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Chamber banquet draws record numbers
By BRIAN PORTER/Managing Editor
Other than an appearance by record eight-time PRCA bull riding champion Donny Gay, the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce never had a keynote speaker like this.
The chamber membership seemed to take note. A record 353 seats were sold Friday to the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards banquet at the Mesquite Convention Center to hear broadcasting legend Pat Summerall discuss more than four decades of sports memories from the football gridiron to the tennis court to the golf links.
“The most we had had attend this before was 220,” said Terry McCullar, president of the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce. “We think we’re going to right way with this.”
“Having their sponsorship to get the ball rolling was a big deal,” McCullar said. “It was everything we wanted it to be. We think the Small and Large Business of the Year awards produce some more interest. I think some people show up to see what their fellow business owners are doing.”
Before the evening concluded, Summerall had addressed some of his most vivid sports memories and also the battle he faces on an everyday basis.
“I went through a battle with alcoholism,” Summerall told the chamber membership. “That changed my life. I wanted to illustrate to people that it is never too late to make a change in your life. I made a major change in quitting alcohol and accepting Christ. If you do get that second chance…take advantage of it.”
If Summerall was a broadcasting legend, then Howard Cosell was legendary.
“He was a pest hanging around the locker room in New York,” Summerall recalled. “We tolerated him for some reason. He never used a note. He had total recall.”
Summerall, a former NFL kicker, was just the type of broadcaster that Cosell disdained. He coined the phrase ‘Jock Box’ to describe players in broadcasting roles.
“He hated seeing ex-athletes occupying the broadcast booth,” Summerall said. “He didn’t think we were qualified to be journalists.”
Chief Gary Westphal got a taste of Summerall’s humor. He asked who the most unlikely Super Bowl champion would be this year. “The Dallas Cowboys,” Summerall said.
It also gave Summerall a chance to credit what he believes is a perfect future of the NFL.
“When I went through my kidney transplant,” Summerall said. “the only person I heard from on a regular basis was Payton Manning.”
Councilman Dennis Tarpley got an interesting response to his question of ‘Broadway Joe’ Naimath and the question of him posing in panty hose.
“I did see John Madden in panty hose,” Summerall said. “It was a pretty bad sight.”
Among the athletes he discussed were all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys and an athlete who played at TCU in Fort Worth.
“LaDannian Tomlinson, the fellow playing in San Diego, might be able to break his record,” Summerall said.
Summerall, a Dallas native, recalls Green Bay beating the Cowboys in the Cotton Bowl to reach Super Bowl I as the best game he ever saw. He broadcasted the Cotton Bowl again this year. He’s unsettled on the best athlete of all time, but thinks it might be Michael Jordan.
Beverly Presley, a community leader and innovator in education, became the first person to be honored posthumously with a chamber award. She was honored with the Business Person of the Year award. Her family accepted the award.
Mickey DeLamar, Mesquite ISD athletics director, was awarded the community partner of the year award. He will be retiring in February.
The Chairman’s Award went to Judy Trammell of Jefferson Bank and the Committee Chairman of the Year award was presented to Glenda Lee of Christian Care Center, the Taste & Trade Chairperson.
The Nelson Volunteer Award went to Bennye Rice for efforts with the rodeo parade and the Mustanger of the Year went to Malcolm Gish with Century 21 Judge Fite. Deanna Bernhagen was presented with an award for her efforts as the predident of the Mustangers.
The Tourism Award was presented to Town East Mall management. Accepting the award were general manager Sandy LaClave and Jeanne Wisenbaker.
The Large Business of the Year was Morrison Products and the Small Business of the Year was The Mesquite News. Three chamber members were presented with Leader in Membership Enrollment (L.I.M.E.) Awards. They were Joe Sam Frank of Frank Insurance, Judy Trammell of Jefferson Bank and Karen Wisdom Woolheater of Wisdom Paint and Body.
Retiring board members included Dee Carter, Greg Noschese, Don Tillery and Evelyn Williams.
Mark Miller completed his year as chair of the chamber board.
“The chamber gives much more back than it takes,” Miller said. “Its not what you get out of the chamber. Its letting the chamber tell your story.”
Todd Price, first vice-president of First State Bank, was inducted as the 2007 chair of the chamber board.
“I consider this a privilege and an honor. I’m a Mesquite boy. I wasn’t born in Mesquite…but I’m a Mesquite boy,” Price said. “This is a great place to live and work. I think we sometimes go to fast and are in too much of a hurry. You have to learn what is really important in your life. You can and do make a difference.
“I think there is nothing we can’t accomplish. There have been many great things we have started and many great things to come.”
Mesquite Mayor Mike Anderson did not offer his traditional state of the city address to make way for Summerall.
“Now, we feel bad we didn’t give him that opportunity,” McCullar said. “We want to hear the mayor and what he has to say. We don’t want him to give that address other places. We think we’ll combine the two next time.”
Contact Brian Porter at bporter@acnpapers.com or to comment on this story visit www.scntx.com.
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