Celebrating 75 years
Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce Reflecting on the Past to Empower the Future of Black Business By Tyra M. Metoyer and Brandale Mills, Contributing Writer
left to right: HCCC President Eric Lyons and HCCC Board Chair Carroll Robinson Earl Graves, Jack Welch, and Bob Gibson were all born in 1935. Whitney M. Young was a mere teenager when, at the depths of the Great Depression, the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce (HCCC) was founded. The start of World War II (1939) came four years after the HCCC was established in 1935. The second oldest Black Chamber in the United States predates the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King, Jr was six years old and the Civil Rights Act and National Voting Rights Act would not become law for nearly 30 years, yet African-American businesses in Houston had a champion that was dedicated to building a stronger, more vibrant community. The years between 1900 and 1935 are generally known as ‘the golden age of Black business’ because of the rise of African-American entrepreneurs and the strength of Black business during that time. By the time the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce (originally known as the Houston Negro Chamber of Commerce) opened its doors, the founders understood that these entrepreneurs would be battling much more than the discrimination and racism that was expected in the Jim Crow South. The Chamber began 75 years ago with a mission that still guides its vision and the work it undertakes on behalf of july 2010
Black Business. “Economic stability in the AfricanAmerican community is still on the forefront and the HCCC provides the foundation for Black businesses to not only survive, but thrive during these challenging economic times,” HCCC president Eric Lyons said. With much of the nation’s attention focused on the economic state of the country, HCCC keeps the needs of black business owners as its main priority, proving it to be a premier organization focused on the prosperity and growth of Black entrepreneurs. “In 2010, the civil right issue of our time is economic justice,” Lyons said. “The goal is to advocate for black-owned businesses to grow and prosper.” Today, the Chamber remains focused on how to impact and provide advocacy, awareness and access for those businesses. The legacy and vision of the Chamber are not diminished by tough economic times. A foundation established during the Great Depression, together with 75 years of advocacy, awareness and access, position HCCC for growth beyond the glory of bygone days. HCCC Board Chair, Carroll Robinson, said the Chamber’s current role is to ensure the black business community has a foundation to build on, as it strives to move forward and make progress. “As chairman, it’s my responsibility to continue to build on the legacy [of the Chamber] and leave the chamber better than we found it,” Robinson said. “Everybody can experience the benefit of the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce.”
been contributing to the educational anniversary of HCCC’s prestigious Pindreams of students for 34 years. nacle Awards. The Pinnacle Awards honor excellence, tenacity and dedication of entrepreneurialism. The October 8, black-tie gala is themed, “75 years of Excellence, Empowerment and Endurance” and will feature a silent auction and keynote address from The Honorable Alexis Herman, former Secretary of Labor in the Clinton NATIONAL BLACK CHAMBER Administration. As a successful entreOF COMMERCE ANNUAL preneur, activist and community leader, CONFERENCE: As the second oldest Chamber, Herman embodies the spirit of the PinHCCC is excited to celebrate its inaugu- nacle Awards. Nominations in three ral hosting of the National Black Cham- award categories will be available from ber of Commerce’s Annual Conference, July 15 to August 13 at www.hcccpinJuly 22 – 24. This annual meeting will nacleawards.org. Reflecting on the past 75 years gives bring together both fledgling and thrivthe Chamber a time to focus forward to ing businesses, and help them make an even stronger future that secures busicorporate connections while attending ness opportunities for African-American training and networking to grow in these business owners, entrepreneurs and challenging times. This conference will professionals and provides them with positively impact the Houston economy programs and forums to educate, equip and demonstrate the mutually beneficial and empower the growth and prosperity relationships between African American of their businesses. For information or businesses and corporate America. tickets to any of the Chamber’s 75 year PINNACLE AWARDS: events, please call 832-350-4222 or send This year also marks the sixteenth an e-mail to info@hccoc.org.
75 YEARS: THE CELEBRATIONS HISTORIC DEDICATION & GOLF TOURNAMENT: Recently designated by the state of Texas as a Historic Organization, the HCCC will highlight its achievements over the past 75 years at its Historic Marker Dedication ceremony, Sunday, July 18. The Historic Dedication will be followed by the Chamber’s first annual Celebrity Golf Tournament, on July 21, which will raise funds to support the organization’s scholarship fund that has www.
Seated Left to Right: Pinnacle Award Winners: Diedria Joseph, Mrs. Sprinkles, Dr. Ka-Ron Wade, Ted Ellis Middle Row – Left to Right: LaTanye Bruce, William Traylor, Marylyn Harris(Upstart Winner), Deborah Richards (METRO- Advocate Winner), Dannette Davis, Vanessa Reed, Angela Freeman, Vernita Harris, Keith Davis Back Row- Left to Right: Carroll Robinson, Eric Lyons, Sherman Lewis III, Francis Cook, Marlen Whitley, Heath Butler, Laolu Yemitian-Davis Board Members Not pictured: James Donatto, Kenny Enfunpo, Kimberly Williams, Michael Harris
6.