The Concerned Citizens of Lufkin, Inc. hosted the 11th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Awards Banquet, Sunday, January 18, 2009, 6:00 p.m. at the HOPE Center of North Lufkin. 

The guests at the 11th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Awards Banquet were treated to a mock debate by the of Wiley College Debate Team,  the institution depicted in the movie version of the Great Debaters starring Denzel Washington. The banquet hosted by Concerned Citizens of Lufkin, Inc. honored Community Awards recipients George Harris and Billy Daniels, as well as Dunbar Hall of Honor recipients Larry Keglar and Linda Pendland, cousin of Chris Draft and Executive Director of H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Excel) Center of North Lufkin.

Executive Director Pat Sims and Director of Special Events Rose Draft attended the banquet. Sims gave a short speech highlighting the mission and initiatives of the Foundation which was followed by the showing of the Chris Draft Family Foundation Great Debaters video highlighting the Foundation’s St. Louis event.