50 Years of Progress and Opportunity, 1954-2004
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004
University of North Texas

For questions or to become a sponsor, contact the UNT Office of Equity and Diversity at (940) 369-7421 or (866) 832-9410.

 

Gala ticket information

Tickets: $50 general public, $25 for UNT students (200 student tickets available, limit two with current student ID).

Seating is limited.

Tickets are available at the UNT Murchison Box Office (directions), (940) 369-7802, Monday-Friday, 1-5 p.m.

 

Saturday events leading up to the Gala Celebration

Campus Tours
2-4 p.m. Tours conducted by Eagle Ambassadors will depart from the North Texas Exes Center, Gateway Center (directions), at 2 and 2:30 p.m.

Open House
North Texas Exes Center, Gateway Center (directions)
2-6 p.m.
Socialize with other UNT alums in the university's new "living room." Entertainment, beverages and snacks available.

 

Gala Celebration

6 p.m. - Cash-bar reception in the Murchison Performing Arts Center lobby (directions)
6:30 p.m. - Doors to Winspear Hall open. All ticketed seating is general admission.
7 p.m. - Gala featuring live entertainment and award ceremony
9 p.m. - Reception in the Gateway Center (directions) featuring live entertainment, hors d'oeuvres and cash bar. Gala ticket required for admission.
Black tie optional

The gala will feature entertainment that honors the African American experience, including dance, jazz and gospel music performances. In a decade-by-decade special tribute, UNT will recognize African Americans who overcame barriers to pave the way for others at the university and also acknowledge all of the university's former and current African American students, faculty and staff.

Receiving special honors will be North Texas' first enrolled students and graduates and those who broke barriers in areas such as academics, student athletics, cheerleading, student government and Homecoming Court, among others. The first North Texas student organizations that were created for or admitted African Americans also will be honored. The university will recognize all former North Texas students who participated in each of these and many other activities and acknowledge African American faculty, staff and administrators who paved the way for others. The gala honors all people who have helped North Texas students succeed.

 

Gala Emcees

Respected Dallas-Fort Worth Journalists Bob Ray Sanders and Kristi Nelson will host the event. Sanders is a columnist and vice president for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He is in UNT's Journalism Hall of Fame and is the recipient of the university's 2003 President's Citation. Nelson is a reporter and occasional news anchor for NBC 5. She is an author and an athlete.

For more information on Sanders, go to www.jour.unt.edu/hoh/sanders_ray.html.

For more information on Nelson, go to www.nbc5i.com/news/1326455/detail.html.

 

Gala Award Presenters

Presenting 1954 - 1969 awards
Ella Goode Johnson
Beasley Reece

Presenting 1970 - 1989 awards
Cheylon Brown
Artist Thornton, Ph.D.

Presenting 1990 - 2004 awards
Maxine Thornton Reese, Ph.D.
Thomas King

 

Gala Celebration scheduled entertainment

Osun Art and Drumming Group
Led by Raifu Durodoye, this North Texas-based African drumming group will open and close the gala event.

Barrett Sisters
Called "The Sweet Sisters of Zion" because of their special vocal blend, DeLois Barrett Campbell, Billie Barrett GreenBey and Rodessa Barrett Porter — internationally known as the Barrett Sisters — have lifted their melodious voices in gospel music for more than 30 years.

Throughout their career, the Barrett Sisters have been associated with celebrities and big names in entertainment including the late Rev. James Cleveland, Andre Crouch, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, Shirley Caesar, the Winans and Patti LaBelle. They also have performed at countless churches and in many prestigious concert halls including Lincoln Center in New York City; Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.; Orchestra Hall in Chicago; and Theatre DeVille in Paris.

The Barrett Sisters have toured internationally more than 30 times and performed for several dignitaries including the King of Sweden and the President of Zaire, Africa. In 1982, the Barrett Sisters were featured in the critically acclaimed movie, "Say Amen, Somebody" and in 1990 they were selected to appear in the PBS special, "Going Home with Patti LaBelle." Long time recording artists, the Barrett Sisters' most recent release is on I AM Records and is titled, "What a Wonderful World." They are currently writing a book about their years as gospel artists.

Billy Harper Quintet
Billy Harper ('65) was the first African American member of the university's prestigious One O'Clock Lab Band. MSN Entertainment described Harper as one of a generation of Coltrane-influenced tenor saxophonists who built on the master's work. Consummately well rounded and able to play in any context, he has early roots in gospel and blues music which are reflected in his comprehensive harmonic knowledge, high energy and abundant imagination for improvisational performance.

He has performed with jazz greats Gil Evans, Max Roach, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Lee Morgan, Art Blakely and the Jazz Messengers. He has performed, recorded and toured worldwide, and has enjoyed a parallel career as a music educator, teaching at Livingston College and Rutgers University. He has also received multiple grants from arts agencies, including two from the National Endowment for the Arts. He twice received the International Critics Award for Tenor Saxophone.

For more information about Billy Harper, go to www.billyharper.com.

UNT National Pan-Hellenic Step Group
The UNT Pan-Hellenic Council serves to unite historically African American National Greek Letter community service fraternities and sororities on campus. Members of the fraternities and sororities are preparing a special step routine especially for the gala event.

For more information about UNT's National Pan-Hellenic Council, go to web2.unt.edu/dos/new/gl/nphc.html or orgs.unt.edu/nphc .

Herbie Johnson Jazz Group (Reception Entertainment)
This smooth jazz combo, led by UNT alumnus Herbie Johnson ('59, '64 M.Ed.) is inclined toward the romantic side of jazz, such as the music of Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Cole Porter and Hoagy Carmichael, among others.

Johnson was one of the first African American students to earn a bachelor's degree at North Texas. He is a member of the UNT Trailblazers organization.
For more information on the Herbie Johnson Jazz Group go to hometown.aol.com/Jherbiejohnson/myhomepage/.

 

Accommodations

The Radisson Hotel Denton will offer a special room rate for people attending the Gala Celebrationon Feb. 14.

Radisson Hotel Denton
Special room rate: $79 (two full-size beds or one king-size bed) per night plus tax
2211 I-35E North , Denton Texas 76205
Reservations: (800) 333-3333
Telephone: (940) 565-8499
Fax: (940) 384-2244
www.radisson.com/dentontx
promo code: udeseg

 

Special thanks to the following organizations and individuals for their support of the gala celebration:

Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar
Johnny Carino's Country Italian
Charles "Chuck" Beatty
Chili's Grill and Bar
Donald Cox
Marjorie Craft
Dallas Stars
Dr. James Duban
Oakmont Country Club
Radisson Hotel, Denton
Red Lobster
Elwood Shannon
Texas Roadhouse
Clarice Tinsley
UNT College of Music
UNT Department of Human Resources
UNT Division of Equity and Diversity
UNT Division of University Relations, Communications and Marketing
UNT Library Archives, Richard Himmel
UNT Murchison Performing Arts Center
UNT Office of Business Services
UNT Office of Development
UNT Office of Disability Accommodations
UNT Office of the President
UNT Office of the Registrar
UNT Police Department
UNT Verde Catering
Western Paper Company, state certified HUB vendor
Sue Young