On Saturday, the Defender honored this year’s community
news headliners. Accepting the Newsmaker Award on behalf of
the school board’s Michael Scott was Barbara Eason- Watkins.
Julia Huff & The Company Band provided
the night’s entertainmment.
Chi-Lites lead singer and business partner to Joe Jackson of the
famed Jackson family, Marshall Thompson accepted the King of
Pop Michael Jackson’s posthumous honor.
Earl Calloway and Illinois Sen. Roland Burris were
among the honorees at the gala event held in the
Hyatt Regency Chicago hotel Grand Ballroom.
From left: Johnnie Blount, Mitchell Johnson, Sharon Johnson, Chief Apostle
William McCoy and Carl Latimer stand with Defender President Michael House.
Young Pate
and Delores Thibodeaux
Chicago Defender Charities’ (Ret.) Col. Eugene Scott
and wife, Beverly
From left: Dee Robinson Reid, Zakryscha Hayes
and Shirley Evans-Wofford
Michael Jackson impersonator, Rico, and the
Defender’s Theresa “Teesee’s Town” Fambro Hooks
Albertina Walker received Lifetime Achievement Award from Defender Exec. Editor Lou Ransom, left, and Michael House
Cheryl R. Williams, Multicultural Markets Coordinator, Great Lakes Zone, State Farm Insurance An event sponsor
Chicago radio icon Bonnie DeShong of WVON-AM/1690 Eye on Entertainment served as Newsmakers Gala emcee.
Newmakers honorees Earl Calloway, Defender fine arts and entertainment writer; and Country Club Hills Police Chief Regina Evans. She received the Community Leadership award.
Honoree Harry Porterfield’s daughter, Alison Porterfield
Local historian Timuel D. Black Jr. received Lifetime Achievement Award from the Defender’s Executive Director of Finance Carol Bell.
Sen. Roland Burris accepts the Government Newsmakers Award from Michael House.
Fellowship M.B. Church Pastor Charles Jenkins gave the invocation at Saturday’s black-tie gala event.
WendyTricia Osborne, a junior journalism student at Columbia College Chicago, is one of two recipients of the 2009 Abbott Sengstacke Legacy Scholarship. She receives $2,500.
Terry Mason, M.D., city health commissioner, accepts the Newsmakers Award for Health from Carol Bell.
Broadcast news legend Harry Porterfield accepted the 2009 Newsmakers Award for Media-Communications.
Dr. Terry Mason; Damon Arnold, M.D., director of Illinois Deptartment of Public Health; Cook County Commissioner candidate Elgie Sims Jr., and Michael House.
