Salute to The HistoryMakers (Chicago 2004)

On Saturday, March 13, 2004, sixty HistoryMakers, their guests and two hundred others attended the Chicago Salute to The HistoryMakers in the Red Lacquer Room of the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. The event, sponsored by the Hilton Hotels Corporation, featured music and entertainment from Everett Greene and the Robert Irving III Trio.

The Chicago Salute to The HistoryMakers marked the first of a series of events in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, California where HistoryMakers were honored and presented with The HistoryMakers award. Designer and sculptor Preston Jackson was on hand for the event. McDonald’s Corporation served as the awards sponsor.

HistoryMaker Harry Porterfield served as Master of Ceremonies and Gerhard E. Seibert, General Manager of the Palmer House Hilton and Vice President of Midwest Hilton Hotels, opened the evening up by welcoming all to the event. Seibert acknowledged Ken Price, Director of Public Relations from the Palmer House Hilton, for his role in introducing The HistoryMakers to the Hilton Hotels Corporation five years ago. The Reverend Willie Barrow blessed the dinner before leading a moment of silence for those HistoryMakers who had passed away. Numerous individuals spoke on ways in which they have supported The HistoryMakers through corporate and individual giving and donations, and stressed the importance of preserving African American history. Speakers included: Floyd Pitts, Senior Director of Diversity Programs for Hilton Hotels, Patricia Andrews-Keenan, Vice President of Communications for Comcast, Deborah Thomas, Senior Vice President of Northern Trust Bank, National Advisory Board Member Sharon Morrow and Vicky Free of McDonald’s Corporation.