HOUSTON'S 171st BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION INCLUDES HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES, AWARD HONORS FOR FAMED HOUSTONIANS Grammy-winning Vocalist, Producer Steve Tyrell to Headline Celebration on August 28, 2007
August 13, 2007 -- Mayor Bill White and the City of Houston will induct several new honorees into the Houston Hall of Fame while celebrating the city's 171st birthday, highlighted by a special performance by Grammy-winning vocalist, producer Steve Tyrell. Former Mayor Bob Lanier will join fellow Houstonians Jeff Bagwell, Charles Duncan, Zina Garrison and the late federal Judge James DeAnda as inductees. Noted artist Rick Lowe will receive the 2007 Spirit of Houston Award.
In their honor and to celebrate the city's birthday, a "Five Stars Over Houston" gala dinner will take place on August 28, 2007, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston beginning at 6:30 pm.
"Each of our honorees is a bright star in their own right," said Mayor White. "From sports to business, to government, to the arts, they are a constellation of the spirit that makes Houston shine. Each has contributed to the prestige and well-being of Houston in their own way and we're proud to honor them as a significant part of our city's history."
The following Houstonians will be inducted to the Houston Hall of Fame:
Mayor Bob Lanier was one of the most popular Mayors in Houston's history. Texas Monthly Magazine named him one of the three top Texas mayors of the 20 th Century. Lanier served as Chairman of the Texas Highway Department and Chairman of Houston Metro. He was a founding member of and continues to be a supporter of the Houston Community College system. He and his wife Elyse, live in Houston as do their seven children and 11 grandchildren.
The late federal Judge James DeAnda, t hrough his associations with the American GI Forum, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, DeAnda became involved in landmark cases dealing with discrimination in the public education system in Texas. DeAnda became only the second Mexican-American named to the federal bench, when President Jimmy Carter appointed him in 1979. He died at the age of 81 in 2006.
Zina Garrison rose to the highest levels in professional tennis in a career that spanned 15 seasons, eventually earning a No. 4 world ranking. She won 14 career singles titles and 20 doubles titles and was a women's doubles gold medalist at the 1988 Olympic Games. She heads the Zina Garrison Foundation, which provides funds and support for the homeless, youth organizations, anti-drug groups and other charitable organizations.
Charles Duncan, Jr., was a member of the class of 1947 at Rice University, where the namesake Anne and Charles Duncan Hall was constructed in 1996. Duncan served as U.S. Secretary of Energy from 1979 to 1981. He previously served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense. He is treasurer and director of The Methodist Hospital, serves on the Texas National Research Laboratory Commission and continues to be actively involved with other civic, charitable and corporate organizations.
Jeff Bagwell retired this year from an all-star 15-year career as a Houston Astro. Along with teammate, Craig Biggio, Bagwell led the Astros to four division titles and the team's first National League pennant in 2005. Bagwell remains active in the community. In January of this year, the Jeff Bagwell Foundation made a $25,000 contribution to help the Coalition for the Homeless "Rapid Rehousing" program in Houston.
Rick Lowe is the founder of Project Row Houses, an arts and cultural community located in a historically significant and culturally charged neighborhood in Houston. As an award-winning artist, Rick has exhibited his work and lectured around the world, has served as artists in residence at a number of universities and has been involved in numerous Houston community organizations and projects.
The Houston Hall of Fame is replete with Houstonians who have played key roles on the national and international scene, including heart surgery pioneers Michael DeBakey and Denton Cooley, the late U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, former Secretary of State James A. Baker, boxing champ and entrepreneur George Foreman, NBA great Clyde Drexler, former Continental Airlines Chairman Gordon Bethune, Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton, Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane, and others. Last year's inductees were the late Dominique and John De Menil, Louis M. Pearce, Jr., Ed Wulfe and Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard of the rock band ZZ Top.
Former television anchor Shara Fryer will serve as the event's Master of Ceremonies. Council member Carol Alvarado, District I, will serve as the event chair. For ticket information please call 713.722.7444.
