WS Chronicle

Photo by Timothy Ramsey

Avery B. Hall Sr. of Winston-Salem accepts his Rhythms of Triumph award for his work in the community.

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY 

FOR THE CHRONICLE

Many national figures are honored for their contributions to the community but those on the local level some-times do not receive their just due.

In honor of local leaders, the McDonald’s owners of the Triad led by notable community leader and McDonald’s owner James “Smitty” Smith and his son Adrian, along with Entercom Radio, held the Rhythms of Triumph awards on Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Greensboro Coliseum. Three awardees were selected from Greensboro, Winston Salem and High Point.

The Winston-Salem nominee was Avery B. Hall Sr., who is senior vice president and business banking manager at Wells Fargo and former All-American football player at Appalachian State University.  Hall is also a member of the Rotary Club of Kernersville, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church.

When asked what this award meant to him Hall said, “It means a lot because to be recognized for the things you do in the community is an honor and a pleasure. Also to be associated with two quality companies like McDonalds and Entercom, from the quality food that McDonald’s serves to the genres of music that Entercom delivers, it’s just nice to be associated with companies like this.”

The Greensboro nominee was Maurice “Mo” Green who has been superintendent of the Guilford County School system since 2008. Green holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics and a law degree, both from Duke University. Green has received numerous accolades for his work in the community as well as the exemplary job he has done as superintendent. He has resigned as superintendent to assume leader-ship of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in Winston-Salem. Green has said he expects the transition to occur sometime this coming spring.

The High Point nominee was Angela G. McGill who is currently chief executive officer of the High Point Housing Authority. McGill was born and raised in the city’s public housing and has worked tirelessly to over-come the stigma attached to public housing and its residents.

McGill said, “It doesn’t matter where you come from and if you are raised in public housing, you have a responsibility if you are able to transition out, to reach back and pull others forward. That’s why I enjoy doing what I’m doing at the Housing Authority, because I get a chance to empower lives and build foundations.”

On winning this award McGill said it was a motivator to continue doing what she has been doing and that’s loving her community and doing everything that she can today because tomorrow is not promised.

The late Maya Angelou was honored posthumously as well as an award recipient.

This is the 16th year the ceremony has been held. It acknowledges community leaders who have made a significant difference in their respective communities. According to Smith, 16 years ago people kept bringing him names of individuals in the community that he had never heard of. Once he started investigating these individuals, he found that they were doing tremendous things in the community, so he decided to reach out and recognize the unsung heroes.

He went on to say that the 97.1 WQMG radio station reached out to him and suggested that they bring in some musical entertainment, but he wants the focus to remain on the community and recognizing those individuals who are making a difference with our children, the homeless, and so forth.

In order to find those who are doing great things locally, Smith says they reach out to the community to see who is out there making a difference and then we pick the best of the best.

Slick Rick, Jagged Edge, Jazzmine Sullivan and Keith Sweat were featured in a concert after the awards event.