Lubbock Celebrates With Own Inaugural Ball
By: Julie Musgrave
Updated: January 22, 2009
For the folks not able to make the trip to DC, Lubbock held it's own inauguration ball Tuesday night.
The 'New Birth of Freedom' themed-ball has folks celebrating the new administration right here in the Hub City. Nearly 600 folks in attendance, a strong turnout for Lubbock's first Inaugural Ball.
Celia Edom, attendee: "I would have loved to go to DC, but I thank god that Lubbock has played a part in it.
Felicita Torrez, attendee: "I couldn't make it to where it all happens, but I feel like it will happen again tonight and we'll have the unity of the whole community."
Folks not able to get to DC need not go far...
Bryan Wheeler, attendee: "I wanted to be able to tell my children and grandchildren that I took part in the festivities in some way or another."
It may not be the official inaugural ball, but these folks dressed to the nines in Lubbock are celebrating just the same.
Edom: "Let my hair down, to just think about, to let it soak in that a change has come for all of us."
The idea for the ball was born right after the election by the Juneteenth Celebration Committee. Organizers say they weren't quite sure what to expect.
Bennie Jordan, event organizer: "We were thinking that it would be nice to have one because we didn't know of anyone that had ever had one before."
But the entertainment list filled up, tickets sold out, and history was made.
Wheeler: "Dr. King suggested that this would happen in forty years and here we are almost forty years to the date, and it's happened."
Jordan: "Hopefully in four more years we'll do another one but if we do it will have to be in a larger building."
Half of the proceeds from tonight's ticket sales will benefit the Juneteenth Scholarship Fund.
