The Heartland Wichita Black Chamber held their first Black and White Ball on Sat., May 14 at the Wichita Marriott.
The formal program included the induction of three individuals, Robert Alford, Rip Gooch, and Charles McAfee into the inaugural class of the Wichita Black Business Hall of Fame. Members inducted posthumously were Dr. Othello Curry, Xavia Hightower Howard, Henry Wofford and the Jackson Family.
The keynote speaker for the evening was Sidney King, Regional President of Liberty Bank and Trust Kansas/Missouri Region.
Dallas music group Natural Change closed out the evening with soulful sounds that kept people on the dance floor.
(Standing) Christal E. Watson, President and CEO of the Kansas Black Chamber of Commerce, Bernard Knowles, President of the Heartland Wichita Black Chamber of Commerce, with (Seated) Sidney King, Regional President for Liberty Bank and Trust. King was the keynote speaker for the evening, King encouraged the small business owners to advertise and market their business if they want to grow.
(L-R) Atty. Robert Moody and wife Tamara with Lt. Col. Larry Burks and his daughter, Rosalyn, enjoy a glass of wine during the pre-ball reception.
Dr. Rhea Rogers-Knowles and Nisha Weems were among the guests who had a great time during the reception and banquet.
The band, Natural Change from Dallas provided dinner, listening music, and music for dancing after the presentations.
Frankie Mason stands beside a photo of her mother, Xavia Hightower-Howard, who was posthumously inducted into the Kansas Black Business Hall of Fame.
Robert Alford was one of seven community leaders inducted as part of the inaugural class into the Wichita Black Business Hall of Fame.
Dr. Holly Terrell and her husband Terry, along with Kevin Andrews, Vice-President Heartland Wichita Black Chamber, stopped to pose with real estate broker, Shawn Jacobs.
