UTSA's Richard Gambitta honored at Juneteenth awards dinner

(June 23, 2004)--Richard Gambitta, director of the UTSA Institute of Law and Public Affairs and chair of the Department of Political Science and Geography, was one of two recipients June 17 of the Frederick Douglass Emancipator Award at the sixth annual Juneteenth Freedom Dinner at the Menger Hotel in downtown San Antonio.

"This award is associated with the initiation of an African American Studies Minor at UTSA, which many people assisted in creating," said Gambitta. "My thanks go to Dean Dan Gelo, Provost Guy Bailey, President Ricardo Romo and many faculty including Gaye Okoh, Bill Mullen, Fred Williams, Richard Lewis, Rodolfo Rosales, Gary Houston and many others. The award is a sign that the community is appreciative of this collective initiative at UTSA."

Pictured from left are Gambitta and Fred Williams, UTSA adjunct faculty member and Northwest Vista College professor. Williams shared master-of-ceremonies duties at the event with Kathy Clay Little, editor of African-American Reflections.

The other Douglass award recipient was the San Antonio chapter of 100 Black Men of America. Other honorees were Aaronetta Pierce, Nettie Hinton, Claudette Leis and Leo Edwards.

Juneteenth, which is celebrated nationwide June 19, is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery. It commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement.

The annual San Antonio dinner, sponsored by local newspaper African-American Reflections, honors individuals who reflect the extraordinary traits of Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass as they work to make a difference.

--Stephanie Mota