The Arlington Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Begins Jan. 16
Former Mayor Elzie Odom is Keynote Speaker at MLK Banquet

The Arlington 2004 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration begins Jan. 16. Former Arlington Mayor Elzie Odom will be the keynote speaker at the Jan. 16 "Sharing the Dream" Banquet. Odom served the city as mayor from May 1997 to 2003. He has more than 14 years in public service in Arlington as a city councilmember and planning and zoning commissioner.

Every year since 1990, the "Sharing the Dream" Banquet has drawn people of all ages and diverse ethnic backgrounds. The banquet is the kickoff event and will feature the Sam Houston High School Choir and Step By Step Dance.

During the banquet, scholarships will be awarded to the winners of the Martin Luther King Jr. art and essay contests. Winning essay writer Lacy Cook, a Martin High School Senior, will read her essay entitled: "It Was Only a Dream, But It Woke Up The World." Tickets to the banquet are now on sale at any Arlington public library or by calling the Star-Telegram Customer Service Office at 817-548-5400.

The "Sharing the Dream" banquet is followed by three days of citywide celebrations, which will include workshops for youth, a step show, multicultural festival, worship service and musical extravaganza. The Chair of the MLK Celebration is Robert Phanelson, a student development and education services counselor at Tarrant County College in Arlington.