[00:00:10]
ARE DOING PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS AT THIS POINT. AND WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH A PRAYER AND A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO I'M GOING TO ASK IF YOU WOULD PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE. AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE, PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. GRACIOUS AND LOVING GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THIS WONDERFUL CITY, FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY, AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TODAY. AND A SPECIAL BLESSING ON OUR THIRD THROUGH FIFTH GRADERS FROM BLANCHETT TODAY. AND FOR THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO AND AND FOR THE FUTURE THAT THEY HAVE. AND IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THEM HERE. AND, LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH US THIS DAY IN THIS COMING WEEK AND HELP US BE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'D HAVE US BE. IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. YOU MAY BE SEATED. TODAY WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION AND
[PROCLAMATIONS]
TWO PROCLAMATIONS. AND WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, THE GROUP, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATIONS. YOU CAN TAKE PICTURES AND SOMEONE FROM THE GROUP. WE WOULD INVITE YOU TO SPEAK AT THE PODIUM. AND IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE PERSON THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, FEEL FREE TO DO THAT. FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FROM MISTER JD APPLETON, PRESIDENT CEO OF THE PRO FOOTBALL CAPITOL MUSEUM FOUNDATION. GOOD MORNING. I'M SORRY. MY PHONE. IS OVER. YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME. COUNCIL AND MAYOR. THIS IS TO GIVE YOU ALL A PRESENTATION, A THANK YOU. WHAT YOU DID LAST YEAR. THE FIRST GALA EVENT IN 54 YEARS. DECLARING THAT BEAUMONT WAS THE FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.AND IT IS. SO I'LL READ THIS REAL QUICKLY. AND THEN IF YOU GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES TO EXPOUND THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD MUSEUM FOUNDATION, THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS WHO STAND WITH OUR LEGENDS AND INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL DID LAST YEAR. CITY MANAGER KEN WILLIAMS, HE SAW THE VISION AS I PAINTED HIM.
THE MAYOR SAW THE VISION AND THE MEETING WITH HIM, AND I WANT TO THANK THEM, THE COUNCIL, FOR DOING THAT. AND YOU ALL HAVE ALSO STEPPED UP FOR 2026, AND IT IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY THE 11TH, THIS YEAR OF 2026. NOW I WANT EACH OF YOU ALL TO SAY SOMETHING. I'M GOING TO SAY IT FIRST, BUT I WANT EVERYBODY HERE TO SAY THE SAME THING. THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD MUSEUM. THAT'S EVERYBODY. GOT IT? YEAH, WE GOT IT. LET'S GO. WE GOT IT. THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN BEAUMONT, DOWNTOWN BEAUMONT.
AND IT'S GOING TO GENERATE REVENUES. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ABOUT HERE. BUT REVENUE FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AND WHAT WE CAN DO NOW, I MIGHT DO. DO ONE THING IF I HAVE THE LEEWAY. YES, SIR. GO AHEAD. THE MAYOR WROTE A LETTER. PHENOMENAL LETTER. LET ME GET IT TO YOU, PLEASE. I WANT TO GET SOMEBODY ELSE. ARE YOU GOOD? YES, SIR. LETTER THAT I MUST READ IT. AND I DIDN'T BRING IT. GIVE ME THAT LONG. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I WANT TO ALSO THANK PEOPLE WHO CAME TO TO SUPPORT US AND OTHERS TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
AND I MUST READ THIS. AND THIS IS DATED OCTOBER 23RD, 2025. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO OFFER THIS LETTER OF AFFIRMATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, AND IN MY CAPACITY AS MAYOR, IN SUPPORT OF MISTER JD APPLING AND THE PROFESSION OF BEAUMONT PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAPITAL FOUNDATION. MISTER ALLEN'S VISION AND CONTINUED LEADERSHIP IN ESTABLISHING A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN BEAUMONT, AS WELL AS CREATING AN ANNUAL PRO FOOTBALL WEEKEND EVENT, ARE COMMENDABLE EFFORTS THAT ALIGN WITH OUR CITY'S
[00:05:06]
GOALS AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT. DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION, AND COMMUNITY PRIDE. THESE INITIATIVES NOT ONLY CELEBRATE BEAUMONT'S SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL HISTORY, BUT ALSO OFFER EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL VISIBILITY FOR OUR CITY. MAYOR, I THANK YOU FOR THAT. VERY APPROPRIATE AND IN CLOSING, TO SHOW YOU HOW CRAZY I AM. YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID, CALL THE HOUSTON, TEXAS.I AIN'T, I AIN'T. SO CALLED HOUSTON, TEXAS. SO NO DOCTOR, ME AND MY WIFE KNOW ME. GUESS WHAT I DID IN TEXAS? AND I CALLED THEM AND I TOLD THEM, I SAID, DO YOU ALL REALIZE THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO YOU? SHE SAID, OH, NO. I SAID, THANK YOU FOR. BUT I TALKED TO THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THANK YOU, COUNCIL. I THANK YOU, BROTHER KEN WILLIAMS, FOR YOUR VISION, FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. ALL OF YOU ALL. I APPRECIATE IT, BUT I GOT A SHIRT FOR Y'ALL, TOO. WELL, WE GOT TO GET A PICTURE WITH YOU. YES, I GOT SHIRTS FOR EVERYBODY. AND THESE ARE COMMEMORATIVE SHIRTS. ONLY THE FIRST ONE. WE COME OUT WITH A NEW VERSION THIS YEAR, BUT I GOT ONE AND TEN. I EVEN GOT ONE FOR YOU, MAN. BUT HERE YOU ARE.
SO YOU CHOOSE WHO? YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU WANT THOSE, IF I MAY, I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THEY GOT ME ON AT THE. YOU'RE BUSY. GIVE THESE TO YOU AND I'M GOING TO GO OVER THERE. BUT I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. OUR VISION IS A MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN BEAUMONT, TEXAS THAT WOULD GENERATE REVENUE AND HELP BUILD A HOTEL DOWNTOWN THAT Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO PUSH FOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL COME UP HERE, PICK HIM UP. ANYBODY ELSE TO COME UP WITH YOU FOR THE PICTURE? DO YOU WANT ANYBODY ELSE TO COME UP? YES. YES. AND THOSE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE AND FRED, ANTOINE AND THE GUYS WHO CAME UP WITH ME. PLEASE, PEOPLE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, JUST THEM. THAT OKAY, MAN? YEAH. STAND WITH ME, PLEASE. AND THAT'S IT. COME ON.
SHE HAD LAST YEAR. SHE'S CLEARED A SCHOLARSHIP. I CAN'T NAME IT NOW, BUT SHE'S CREATED A SCHOLARSHIP FOR US. OKAY. COME ON, COME ON. AND ALSO. SHE'S OUR CONSULTANT. WE CAN HAVE SOME PEOPLE COME ON THIS SIDE. YEAH. A LITTLE BIT. OKAY. RIGHT HERE. ONE. TWO. THREE.
OKAY, I GOT IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YES. I. MIGHT TAKE THAT. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT. THERE ARE MORE T SHIRTS. I'LL COME BACK. WE'LL GO BACK THERE. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AS THE NATIONAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH. ACCEPTING WILL BE MISTER ROGER, CHERYL BISD PARTNER WITH 100 BLACK MEN OF GREATER BEAUMONT, MRS. APRIL JOHNSTON, PRINCIPAL OF BLANCHETTE ELEMENTARY, AND STUDENTS REPRESENTING BLANCHETTE ELEMENTARY FROM THREE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH IS ALSO THIRD GRADE THROUGH FIFTH GRADE. THE NATIONAL ELEMENTARY HONOR SOCIETY, THE ENGINEERING GROUP AND STUDENT COUNCIL. AND WE ARE SO GLAD THAT Y'ALL ARE HERE. SO Y'ALL ALL NEED TO COME FORWARD. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU WANT. AND ALL THE ALL THE MEN FROM 100 BLACK MEN AS WELL COME UP. GOOD MORNING AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION. IT IS TRULY
[00:10:03]
AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED BY CITY COUNCIL. I BELIEVE THIS IS OUR FIFTH YEAR COMING, BRINGING OUR STUDENT COUNCIL, OUR NATIONAL ELEMENTARY HONOR SOCIETY, AND NOW OUR BLANCHETT ENGINEERS JUST SO THEY CAN SEE, GET A GOOD REAL WORLD EXAMPLE OF HOW CITY GOVERNMENT WORKS.SO WE'RE TRULY HONORED FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP, AND I WANT TO GIVE THE MIC TO MR. SORRELL, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FIELD TRIP. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO OUR 100 BLACK MEN FOR THEIR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH BLANCHETT ELEMENTARY. COME ON UP, MRS. RUSSELL. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT PROCLAMATION TO BLANCHETT ELEMENTARY. I THANK THE 100 BLACK MEN FOR BEING HERE. AND WE PARTNERED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THESE ARE MY KIDS THAT I TAKE SO MUCH TIME, FIVE YEARS AS A VOLUNTEER AT BLANCHETT ELEMENTARY. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR THINKING ABOUT US. I KNOW I COULD CALL ON Y'ALL WHEN I NEED YOU, BUT IT'S ALL BECAUSE THE 100 BLACK MEN OF GREATER BEAUMONT PARTNERING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIT Y'ALL. ALL RIGHT. CAN EVERYBODY SEE ME? ALL RIGHT.
YOU LOOK GOOD. ONE. TWO. THREE. THAT'S A GOOD LOOKING GROUP. OKAY, I GET ONE REAL QUICK. ALL RIGHT? OKAY. THANK Y'ALL. Y'ALL. BREEDING TOMORROW AT 1045. YEAH. HEY. THANK Y'ALL. YES, SIR.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK. YES, SIR. ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALRIGHT. WHAT'S UP COUSIN.
ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT. HOW ARE YOU? THERE YOU GO. ARE YOU DOING ALRIGHT? YEAH. REALLY. AND NOW WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH. ACCEPTING AND BRINGING EVERYBODY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE WOULD BE MISS AVA LEBLANC, CTE COORDINATOR OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, AND DOCTOR DONNA PRUDHOMME, DIRECTOR OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR BEAUMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE 2026 A REGION FOUR ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR.
DO YOU WANT TO COME RECEIVE? IT AND THEN COME BACK AROUND HERE? NO, YOU JUST WALK AROUND AND OH, GOTCHA. AND THEN. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. YES, MA'AM.
CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YES. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. LIKE THE BLAZERS TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU FOR BEING GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, GOOD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YES, SIR. GOOD MORNING. MAYOR WEST CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF. FEBRUARY IS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH, AND TODAY WE PROUDLY CELEBRATE THE IMPACT OF CTE IN BEAUMONT ISD, WHERE STUDENTS GAIN REAL WORLD SKILLS TO PREPARE THEM FOR COLLEGE CAREERS AND MILITARY SERVICE. THANKS TO THE
[00:15:04]
DEDICATION OF OUR CTE TEACHERS, STAFF AND STUDENTS, BEAUMONT ISD CTE HAS REACHED AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE. OUR INDUSTRY BASED CERTIFICATION ATTAINMENT NOW MATCHES THE STATE OF TEXAS AT 35%. EVEN MORE NOTABLY, CTE EXCEEDS THE STATE AVERAGE IN LEVEL ONE AND LEVEL TWO CERTIFICATIONS, ACHIEVING 8.1% COMPARED TO THE STATE'S 1.1%. THESE RESULTS REFLECT STRONG PARTNERSHIPS, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, AND A SHARED COMMITMENT TO STUDENT SUCCESS. THANK YOU TO OUR CTE EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR THE WORK YOU DO EVERY DAY. HAPPY CTE MONTH AND THANK YOU FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT. THANK. BEAUMONT ISD IS CELEBRATING A MAJOR NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR, DOCTOR DONNA PRUDHOMME HAS BEEN NAMED THE 2026 NATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR BY THE ASSOCIATION FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION. THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE AT THE ACT NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, IN DECEMBER. RIGHT? YEAH. SO CONGRATULATIONS. THIS RECOGNITION REFLECTS DOCTOR PRUDHOMME'S LEADERSHIP IN EXPANDING CTE OPPORTUNITIES, STRENGTHENING INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS, AND CREATING INNOVATIVE PATHWAYS FOR BISD STUDENTS. UNDER HER DIRECTION, THE DISTRICT HAS ADVANCED PROGRAMS THAT OPEN ACCESS TO CAREER FOCUSED LEARNING, SUPPORT, TEACHER GROWTH, AND ENHANCED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. DOCTOR. DOCTOR PRUDHOMME IS A RESPECTED LEADER WITHIN REGION FOUR AND A LONGTIME ADVOCATE FOR HIGH QUALITY CTE, CONTINUES TO ELEVATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND EMPOWER EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE. HER COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION, PROGRAM EXCELLENCE, AND STUDENT SUCCESS HAS EARNED HER ADMIRATION THROUGHOUT THE CTE COMMUNITY. AS ACTS NATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR, DOCTOR PRUDHOMME JOINS AN ELITE GROUP OF LEADERS WHOSE WORK SHAPES THE FUTURE OF CTE NATIONWIDE. THE CTE ADVISORY COUNCIL WANTS TO RECOGNIZE DOCTOR PRUD'HOMMES ACHIEVEMENT AS WE CELEBRATE CTE MONTH.THANK YOU. SO PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU. CAN WE GET A PICTURE? YEAH. HERE. ONE. TWO. THREE. SO THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.