Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Sports superstars josh for Deacon Jones Foundation

ONE OF THE SPRING'S most successful benefit events was the recent Living Legends of Sports celebrity roast and sports memorabilia auction to benefit the Deacon Jones Foundation. Held at the Orleans hotel-casino, the event sparkled with the generous participation of master of ceremonies Roy Firestone, and NFL greats including Merlin Olson, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy of "Fearsome Foursome" fame. Jones, a larger-than-life sports legend, was roasted with relish by his friends and former NFL colleagues.

Jones, who invented the head slap which was later banned in the NFL, rained terror on quarterbacks for 14 seasons and is often called one of the sport's best players ever. His foundation seeks to help children overcome obstacles in the inner city and become educated contributors in the corporate world. The Deacon Jones Foundation believes in the strength of long-term mentoring efforts, starting during the early teen years and extending through college and into young adulthood, with supportive guidance in all aspects of life.

Filmed for ESPN and slated to be broadcast later this summer, the special event drew an eclectic crowd, including Mike Tyson and many of his entourage; Catherine Cortez representing Gov. Bob Miller; NLV Councilman John Rhodes; and sports media writers from around the nation. Many in attendance enjoyed the rare viewing of and opportunity to purchase such collectible sports treasures as the championship belt won by Muhammad Ali in his defeat of Sonny Liston in a heavyweight bout fought in Las Vegas. Living legends, among them John Mackey, the first-ever tight end elected to the NFL Hall of Fame, were particularly gracious in their dealings with fans and posed willingly for photos and provided autographs during the auction viewing. Also seen in the crowd of supportive sports stars were Bubba Smith, Gale Sayers, Lem Barney, Art Donovan and Bob St. Clair.

New president

The installation of the National League of American Pen Women's Las Vegas branch president Charlene Cruze was recenetly held at the Canyon Gate Country Club home of artist-sculptor Jeanne Maxwell Williams. Installing officer was past chapter president Joanne Trahan, who has recently been elected national first vice president for the prestigious writers' organization. Trahan's installation ceremonies featured a NLAPW Certificate of Congratulation for Judith La Fourest, the national league president, as well as a gift from the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. Serving with Cruz for her term through spring of 2000 will be Fran Haraway, vice president; Jeanne Maxwell Williams, vice president; Geri Stader, recording secretary; and Elizabeth Perry, treasurer.

Charlene Cruz was born in Las Vegas at a time when the population of our community numbered just 8,000 people. She is a teacher of the keyboard and calligraphic arts, and volunteers as a docent with the Friends of Red Rock. A certified professional guide for the Southern Nevada area, Cruz uses her love of the land in her tours, poetry and art. The Las Vegas branch, founded in 1951 by Lucile Bruner, will be led by Cruz as they begin the club new year in September.

'Stars' for MDA

Claudine Williams, well recognized as "a Nevadan with a heart as big as Texas," has been selected as Chin's Humanitarian of the Years. Williams will be honored on Wednesday, June 24, during an awards dinner and program benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Southern Nevada. MDA fights 40 neuromuscular diseases through worldwide research efforts, while also providing a nationwide program of medical services and educational efforts. In Southern Nevada, their outreach programs include funding a medical clinic at St. Rose Hospital in Henderson, as well as support groups, summer camps for children, public health education and the purchase of wheelchairs. All of MDA's programs are supported by individual and corporate contributions, as they receive no government grants, and do not seek or charge fees for patients and their families.

Claudine Williams' "A Heart Among the Stars" event will be held in the grand ballroom of Arizona Charlie's and will feature a live auction and other entertainments. Reservations are a must, so call MDA's West Charleston office at 822-6920.

For the children

Reaching out to help the less fortunate and making an effort to change the direction of young lives for the better, Texas Station hotel-casino recently provided a $1,000 donation to C.P. Squires Elementary School. The check, part of Texas Station's "Wishing Well Sweep" program, was presented to school principal Carol Lark by Texas Station's executive Robyn Rohiffs. Lark announced the donation, which will provide funding for a reading comprehensive software program for the primary grades that will allow the young students to read at their own pace, at all levels, and be tested on what they have read.

The student body at C.P. Squires Elementary School, in North Las Vegas, has the highest percentage of disadvantaged and homeless children in Clark County. The school educates children from the Salvation Army, St. Vincent's, Shade Tree and M.A.S.H. shelters, as well as many from non-English-speaking households. Texas Station has been the school's community partner for more than three years, providing many supportive donations and volunteer hours.

Supporting the players

One of America's most beloved musicals, "Oklahoma" will be presented June 18-20, 26-28 and July 2-3 at the Rainbow Library amphitheater by the Garold Garner Scholarship Foundation. While the cast and crew will donate their time to the 55th-anniversary production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, the foundation has to cover the costs of composer royalties, lighting, costumes, set design expenses and theater rental.

The Garold Garner Scholarship Foundation is dedicated to assisting aspiring dancers and musical theater students achieve their educational goals. It was founded nine years ago because, Garner says, he "recognized the need to help students who were aspiring performers with their living expenses, food, dance shoes, transportation and other costs." Tickets for these benefit performances of "Oklahoma" are priced at $7 for adults, $6 for seniors age 62 and older, and $4 for children ages 6-17. Special picnic basket dinners for the June 19 performance are offered for $25, with advance payment required. Call 876-2806 for reservations or purchase your tickets through the UNLV Performing Arts box office and at the Rainbow Library on the night of each performance.

Reid recognized

Best wishes to U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, who was spotlighted during a recent national meeting of the National Association of Geriatric Education Centers. Nominated for highest honors by the University of Nevada School of Medicine in recognition of his vital role in supporting Geriatric Education Centers in Nevada, Reid was also thanked for his efforts as a member of the U.S. Senate's Special Committee on Aging and the Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee.

Held at the Orleans hotel-casino in Las Vegas, the Bureau of Health Professionals "1998 Leadership in Collaborative Practice Conference" provided a national forum for key educators to collaborate on ideas for programs that develop the nation's future leaders in health care. Participants included Dr. Robert Daugherty, dean of the University of Nevada School of Medicine, as well as Dr. Mary Paterson, director of health policy and research at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. The Nevada Geriatric Education Center, a component of the medical school, improves health care delivered to older adults by working closely with health science faculty in medicine, nursing, social work and other health-related fields.

archive