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The Chamber Annual Hometown Heroes Luncheon has truly become the luncheon of the year and it is a very special event. This was the Chamber’s 11th annual Hometown Heroes event and what makes it so special it that the entire Chamber membership, partner cities and elected officials all turn out to pay tribute to some very special people from right here in Northeast Tarrant County. Hosting the event were two very special people with incredible achievements of their own and the Chamber was very lucky to have them as hosts! Tamika Williams Raymond is began her road to success in Dayton, Ohio as the # 1 basketball recruit in the Nation and went on to play at UConn where she won two National Championships. As the sixth pick in the first round to the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, Raymond led her team to three playoff berths and she still holds the record for field goal percentage. She is now the Global Sports Ambassador for the U.S. State Department, and travels worldwide to promote education, women’s empowerment, health and wellness, and sport. Tamika also owns a Nationwide Insurance agency in Fort Worth, Texas. Larry Brown was a two-sport athlete at Los Angeles High School, earning All-City honors in football and track. He attended TCU where he was a starter from his first game, leading the team in pass deflections during his senior season and earning MVP honors in the Blue–Gray Football Classic. He started for the Dallas Cowboys as a rookie and was starting cornerback on all three Dallas Cowboys championship teams of the nineties. In Super Bowl XXX, he became the first cornerback to win the MVP Award and his two interceptions helped lift the Cowboys to their third championship in four seasons. Larry now lives in Northeast Tarrant County with his family and works with at-risk youth through his Larry Brown Foundation. The event honorary Chairman was Texas State Senator Kelly Hancock and he gave a special address to the honorees and guests as well as handed out the hometown hero awards. The American Legion Post 655 presented the colors for the event and Cristie King gave a rousing performance of the National Anthem. Marcia Etie, former Chamber Board Member and longtime Chamber supporter was voted Member of the Month and Rich Haas was selected as Diplomat of the Month (what a dynamic duo!) Thank you to the Hometown Hero event sponsors: Title Sponsor: Allen Samuels Chrysler Dodge Jeep Gold Sponsors: Frost Bank, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, Coors Distributing Company, North Hills Hospital, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst Euless Bedford, and our four partner cities (Haltom City, North Richland Hills, Richland Hills and Watauga). Silver Sponsors: AV Media, BISD, ONCOR, Star-Telegram H Wells Fargo, WrapTX Bronze Sponsors: Atmos Energy, Bates Container, Charter Business, Coca Cola, Cook Children’s Northeast Hospital, Eagle & Wheeler, Emerald Hills Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, Floor & Décor, Iron Horse Golf Course, Omni American Bank, Pinnacle Bank, NRH Centre, Republic Services, Sweet Memories Catering & Cakes, The Rockaway Company Returning Veteran and Fallen Soldier Sponsor: Five Star Ford Tribute Sponsor: Legend Bank Décor Sponsors: Simply Elegant Weddings, Dynamic Business Solutions Medal Sponsors: American National Bank of Texas, ID Life, Simons Agency, LLC, Nationwide Insurance-The Raymond Agency Caterer: TCP Catering Photography: Cos DeLeo - Smiley’s Studio Event Program: Awards: All About Recognition Signage: WrapTX The 2014 Hometown Heroes and their Sponsoring Organizations: Birdville Independent School District - Erin Powell, Michelle Rudolph, Pam Bandy City of North Richland Hills - Dianne Spradling, Rhonda & Malyn Bannister, Christi Garcia Arts Council Northeast - Fonda Martin United Way Tarrant County - Charles Powell, James Powell American Cancer Society - Janet Kibler North Texas SNAP, Inc. - Paula Baker Tarrant County College Northeast Campus - Dr. Paula Vastine City of Richland Hills - Kirk Hamm, David Ragan, Ruby Dillon Northeast Richland Lions Club - David Hall North Hills Hospital - Dorie Bennett Keller Independent School District - Jesus Mendoza Lakewood Village Christian Care Center - Hal Myers The Clubhouse for Special Needs, Inc. - Kent Hopkins City of Haltom City - Duane Buuck, Terry Waters, Sandra Lottes The Joseph Storehouse - Kassidy Gerstenkorn I Can Still Shine, Inc. - Jill Young Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford - Jessica Oliver Covenant Christian Academy - Margaret Cunningham Community Enrichment Center - Randy Moresi City of Watauga - Sharon Reis, Andrew Ivey, Robert Hunze, Benjamin Goodman American Legion Post #655 - William Deal Returning Veteran - Petty Officer, 2nd Class Preston Larrew Fallen Soldier - Sergeant Lance Craig Springer II See all the Hometown Hero Event photos HERE!