor Bob Buckhorn
sent a Proclamation that ap- peared in the program and Commissioner Les Miller made a special pres- entation, along with Yes You Can Women’s Ministry.
MRS. MARY PRIESTER ...Mistress of Fellowship
“We learned so much from and about our hon- orees,” Evangelist Brooks- Williams said. “They shared a lot of information about their tirals and joys of rearing grandchildren or other relatives,” she said.
“They all felt so special,” Ms. Lang said.
The 2018 2nd Time Around honorees were: Joseph and Mary Ayde- lotte, Gail Bethel, James and Ann Clark, Yvonne Howard Clarke, Free- man and Ebony Cohen, Tracy Collins, Ethel and Floyd Dozier, Cheryl and Harold Gibson and Ruth Howard.
Also honored, Loletha King John and Paula Lang, Margaret Peterson Long, Charles and Debo- rah Martin, David and Sheryl, Ola Mitchell, Va- lerie Mitchell, Ruby Mor- ris, and Sabrina Muldrow.
Other honorees were:
Betty Munford, Willie Nealy, Sheila Richard- son-Nixon, MaryJo Mc- Daniels and Paul Phelps, Sherri Powell, Wanda Pureyear, Mildred Richardson, Betty Sharp, Juanita “Adella” Screen, Cheryl Smith, Jackie Walker, Dionne and Tony Watkins, Don- ald and Marie White, Lawrence Williams, and Patricia Woods.
TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2018 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9