National Bar hosts comedy event and gala this weekend
Special to The American
On Saturday, April 10, the National Bar Association will present its Gertrude E. Rush Award to five recipients: Margaret Bush Wilson (posthumously), Judge Charles Shaw, Cleota Proctor Wilbekin, Willie E. Gary and Paulette Brown.
CBS News National Correspondent Russ Mitchell will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the April 10 black tie event in the Majestic Ballroom of the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel. A reception at 6 p.m. precedes the 7 p.m. dinner.
On Friday, April 9, former St. Louisan Joe Torry will headline the NBA “Laughter and Lyrics” fundraiser at the Renaissance Grand Hotel, which is open to the public.
Mitchell, a native St Louisan who received his journalism degree in 1982 from the University of Missouri, is the anchor of CBS Evening News, Sunday Edition, and correspondent for CBS News Sunday Morning. He was named CBS News national correspondent in January 2010.
Mitchell reported from Florida on the devastation and aftermath of Hurricane Frances in 2004. He co-anchored special coverage of the Columbia Shuttle disaster with Dan Rather. He has been a part of CBS News’ coverage of every presidential campaign since 1992 and has covered four presidential inaugurations for the network.
Mitchell has received numerous professional honors, including a 2001 Sigma Delta Chi Award for spot-news coverage of the Elian Gonzalez case, a 2007 Emmy Award for a report on why we remember things, a 1997 Emmy Award for coverage of the crash of TWA Flight 800, and a 1995 National Association of Black Journalists News Award.
Mavis T. Thompson of St. Louis is the 67th president of the National Bar Association and the 10th woman to serve in this capacity.
The NBA’s Mid-Year Conference also will include board meetings, legal seminars, a welcome reception and community outreach. The NBA Judicial Council will visit Innovative Concept Academy on Cass Avenue.
Attorney Richard E. Banks is chair of the Conference and Dinner and attorney Freida L. Wheaton is vice chair.
For tickets to the dinner, call 314-494-4660. Tickets for the Joe Torry “Laughter and Lyrics” show are available through MetroTix at 314-534-1111 or at www.metrotix.com.
