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Deltas of Las Vegas pay tribute to Dr. William H. “Bob” Bailey and Anna Bailey

November 17, 2011 by  
Filed under Feature

With Las Vegas trailblazers Bob and Anna Bailey selected as 2011 honorees, the Las Vegas chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority will host the second annual Tribute Awards on Nov. 5-6 at the Aliante Hotel and Casino.

Bob and Anna Bailey will be honored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority this month.

Founded in 1913 by 22 women at historically black Howard University, Delta Sigma Theta prides itself as an organization holding fast to its founding values: serving the community by combining the resources, drive and charitable spirit of a unique sisterhood.

“The Tribute Awards are a fundraising outreach for our non-profit sorority,” explained Ellen Brown, general chairperson of the event. “The money raised assists us with providing programs to help disadvantaged youth with scholarships, administer programs to assist victims of domestic violence and [help provide] mental health programming — just to mention a few.”

The 2011 Tribute Awards will begin Nov. 5, with a brunch served at 11 a.m. The following day’s events, which include the awards ceremony and an evening of entertainment, kick off at 4 p.m. with a red carpet reception.

Last year’s Tribute Awards honoree, legendary entertainer Bubba Knight, is also playing a central role in this year’s ceremony: alongside his wife Kathleen, herself a Delta, he will co-produce the entertainment portion of the show.

“In the past year, our sorority has hosted many events, and we wanted to do an event that offered something new, different and fresh,” said Brown. “As the appointed chairperson … it was important to establish a signature event for the community and incorporate the entertainment Las Vegas is best known for. Last year was our first event, and everyone really had a great time. This year … it will be no exception. We will continue to present the best entertainers — such as Clint Holmes, Marlena Shaw and special appearances by Bubba Knight and many others — to pay tribute to longtime entertainers and community pioneers Bob and Anna Bailey.

Widely regarded as a key figure in modern Nevada history, Dr. William H. “Bob” Bailey arrived in Las Vegas in 1955 along with his wife, Anna, a performer in the Moulin Rouge Hotel & Casino stage production. When the show ended after just six months, the Baileys decided to stay in Las Vegas.

While attending Morehouse College, Bob befriended a fellow student named Martin Luther King Jr., whom he would later help convince to make an appearance in Las Vegas to rally against injustice. With those connections, it was only natural that he would become a pioneering member of the Nevada Equal Rights Commission, a post that put him at the forefront of the state’s civil rights movement.

Members of the Las Vegas chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

The first African-American in the state to host his own television show, Bob won even wider recognition as Nevada’s first African-American presidential appointee. He would go on to form companies focused on assisting minorities with the establishment of their own businesses. His new book, “Finding My Voice in Las Vegas,” will be available at the event.
Anna Bailey became part of history as the first African-American showgirl on the Las Vegas Strip, and one of the original dancers at the historic Moulin Rouge. A respected businesswoman who created a number of local jobs, she is a charter member of the Las Vegas chapter of the Links and other women’s organizations dedicated to serving the community.

For Tribute Awards ticket information, call (702) 490-5822.

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