The Dallas Examiner honors legacy and new generation leaders

Lady Jade speaks at gala

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Photos courtesy of Tiffani M. Turner/The Dallas Examiner

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(The Dallas Examiner) – The Dallas Examiner held the second annual Great Conversation: Celebrating Men Making a Difference, Aug. 22 at the Golf Club of Dallas. The event honored men who have made a considerable impact on the community in areas such as public service, philanthropy and entrepreneurship.

This year, honorees were recognized in two different groups – legacy leaders and now generation leaders. Prior to the start of the program, attendees were able to participate in a networking reception featuring live music.

Media personality Lady Jade of radio station K104 was the host for the evening. She opened the program by acknowledging The Dallas Examiner for “giving our men their flowers.”

“Oftentimes when we’re watching the news and we’re seeing things on social media, everybody can report on the negative stuff. When I tell you our men – our Black men especially – are the foundation of our lives. So I think this is incredible that they’ve put together this event to say we’re going to honor our men.”

“The Dallas Examiner came up with The Great Conversation where people who have achieved and worked hard to make our city the best city can share and have conversations with other people who are in the process of doing the same,” said Mollie F. Belt, publisher of The Dallas Examiner.

“The Flame of Legends Passing the Torch” was the theme for the evening. Each honoree was “keynote” to their own table, surrounded by attendees seated at their tables plus a facilitator. All were encouraged to engage in meaningful dialogue around success, resilience and purpose during the dinner portion of the evening.

During the awards presentation, Belt introduced honoree Charles O’Neal as the first editor of publication, with its inception in 1986. O’Neal shared his knowledge of journalism, first with founder Fred J. Finch Jr. Esq., and later with Belt.

Belt said O’Neal wrote a proposal for Main Street, and is reason there are two banks on Martin Luther King Boulevard, referring to the neighborhood in South Dallas.

“Whatever else I’ve managed to accomplish in life, it started with a great conversation,” O’Neal said as he accepted his award.

Honoree Lowell Davis, a graduate of Lincoln High School and Humanities/Communications Magnet in South Dallas, is now vice president for student affairs at The University of Texas Arlington.

“This one is personal. I am not just from Dallas. I am Dallas. I remember walking these streets as a kid dreaming about what life may look like, never imagining I would be standing here one day honored for serving the same community that raised me. Making a difference in my community is not a bullet point and a mission statement. It is sacred work,” Davis said.

The full list of honorees included the following:

Legacy leaders

• Shaun Rabb (news reporter) for media
• Domingo Garcia (attorney) for civil rights and advocacy
• John Wiley Price (county commissioner) for public service and leadership
• Thomas Jones (judge) for judiciary and law
• Gilbert Gerst (banker) for business and economic development
• Charles O’Neal (business leader) for equity and inclusion advocacy
• Curtis King (founder, The Black Academy of Arts and Letters) for the arts
• Hiawatha Williams (founder, Williams Chicken) for entrepreneurship and philanthropy

Now generation leaders

• Derrick Battie (community leader) for youth education empowerment
• Derrick James (founder, The Derrick James Family Foundation) for innovation in sports and family philanthropy
• Lowell Davis (vice president for student affairs, The University of Texas Arlington) for higher education
• Harrison Blair (president, Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce) for minority business empowerment
• Rickey Booker (founder, Breakfast Brothers) for entrepreneurship and philanthropy
• Richie Butler (founder, Project Unity and pastor) for faith-based leadership
• Jonathan Scott (business leader) for business and economic development
• Matt Houston (president, Collaborative Culture LLC and professor, University of North Texas at the Dallas School of Business) for civic responsibility

The inaugural Great Conversation was held in August 2024, followed by The Great Conversation for women in March 2025. Prior honorees include Sen. Royce West, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, entrepreneur Roland Parrish and Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert, among many others.

Keep up with upcoming Conversations at https://www.dallasexaminer.com/the-great-conversation.

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