Olympian Herbert Douglas Jr.’s 95th birthday celebration

The Place: Heinz History Center, Strip District, on March 11.

The Purpose: To celebrate Herbert Douglas Jr.’s 95th birthday during a black tie gala. Mr. Douglas has the distinction of being the oldest living African-American Olympic medalist, winning the bronze medal in the long jump during the 1948 London Olympic games.

The Party: The evening began with a Champagne reception on the second floor where Aura Reinhardt and Tim Schieffelin, Noel Hankin and Sybil Chester presented Mr. Douglas with the Schieffelin Captain’s trophy. Mr. Douglas was an executive at Schieffelin & Co., which is now Moet Hennessy USA. After guests had a chance to get photos with Mr. Douglas, a sit-down dinner was served on the main level. Dave Garnett, the evening’s emcee, welcomed everyone. Robert Hill introduced the party sponsors Randy leTang, president of SG Preston; and Rodney Williams, vice president of Moet Hennessy. Fellow Olympians including two-time gold medalist Roger Kingdom, Charles Jenkins and his son Chip Jenkins, Harrison Dillard, John Carlos, Edwin Moses, Cindy Stringer and Bob Beamon, came to help toast their friend. “This is one of the warmest rooms I have ever been in,” said Mr. Douglas, savoring all the love. “Herb it is wonderful all the things you have done, but just imagine the things you could have accomplished if you had gone to Penn State,” joked Franco Harris. Mr. Douglas graduated from the University of Pittsburgh.

The People: Applauding the roasts, toasts and boasts were History Center director Andy Masich with Deb, Mark Nordenberg, Franco Harris, Cecil and Eric Springer, Barbara Murchison, Dr. Jerome Canady, Charles Wiggins, Evelyn Chester, Sam Black and Bob Lott. —