
By Gilbert Hoffman
The North Channel Chamber of Commerce held their 42nd Annual Membership & Awards Gala last Thursday night. The event was held for the first time at a new beautiful venue, the Sylvan Beach Pavilion in Deer Park.
A crowd of several hundred enjoyed dinner, a silent auction, and chamber awards. A new board of directors was sworn in, and Chairman Shalonda Dawkins retired and Dr. John Moore was sworn in as the Chairman of the Board.
The featured speaker for the evening was Texans star quarterback Deshaun Watson, but he almost didn’t make an appearance. After agreeing to Gala, he learned later that he had been chosen to play in the Pro Bowl football game, and would have to be in Orlando, Florida for the whole week, including the day of the Gala. However, Ronny Dwairy of Bestway Oilfield company made arrangements to fly Watson to Houston for the Gala, and then return him the same evening. Needless to say, it added some excitement to the evening.
Watson was his usual low-key and quiet self, but answered a number of questions from Dwairy and the audience as the format for his appearance.
Watson gave a brief talk about his life and previous football career. As one of four children to a single mother, he led a simple and sparse life, centered on family, faith, and football. The audience was impressed with his sincerity and simplicity. He made the point several times in his talk that “I live my life from Love. I’m a man of faith.”