On Saturday, January 21, 2017 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center located at 2322 Mac Davis Lane  Lubbock, Texas, the 100 Black Men of West Texas, Inc. (the “100”) will present its 22nd annual scholarship gala and celebrate 22 years of proud existence in Lubbock, Texas.  The event will be highlighted with the honoring of several outstanding members in our community

Ms. Jarvis Scott (Lifetime Service Award): Ms. Scott was the first African American coach at TTU. Ms. Scott qualified for the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico City, Mexico in both the 400 and 800 meter runs and held the fastest time in the world for these tryouts. There has not been another U.S athlete to date, either male or female who qualified for both the 400 and 800 meter run. Ms. Scott’s participating in and performance at the Olympics was overshadowed by the boycott of some black athletes during the 1968 games. Scott claimed the boycott weighed on the Olympics during the entire time in Mexico City. She also recalled that black women athletes were not asked to join the boycott and when the male athletes finally asked the women to join the boycott, they refused. As Scott recalled, “If they didn’t care to have our opinion from the beginning they certainly didn’t need it now. In 1975, she went to Texas Tech and coached women’s track until her retirement in 1979. Along with coaching, Scott was active in her church and community. She also mentored students and challenged to achieve their goals. Scott was voted “Most Outstanding Young Women of America” in 1980 and placed in the Honor Hall of Fame in California State University Los Angeles, in 1985. Three years later she was also an honored Black Olympian at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C in 1988. Ms. Scott currently resides here in Lubbock Texas.

Eddie Dixon (Lifetime Achievement Award): Mr. Eddie Dixon literally exploded on the art world with the first commission a sculpture of the only Black Fighter Pilot during World War 1. Although Mr. Dixon’s attention to authentic detail of his subjects has led to important commissions, he humbly acknowledges his talent to be God-given. This divine gift was evident in his first series of sculptures, which consisted of mercenaries and warriors during the pre-Christian era. Today Eddie’s art can be found in the national historical sites, the Pentagon, West Point, US Department of Interiors, US State Department; the Smithsonian Air and parks throughout the United States and in more than 50 counties abroad. His works are in the private collections of Colin Powell, Morgan Freeman, Danny Glover, the late Alex Haley and Bill Leckey and others. His work is also in the corporate collections of such giants as RJR Nabisco, Upjohn, and Readers Digest. Coca 15-foot sculpture (placed in the War Memorial park) of Willie McCool, the pilot astronaut that died on the Space Shuttle Columbus. Most recently, he has been commission by Kevin Glasheen to create a monument of Timothy Cole. In October 2005, Eddie was presented with the Department of Army Headquarters USA
Combined Armed Forces Command Special Troop medallion in the image of the Buffalo Soldier Monument.

Dr. Paul Frazier (Mentor of the Year): Dr. Frazier currently serves as the Associate Vice President of the Division of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement at Texas Tech University. He served in public education for 23 years as the Executive Director of Student Administrative Services, a high school principal, middle school assistant principal, and alternative school assistant principal. He has taught History and English on the high school and middle school levels, in Leadership, He has a Masters in Educational Mid- Management, a Masters in Curriculum and Institution  and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas Tech. He currently serves as the Region 1 Disportionality Statewide, Representative for Child Protective Services, He serves as a board member of the Lubbock American Diabetes Association, is part of the Texas Association of School Administrators and Texas Alliance of Black School Educators, 

The doors will open at 6:15 pm; dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m.  Following the award presentations and a live auction, the gala crowd will be entertained by a band. The fun and festivities will conclude around 11:30 p.m.  Proceeds from this event will be used to issue scholarships to deserving local high school students entering college and to existing college students.  

The 100 Black Men of West Texas, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization and a chapter of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc.  Over 2,700 youth have been mentored by our members since 1995.  Our motto is: “Real Men Giving Real Time” and, we believe that regarding young people, “What They See, Is What They’ll Be”.

(News release from the 100 Black Men of West Texas, Inc.)