The 2014 Buttimer Awards Dinner was filled with excitement, recognitions and talk of recommitment to the principals of democratic involvement that have made America great. The Buttimer Dinner is the Chatham County Democratic Committee’s Annual Fundraiser. The Honorary Co-Chairs for this year’s event were Robert E. James, President of Carver State Bank, and Attorney James B. Blackburn.
The keynote speaker was the Democratic Party’s nominee for Governor, State Senator Jason Carter who excited the crowd with his vision for a better Georgia that would not be competing for the worst employment rate or the worst school system, but the best. He touted his priorities for Georgia: protecting education; an economy that works for everyone; and an honest government.
The crowd stood and enthusiastically applauded when Carter thanked Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson and Alderman Van Johnson for the calming, courageous and heroic leadership they are providing the people of Savannah in the aftermath of the shooting of 29-year-old Charles Smith by Metropolitan Police Officer David Jannot on Thursday, September 18, during an attempted arrest on outstanding criminal warrants. Throughout the evening, Jackson, Johnson, and Pastor Matthew
The honorees for the evening were Chatham County commissioner Tony Center; former member of the Chatham County Board of Elections Monifa Johnson; and former District Attorney Larry Chisolm. Johnson received the Arthur Gignilliat Public Service Award, Chisolm – the Mathews Yellow Dog Democrat Award and Center, the Patrick “Toby” Buttimer Award. The Democrats also honored deceased former Mayor Floyd Adams, Jr. with a touching video tribute.
During their acceptance remarks, each of the recipients held the attention of the audience with well-conceived statements of appreciations for individuals and institutions that contributed to their success.
Attorney Larry Chisolm saluted his parents who were in attendance and recalled the impact that an encouraging letter from former U. S. Senator and former Georgia Secretary of State Max Cleland had on his life and career. Chisolm encouraged the room of community leaders to help and encourage young people as he was helped and encouraged.
Monifa Johnson was global in her praise for the many individuals who have guided and assisted her throughout her long
Commissioner Tony Center, who chaired the Chatham County Democratic Committee from 2009-2012, received the Patrick “Toby” Buttimer Award and presented a moving tribute to his family and others who inspired his involvement in politics, government, public service and the Democratic Party. After thanking State Senator Lester Jackson, who served as his presenter during the ceremony, and a host of Democratic Leaders for their involvement in the dinner and the Chatham County Democratic Committee, Center continued his remarks by praising his Mother, Miriam, his brother, Scott, and his father, former City Alderman Leo Center. The awardee also praised salute “My lady April,” as a true liberal who keeps his compass focused.
Center continued, “I am especially honored because I was told that this year,
Then, Center was passionate in his praise of Mayor Jackson and Alderman Van Johnson in their response to the community’s cry for a complete and fair investigation of the shooting by a Metro Police Officer of a Black man in West Savannah during an arrest attempt. Center also praised Pastor Matthew Southall Brown, Sr. for calling the ministers together and preaching calm.
Center praised Chatham County Commission Chair Al Scott. He said, “Chatham County got it right when we elected Al County Chair.”
Center continued to analyze the former recipients of the Buttimer Awards. He said that there are two husband-wife
“This year we also have the very first parent child awardees. My dad, Leo Center, who served with three different Democratic mayors, won the 2003 Arthur Gignilliat award.” My father, Leo, was the fairest man I ever met. He stood up for the underdog and championed equal rights.
It is very easy to tell you why I am a Democrat. Of course I start with my parents. My mother, Miriam, worked with Judge Eugene Gadsden, W. W. Law and supported Shirley Chisholm for President of the United States.
Center asked, “How can one not want to be a member of the party that protects those who need protection or how can one not want to be a member of the party that continually wants to raise the bar, not only to what man can achieve, but just as importantly from the bottom up?” Center quoted President Franklin Roosevelt: “The test of our progress is not whether we add
“How can one not want to be a member of the party believes all members of society deserve a quality education? How can one not want to be a member of the party that believes all members of society should have access to adequate medical care? How can one not want to be a member of the party that believes all people, regardless of gender, deserve equal pay for equal work? How can one not want to be a member of the party that believes two people who are in love, regardless of gender, may live together as they want to live?”
The 2014 Patrick “Toby” Buttimer Award recipient said that has lived through two momentous political movements. The Vietnam War changed the average citizen’s perception of government. What was once trusted fell to the bottom of the public relations barrel. But the movement that affected me the most, and still does, is the Civil Rights Movement. I grew up in a segregated society when there were two waiting
“How could one not be affected by video of people being blown off their feet by high powered fire hoses and pictures of police dogs straining at leashes, snarling against those who simply wanted to be treated with the dignity of a man?”
“It was a Democrat – Lyndon Baines Johnson – who signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and, in an event that no other major industrial country has accomplished – not Canada, not Great Britain, not Spain, and not even France, it was a Democrat who broke the racial barrier on being elected the top political office, and President Obama won that nomination in a very close primary race against a woman,” he proclaimed.
“These are the reasons I am proud to be a member of the Democratic Party. To receive an award from the party that shares these beliefs is an honor. I thank the members of the Chatham County Democratic Committee for awarding me this honor.”