With jets hanging overhead, Michael Israel splashed color on canvas. With the song Imagine playing, he created a portrait of John Lennon. Up next was a painting of all four Beatles—John, Paul, George and Ringo. He continued with patriotic works and portraits of two more celebrities—Marilyn Monroe and Elvis.
Guests oohed and ahhed throughout his performance.
Israel shared his passion with about 700 people at the recent Irving Firefighters Ball. Planes were everywhere since the event was moved this year to the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas.
“We almost ran out of space even here,” said Monica Ellington, who put together the glittery affair that was started a few years ago by Christina Gears.
The evening included a live auction of Israel’s paintings and a few other items, followed by recognition of Irving’s Fire Department staff. Mayor Herbert Gears helped Fire Chief Mario Molina present plaques to recipients.
Among the awards given were the Shaky Lifetime Achievement Award to Capt. Bobby Willingham, Officer of the Year to Lt. Hugh Harris, Paramedic of the Year to Greg Wreyford, a Unit Citation Award to Mike Sanford, Chuck Spivey, R. C. Etheridge and Doug Jefferson, and Firefighter of the Year to David Belk. Six groups received Lifesaving Awards and Asst. Chief Rusty Wilson received the community service award.
Rep. Linda Harper-Brown recognized the ten children of firefighters who received scholarships.
The firefighters surprised the mayor's wife and presented a Civic Leader award to her. A teary-eyed Gears then recognized her assistant, Ellington.
“Ray, girls, your mom is incredible,” Gears said to her assistant’s husband and children.
One other emotional moment took place when the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which is one of the firefighters’ charities, brought out Kelly Crash. A firefighter in Wichita Falls, Crash walked slowly to the podium and admitted he has Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“Now I have three families—my family, my fellow firefighters and my MDA family,” Crash said in appreciation of all the support he’s received.
Among the guests were Flower Mound Mayor Jody Smith, Texas State Association of Firefighters chief Michael Higgins, Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau director Maura Gast and Dallas County Commissioner candidate Elba Garcia.
Remembering the journey
The Irving branch of the NAACP celebrated the civil rights organization’s 100th anniversary at its Freedom Fund luncheon Oct. 25 at the Wyndham Hotel. A panel discussion on “Then and Now” included Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, Reginald Gates of the Dallas Black Chamber, retired State Senior District Judge L. Clifford Davis and Dr. Gwendolyn Morrison of the Tarrant County College District.
Before the panel discussion, two Irving students recited poems. Cyrah Mays and Brandi Covington of Lamar Middle School read “Excuses” and “See it Through” respectively.
The luncheon included the presentation of a few awards. The Clergy of the Year Award went to the Rev. Louis H. Simmons of Shady Grove CME. MacArthur High principal Cynthia Bean received the Educator of the Year Award.
Irving NAACP president Tony Grimes recognized two members with awards—Ora Guy and Jearlene Miller. Warren G. Lee Jr. served as master of ceremonies and Robert Townsend of Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church provided opening and closing prayers.
The NAACP was founded on Feb. 12, 1909. Based in Maryland, the organization now has about 1,700 chapters nationwide. In addition to celebrating 100 years of civil rights efforts, many members are also celebrating the election of Barack Obama, ending the 233-year-old color barrier in the White House. To learn more, visit www.naacp.org.
