2022 Men of Honor

ONYX Foundation Executive Director Laura Dorsey, scholars Samuel Washington and Naythaniel Nicolas, Linda Braynen, ONYX Co-founder Lester Seays, Reginald Black, scholars Daniel Banks and Zavier Avera.

ONYX MAGAZINE HONORED 22 OF FLORIDA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL BLACK MEN at MEN OF HONOR

THE MAN OF THE YEAR IS DR. GEORGE TINSLEY, A CENTRAL FLORIDA PIONEER IN BLACK BUSINESS OWNERSHIP AND SIX-TIME HALL OF FAMER.

In its 25th year of celebrating Black achievement, ONYX Magazine hosted the third Men of Honor (MOH), along with Founding Partner Orlando Health and Presenting Sponsor VyStar Credit Union. The internationally recognized event applauded 22 of Florida’s most impactful and influential Black men during an awards celebration on Saturday, September 10, 2022, at 5 p.m. at the beautiful Rosen Centre Hotel, Orlando.

The event paid tribute to the tireless contributions of Black men throughout the state. ONYX Magazine’s honorees have achieved many feats while making a pivotal change in their professions and persevering against many odds. ONYX Magazine was excited to collaborate with its sponsors to present these stalwart leaders at the helm of businesses known for national and international success.

“We felt there was a need to celebrate African-American males, those who do the heavy lifting--they are the unsung heroes,” said ONYX Magazine Publisher Rich Black. “There are a lot of guys who need to be recognized; they would never be written about and we would never hear the positives without Men of Honor. This event has grown since 2019, and with the help of (Orange County) Mayor Jerry Demings, it has grown to nearly a 500-600-seat event.”

This year, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings served as honorary chair. Demings has been a solid backer of MOH since its inception in 2019 and received the distinction of Man of the Year in 2021. During the event, Mayor Demings draped the honorees in their red-sashed medallions that bear the engraving 'ONYX Magazine’s Man of Honor.' "Through the leadership and vision of our honorees, they are actively transforming their communities and professions to benefit future generations," said Demings. "I am honored to be this year's honorary chair and I applaud Mr. Rich Black and ONYX Magazine for recognizing these men."

ONYX Magazine’s Men of Honor gave a special Man of the Year salute to George Tinsley, the president and CEO of Tinsley Family Concessions, Inc., a six-time Hall of Famer, and former American Basketball Association (ABA) player. Known for his humility and business prowess, Tinsley also is a sought-after speaker and motivational coach.

“My seventh-grade schoolteacher was the one who looked at me and said, ‘You could be some-

The 2022 Men of Honor encouraged young men (top row) before the dinner.

Rich Black and the Honorable Curt Hollingsworth are interviewed by a Bahamian news team, ZNS Bahamas. Publisher Rich Black, Man of the Year George Tinsley, International Man of Honor the Honorable Curt Hollingsworth, and Men of Honor Vanguard Award Recipient Yves Bolanga.

The Men of Honor don their medallions.

one,’” Tinsley said. “I feel that I have no other choice but to give back.”

MOH also recognized Curt Hollingsworth as the International Man of Honor. A former educator, Hollingsworth is now the Bahamas Consul General, Miami. In his profession, Hollingsworth is best known for his ability to transform leaders and build organizations.

“It’s a privilege and a humbling experience because it’s something that I never really anticipated or expected,” said His Excellency Hollingsworth. “I worked with kids all of my life and never looked back for anything. I believe the good that you do for others you do unto yourself, without looking for any recognition.”

Two other award highlights include the Publisher’s Award, presented to Paul Snead, the founding president of the 100 Black Men of Greater Orlando; and the Rich Black Vanguard Award, presented to Yves Bollanga, the president of AFRO TV.

Punctuating the importance of education, the ONYX Foundation launched two scholarships provided by Orlando Health during the event. Four young men and one young woman received the Reginald Alexander Maycock Black & Everett Braynen Business & Hope Scholarship and the Lester Seays Achievement Scholarship for their show of academic promise at high schools, colleges, and universities in Florida. The Hope Scholarship honors Publisher Rich Black’s father and uncle. The late Reginald Black and his wife, the late Udell T. Black, were the proprietors of the first Black-owned restaurant in downtown Orlando in the 1960s. The late Braynen and his wife, Linda Y. Braynen, were real estate entrepreneurs in Fort Pierce. Linda Braynen still operates the businesses. The Achievement Scholarship honors an ONYX Magazine co-founder who served as a coach and athletic director in Orlando after a stint in the NFL. Seays and his wife, the late Lillian Seays, founded ONYX Magazine.

Hosts for the evening were Spectrum News 13 Investigative Reporter Curtis McCloud and WKMG News 6 Reporter Jerry Askin, who both received surprise honors.

The 2022 MOH team leaders are Publisher Rich Black, Chair Deidre Parker, the president of Parker Realty Group, Co-chair Nancy Port Schwalb, the president of Schwalb Public Relations, and the WOTM Committee. Partners and sponsors include: Founding Partner Orlando Health; Presenting Sponsor VyStar Credit Union; Reception Sponsor Bahamas Ministry of Tourism; Program Sponsor Mercedes-Benz of Maitland; and Event Sponsors Orlando Commissioner Regina I. Hill-District 5, Orlando Utilities Commission, AFRO TV, Encore, Rosen Centre, Serenity Village Insurance and Consulting, Bahamasair, Disney Dreamers Academy, Universal Studios Orlando, Patty Mason Accounting, and Parker Realty Group.