Odessans honored at banquet

Dr. Madhava Agusala began his life worlds away in India. But the cardiologist was perhaps the proudest Odessan in the room Thursday night, beaming on stage as narrator Renee Henderson Earls retraced his journey to the Permian Basin and described him as a “shining example of philanthropy and giving back.”

“I’m very honored to be here,” Agusala said before the start of the 26th Annual Community Awards presentation at the MCM Grandé Hotel Fundome. “I just don’t want to leave this place. I always appreciate West Texas hospitality.”

Agusala and 12 others formed an All-Star cast of Odessans who received Community Statesman awards presented by the Heritage of Odessa Foundation. Four others were recognized as distinguished former Odessans.

State District Judge Denn Whalen, who accepted the distinction in the category of law, told an audience of about 500 people that this year’s recipients had at least one thing in common in that they either grew up and chose to stay in Odessa or landed here “by design.”

“We all know you don’t come to Odessa by accident,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a boom time or a bust time — we’ve all experienced those — Odessans always persevere and they continue to move forward."

Whalen said before the event he felt particularly honored to join the ranks of Judge Lucius D. Bunton, who received the same honor in 1984, because it was Bunton who inspired him to study law.

“It’s really kind of humbling to be on the same list as some of the past recipients,” Whalen said.

The event likely featured the youngest recipient yet of the statesman award, Earls said. Eddie Garcia, a news reporter with CBS 7, who at 29 already has 13 years of experience in television, was awarded the distinction for his work in local media.

Many of this year’s recipients said they were thrilled to be chosen for the award but a little uneasy with all the attention.

“I don’t do the things I do for the recognition,” Donald C. Shinn, an Oklahoma City native who moved to Odessa 30 years ago, said of receiving the award for his humanitarian work. “But it’s nice to be recognized.”

“There are so many who don’t broadcast what they do,” added Grace King, the former chair of the Heritage of Odessa Foundation.  

Dressed in their Sunday’s best, people in attendance enjoyed a large spread of chicken, roast and vegetables, and many went back for seconds. The evening was full of laughs, many of them prompted by photographs shown of the recipients as they were much younger.

“Whoa, look at that photo,” Earls said of a portrait of a much younger state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo. “Got some hair there.”