by S. Rotan Hale
The Annual Dinner of Champions sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Virginia and West Virginia is a major fundraiser that also serves to advance awareness and encourage support for those living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
The well-attended black-tie affair, now in its 32nd year, was held at Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center Thursday, June 22, 2023. This year’s honorees were Nathaniel L. Bishop, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Carilion Clinic and Senior Associate Dean, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Virginia Tech School of Medicine; pastors, Dr. George C. Anderson, Senior Pastor, Second Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Dr. William L. Lee, Retired Pastor, Loudon Avenue Christian Church.
MS affects approximately 1 million people in the US and over 2.3 million individuals worldwide. Although significant progress has been made in research and development regarding treatment, unfortunately, there presently is no cure.
Founded in 1972, The Dinner of Champions was first held locally in 1991 and has raised more than $3.3 million. Reportedly, this year the organization has raised $196,700.
Because MS is a disease of the central nervous system the keynote speaker was Carilion Clinic neurosurgeon Dr. Carlos A. Mora, who spoke about the latest research and treatments regarding the disease. Mora, unable to attend the event, delivered his message via video over two large screens as attendees dined.
Prominent area minister Rev. Edward T. Burton, Pastor Emeritus, Sweet Union Baptist Church delivered the invocation after which he and Rev. Archie Richmond, a presiding AME Church elder from Blacksburg, were recognized as two of the community’s senior-most religious leaders.
“Our honorees are leaders who have dedicated their lives to building bridges in the communities in which they live and serve while seeking solutions to societal challenges on local, state, and national levels,” said event committee member James Smith introducing three extensive videos that highlighted the accomplishments of the honorees.
The videos featured images and testimonies from a multitude of friends, co-workers, and family who laid out in a most complementary fashion all the qualities and achievements that prove each honoree as worthy of the honor bestowed to them – hailed as “Champions” by the organization.
“MS is an unpredictable, often crippling disease and the MS Society has taken magnificent strides to move us closer to a world free of this disease,” said Senator Tim Kaine in a previously recorded statement that also saluted the three honorees.
“These three leaders (Anderson, Bishop, and Lee) in the span of their careers have bridged many divides and they undoubtedly will continue to work on behalf of Roanokers and our friends facing MS. Congratulations George, NL, Bill, and all of you, thank you for the key work you’re doing and much success in 2023,” Kaine added.
Several who spoke praised Rev. Lee for among other things, his ability as a mediator whether he was at church, the VA Medical Center as chaplain, or his position at New Horizons Health Care which he founded in the basement of Loudon Ave. Christian Church where he pastored for 39 years. Additionally, Rev. Lee was a federal mediator for 20 years at 7 hospitals throughout Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Dallas, TX.
Those who spoke in support of Rev. George Anderson talked at length about his brilliance, his passion for teaching, his calm, collaborative demeanor, and his dedicated involvement regarding Second Presbyterian Church at which he has pastored since 1998.
“George is a very intelligent person and I needed his mind,” said Rev. Lee via video. “I met him at a time when I needed someone to keep my mind stimulated.
Rev. Anderson recently helped to lead efforts to raise over $1.7 million to renovate two shelter houses for community members in need. The funds also supported two other Presbyterian projects as well as a non-profit clinic in the Dominican Republic.
Nathaniel Bishop’s story is one rich with levels of accomplishment. His indomitable spirit and tenacity pushed him through the ranks of greatness from a humble beginning as the first African American police officer in Christiansburg.
Shifting careers to long-term medical care administration he became executive director at Burrell Nursing Center in Roanoke and later vice-president at Carilion’s Community Hospital. Bishop rose to become president of Jefferson College of Health Sciences from 2010 to 2019 when he was named Carilion’s first Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and senior vice president.
“First impression of NL was this tall handsome man who was walking down the hall of Burrell Hospital and I was struck by his presence,” said Nancy Agee, president, and CEO of Carilion Clinic. “It was very apparent how everyone admired and respected him.”
In his statement Mayor Sherman Lea described Bishop as “very knowledgeable, carries himself extremely well, and gets along with everybody. He’s an individual with tremendous intellect but open and willing to talk – very approachable.”
Mayor Lea also gave Bishop credit for enhancing city-wide vaccine success during the pandemic and commended him for his ability to engage people in the many boards and committees he sits on encouraging members to work together.
In a rare moment, Bill Lee became slightly emotional as he reflected on when he was asked to speak at the graduation ceremony at Jefferson College during Bishop’s presidency.
“When I walked into that auditorium and saw NL dressed as a president, Whooh, (Lee sighed), that was the moment, and I knew then the legacy. Not because he was the first Black in that position with his picture on the wall but I knew his heart and his spirit was in his mission.”
Adding a personal touch to the celebration, one chosen child of each honoree led a toast in honor of their respective fathers who shortly thereafter delivered closing remarks of gratitude after each received the coveted Frank N. Callan Silver Cup of Hope Award.
During acceptance remarks, Rev. Lee lifted his family and church members as major supporters. He referenced Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech and the classic line, “I’ve been to the mountaintop.” Urging everyone to stand, he encouraged the crowd to applaud the prospect of curing MS.
After thanking his family and all responsible for the night’s recognition, Rev. Anderson gave special credit to his parents who were civil rights advocates themselves in the deep South during the 50s through the 70s.
“I really believe that the best that I am and what I think is really important in ministry and life is an inheritance from my parents,” he said. This gathering tonight represents what is strong and wonderful about this valley,” he said in a speech-turned-sermon that lifted the night to even greater heights.
Last but in no way least, NL Bishop approached the podium and after thanking a host of family and other supporters he christened the night with a touching story of being the administrator of a retirement facility and his “great relationship” with the residents.
The story centered around his collaboration playing with an organist who as a stroke victim could only use one hand yet with his help, together they made music one afternoon.
“After agreeing to play one day I watched as she continued with one hand. I sat down beside her and soon with tears in both our eyes, I thought about her being White and my being Black, ebony, and ivory touched the ebony and ivory (organ keys) and for just a few moments a good bridge and a good difference was made,” he recalled. “We made music to the amazement and smiles of all those around the facility and I do believe God smiled too.”
Rev. Bill Lee, Dr. George Anderson, and Nathaniel Bishop are men who have led extraordinary lives of accomplishment. Their lives have and will continue to enrich and inspire the countless lives of those around them, their families, the community, and the National MS Society – a vital organization that appropriately celebrates them as the true “Champions they are.”
