Roy Flegenheimer (Co-Chair), State Senator Royce West (Honoree), Dennis Eichelbaum (Co-Chair)
Brotherhood Shalom Award Dinner Honors State Senator Royce West
On February 9th, Co-chairs Roy Flegenheimer, Dennis Eichelbaum and the Temple Shalom Brotherhood honored State Senator Royce West with its Shalom Award. The award recognized Senator West’s many years of public service to our community, his leadership on initiatives promoting educational opportunity and excellence, his passion for protecting the disenfranchised and his advocacy for public safety and criminal justice. The award plaque’s language concludes with the following statement, “We salute your integrity, your diplomacy and your commitment.” Senator West was the thirteenth recipient of the Shalom Award. Recent past winners include: Mary Pat Higgins, Executive Director and President of the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education & Tolerance; The Reverend Dr. Neil G. Thomas of the Cathedral of Hope; and former State Supreme Court Justice Douglas Lang.
Cocktail hour with Eric Wills’ piano accompaniment set the mood as attendees participated in a silent auction and 50/50 Raffle. After dinner, the main program began emceed by event Co-chair Dennis Eichelbaum. Welcoming remarks were given by Temple Shalom Brotherhood President Steve Weintraub, Temple Shalom President Rodney Schlosser and Senior Rabbi Andrew Paley.
The evening was filled with humor celebrating Senator West’s life and career with family friends and colleagues sharing stories and humorous anecdotes while recognizing many of Senator West’s accomplishments. Speakers included DISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa, The Honorable Ron Kirk, Domingo Garcia, Michael Gruber, CEO/Scout Executive Sam Thompson of the Circle 10 Council of the Boy Scouts of America and many members of the West Family. Multi-media and videos accompanied some of the remarks.
Everyone attending had a wonderful time enjoying the evening while recognizing Senator West’s many accomplishments. Co-beneficiaries of the Shalom Award along with Temple Shalom Brotherhood were the Bishop Arts Theatre Center and the Circle Ten Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Brotherhood President Steve Weintraub characterized this event best when he compared State Senator West’s career and the Brotherhood’s mission as both being youth-centric and geared toward building a better future for our community, thus making this an evening that was meant to be.