BUSINESS CONNECTIONS Houston
Community News & Business Reports
Published By Houston Highlights Publishing, L.L.C. Proudly Serving The Houston Community Since 1998
• Email: news@houstonbusinessconnections.com • FEBRUARY 2006
Get to know Alfred “Al” Bennett
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District 146 may be up for grabs as well-known Father, Husband, and local businessman seeks to take over seat held by Edwards. Businessman Alfred H. Bennett recently announced he is a “Serious Candidate” for State Representative, District 146 – the seat currently held by Al Edwards. Bennett from his Law Offices located in Houston’s historic Third Ward area, told Houston Business Al and Tanyel Bennett with their two children.
Please see ALFRED “AL” BENNETT, P.20
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FCC spokesperson says nothing in records at this time regarding sale of KCOH 1430AM DETAILS ON PAGE • 11
REMARKABLE RECORD
A Special Message for Houstonians
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The time is now for change in District 147
“Big” George sued for $50 million (Houston)- Former boxing champion George Foreman along with an international law firm are being sued for $50 million. The plaintiffs are alleging they were hired to launch a line of George Foreman Foreman steaks, and that Foreman and the international law firm have defrauded them. GreatMeals USA Inc., filed the lawsuit recently in Superior Court and the claims include, fraud, breach of contract and interference with contract against Foreman. The other parties being sued along with Foreman are Traurig LLP and John C. Kirkland who is a partner in the law firm. GreatMeals USA Inc., is a Washington, D.C.-based company and is claiming to have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to reach a $37 million licensing deal with the Home Shopping Network to only have Foreman refuse to do any promotions. The company says this caused the entire deal to collapse. Foreman also has filed a lawsuit of his own recently. According to published reports, Foreman, who had a profit sharing deal to act as spokesperson for a company bearing his name, contends the company introduced products under his name, which he did not approve. The company, George Foreman Foods filed for bankruptcy in November 2003.
From: Cheryl Y. Armitige Candidate For State Representative District 147
METRO bus operator Charlie Kennedy is seen here holding his certificate signed by recently re-elected Houston Mayor Bill White.
Champion Operator Honored At Recent Metro Board Meeting If you ride METRO routes 5 taken first place in 2003 in Las Vegas. Kashmere Gardens/Southmore or 77 To honor Kennedy’s accomplishLiberty/MLK, chances are ment METRO has assigned good that you have met him his own bus, which bears champion bus operator his signature and a sign on the Charlie Kennedy. side of the vehicle. A METRO operator for METRO’s President and 15 years, Kennedy took CEO Frank Wilson second place in the recent acknowledged Kennedy’s International Bus Roadeo most recent accolade in Dallas – beating out 68 recently at a meeting of the Wilson other top-notch operators Board of Directors and prefrom around the country sented him with a certificate and Canada. To get to Dallas, signed by Houston Mayor Bill White. Kennedy won first place in the local While most of us were busy preparcompetition. This is the second time Kennedy has stood on the winner’s Please see KENNEDY, P.3 podium at the international level having
As in many Districts the new frontier for District 147 is Economic and Business Development. Yet, as experienced by other Districts we must maintain the integrity of our neighborhoods and the quality of life people both desire and deserve. Our community, schools, and health care services need resources. Preventative Please see CHERYL ARMITIGE, P.6
INDEX Publisher’s Message.............................................2 NABA presents second installment of $60,000 pledge to Howard University’s Center for Accounting Education ...........................................4 PBS series to trace Black family trees through genealogy, DNA analysis, to premier in Feb. .......5 It’s Getting Lonelier At The Top ............................7 Thomas, Thomas & Thomas, P.C. Named Emerging 10 Winner .............................................8 Seven Ways to Get a Jump Start on Your Taxes...................................................................12 Bennett, Edwards,and Miles’ “Feature Race” poll results and see what people are saying ............14
Cheryl Thompson Draper resigns as Port of Houston official Houston Business Connections Reports (Houston)-Cheryl Thompson-Draper has denied making the derogatory remark she was accused of making at a May 2005 International Association of Ports and Harbors convention in Shanghai.
Thompson-Draper claims she resigned because the accusation would hurt the commission’s ability to carry out port business. Jim Edmonds the Port Authority Chairman who claims he heard Thompson-Draper refer to the perform-
ance of a band at the Shanghai convention as “jungle bunny music,” was urging the resignation of his fellow commission member. Thompson-Draper was first appointed a Commissioner of the Port of Houston Authority by a unanimous vote of Harris
County Commissioners Court in June of 2000. All Port Commissioners serve the public without being monetarily compensated. Thompson-Draper was only the Please see THOMPSON-DRAPER, P.20
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