“They may not seek it – or even expect it – but they deserve it,” Merdean Gales said as she stood before longtime area photojournalists Wiley Price, Maurice Meredith and Carl Bruce Monday afternoon.
After nearly 5,000 marched from the Old Courthouse to fill the seats of Powell Symphony Hall as a part of St. Louis’ annual civic ceremony, three of the men most often seen behind the scenes capturing the moment each year stood before guests ands and public officials to receive a token of appreciation for decades of service.
“This man has pictures that have been shared all over the world,” Gales said of Price as he came before the crowd.
She also pointed out the special relationship that she shared with Meredith.
“His mama, was my play mama,” Gales said. “And we’ve been together for so many years.”
It was a spirit filled service that celebrated people from all walks of faith of life coming together to celebrate King and those who have honored him through their life’s work.
“In order to live King’s Dream, we have to wake up and get out of bed,” Pastor Rick Potts, pastor of St. Alphonsus Liguori “ROCK” Catholic Church said just before the awards were announced.
Words were shared, songs that soothed the spirit were sung and a rousing keynote appropriately themed “I Am A Man” was delivered by Pastor Ronald Bobo Sr. of Westside MB Church.
Another of yesterday’s award recipients included MaryBeth Gentry. She has served the gospel music community on a national scale for several decades as a soloist and as a member of the National Gospel Chorale Union – which was founded by gospel music legend Thomas Dorsey. Gentry was recently elevated to the position of president of the esteemed organization.
