It was an evening of surprises as well as accolades Jan. 29 as a sold-out crowd gathered to honor the Rev. Hezekiah Stewart at the Embassy Suites.
The event, Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Rev. Hezekiah D. Stewart Jr., had a two-part fundraising goal. The first was to help the Progressive League of College Station build a ballfield. The second was to finance a new kitchen for Watershed. Officially known as Watershed Human and Community Development Agency, Watershed was founded by Stewart in 1978. In those 38 years, the organization has fed an estimated 3 million people.
The first surprise came from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who announced that a $241,000 grant from Arkansas Parks and Recreation would go toward building the ballpark in College Station.
The governor praised Stewart for his work, saying that what the minister represented was hope, "the tangible hope of a better life right here."
The next surprise came from Ed Nicholson with Tyson Foods, who said the company would donate $100,000 toward a new kitchen for Watershed, and that the Tyson family privately would give another $100,000.
Entergy Chief Executive Officer Hugh McDonald, who co-chaired the event with former Little Rock Mayor Lottie Shackelford, told the honoree the donations were "an expression of our love for you."
He told guests that the goal of this fundraising campaign was $450,000, but as of that evening they had raised $945,000, enough to build the park and the kitchen, with leftover money placed in escrow for maintenance.
Speakers included Bettye Jackson, Judge Barry Hyde, Dexter Doyne and Jerry Maulden, plus a video from former President Bill Clinton. In response to praise from the speakers and presenters Stewart said, "There was no way for Watershed to fail with so many people telling God about us."
-- Story and photos by Cary Jenkins
High Profile on 02/07/2016