Impact Newsmaker Awards: Thank you!

Here is the official NOBMA thank you to everyone who made Thursday's Impact Newsmaker Awards a huge success. When Sena Mourad suggested last year that we should host this at the Toledo Club, I really didn't have a strong feeling one way or the other but now since we've been there it was certainly a great venue. I would like to thank you again and for all the help she, Cheryl Lightfoot and WT05-TV did to promote the program. I would like to thank everyone who participated in the event. It was humbling to see the array of local black communicators come together, some who I know are from warring factions, to take part. Charlie Mack did a fantastic job as emcee (even without my script.) He was Sena's idea as well. We had a very impressive audience there and I think that is a testament to what the awards event has become over the 14 years and respect the organization and local black communicators have earned over the years, so hats off to everyone. We had a nice set of winners and only after listening to their stories did you leave even more impressed than when the program started. And again, a special thanks to the students with the Student African American Brotherhood for stepping in and doing helping out ushering people during the program. They were a huge help and for me were right on time. I would like to hear your comments about the program and how you think we can make it better. Thank you again!

Leroy Bates: You will be missed!

What a shock. Leroy Bates, boys basketball coach at Libbey High School and a great friend of NOBMA, announced this week he was resigning as coach after his team reached the state finals and lost by one-point this year. Leroy, of course, helped us establish the MLK Classic, which is our main scholarship fundraiser and now one one of the premiere events in Northwest Ohio on MLK Day. There were years were if it wasn't for Leroy, we may not have had a Classic. I remember those years and will always be grateful for his dedication to the cause. The Classic is as much Leroy's history as it is ours. In a phone conversation with him today, he said he was simply tired and wanted to make sure the basketball players at Libbey had someone that could give them his full attention. He also said he gave him a chance to go out on top. He will still coach cross country and track and teach and will still be involved with the community. We know you will still be around, but we will sure miss you on the sidelines. Thank you again for the years of service to Libbey and NOBMA.