The Ebony Bar Awards are back and this year will celebrate the accomplishments of Odessa College President Gregory Williams.
The event, put on by the Black Chamber of Commerce of the Permian Basin, is returning after a 2020 year off due to COVID. The event is scheduled 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Odessa Country Club.
BCCO President Chris Walker said the Ebony Bar Awards were originally started as a way of giving kudos to the minority-owned businesses in the community.
“We have different companies, different businessmen and we wanted to do a banquet and an awards ceremony to say that they’ve done a great job and thank them for helping the community and thank them for what they’re doing,” Walker said. “That’s how it came about.”
Now, the Ebony Bar Awards honors influential people in the Permian Basin.
“Dr. (Gregory) Williams has been an influential person in the area, especially with Odessa College and all the things that he’s helped improve and continues to improve,” BCCO Vice President Ray Mann said. “That’s the main basis of the award show, to highlight and recognize the influential figures of the community and in the Permian Basin.”
Because of the pandemic and lockdowns last year, it was decided not to have the Ebony Bar Awards in 2020.
“Pretty much, you couldn’t get a venue,” Walker said of last year. “There was nobody letting you host anything, so then with all the restrictions, it was to the point to where it was not worth taking the risk.”
This year’s awards ceremony was by no means guaranteed, either, especially after the wave of COVID cases a few months ago.
However, because the number of positive cases went down, Walker said it was safe for them to host this year’s ceremony.
“We were hoping the numbers wouldn’t bite us again,” Walker said. “Because for a while there, it looked like everything was going to go up again but then all of sudden, it tapered off and we had already started planning our event and to the point where we planned like we were going to have it, and so far, everything has worked in our favor. Thank goodness.”
Williams has served as president at Odessa College since January 2007.
During his tenure, he has overseen numerous systemic transformations at Odessa College which include a $78 million campus infrastructure improvement project.
Williams serves on a number of local, state and national boards including as Chair-Elect of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, Texas higher Education Coordinating Board’s Formula Funding Committee and the Community College Advisory Group.
Williams and Walker also went to high school together in Odessa, attending Ector High.
“He’s always been a dynamic young man. He’s always been a go-getter and a team player,” Walker said of Williams. “He’s not an outspoken person. He’s a quiet person just like in high school, but he’s always had big plans and great goals. When he became president, I knew OC had a gem and when I took over as president, something that I felt compelled to do was tell him that he’s doing a great job and that we appreciate him.”
If you go
- What: 31st Annual Ebony Bar Awards.
- When: 6 p.m. Nov. 13.
- Where: Odessa Country Club.
- Sponsorship and ticket information: 432-257-2055.
