The Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Program is pleased to announce community leaders, Joe Penland and Walter Umphrey, will be honored at Champagne & Ribs on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at Cowboy Harley-Davidson. Featuring a cowboy theme, “True Grit,” the “Party of the Year” will be chaired by Jim and Tom Broussard and will benefit the “Gift of Life” Prostate Cancer Program.
Along with his wife, Linda, a breast cancer survivor, Penland is an avid supporter of the “Gift of Life,” establishing the Linda and Joe Penland Free Mammogram Fund in 2007 to provide hundreds of free mammograms for medically underserved women. Serving as Honorary Chairs of Champagne and Ribs for five years, the Penlands are also dedicated in the fight against prostate cancer and spreading the message that “early detection is the best protection.”
In 1974, Penland formed Quality Mat Company, Inc., to provide temporary roads and work surfaces for construction sites. Guided by Penland’s philosophy of having “quality in all we do,” the company, now the largest mat producer in the world, is committed to providing customers with best service available while producing innovative new products and construction techniques.
A “Gift of Life” Advisory Board member and recipient of the 2006 Julie Rogers “Spirit of Love” Award, Penland is president of the 100 Club of Southeast Texas and a major contributor to Girls Haven, The Jefferson County Grandparents Association and the Desire Street Ministries. Partnering with Regina Rogers, Penland co-founded the Southeast Texas Emergency Relief Fund to help disaster victims re-establish their lives following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike.
An annual sponsor of “Gift of Life” breast and prostate cancer initiatives, Walter Umphrey provides unparalleled support to important civic and community causes, ranging from cancer screening to education to conservation.
Umphrey, “the heart and soul” of the Provost Umphrey Law Firm, received a Juris Doctorate degree from Baylor Law School in 1965 and joined the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office as a prosecuting attorney, ultimately becoming Chief Felony Prosecutor. Board certified in the areas of Personal Injury Trial Law and Labor & Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Umphrey has numerous legal affiliations, including the Port Arthur Bar Association, Jefferson County Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice, among others.
Additionally, Umphrey has been recognized for his contributions to the legal community by countless organizations, including receiving the prestigious Blackstone Award from the Jefferson County Bar Association and being named one of the top lawyers of the 20th century by Texas Lawyer’s “Legal Legends: A Century of Texas Law and Lawyering.”.
Since 2000, the “Gift of Life” Program has conducted over 6,000 free prostate cancer screenings and helped extend the lives of more than 50 men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer and provided access to treatment. Additionally, the organization conducts educational outreach presentations that discuss critical prostate cancer issues and provide valuable tips for preventative care. The proceeds generated through the fundraising efforts of Champagne & Ribs further the “Gift of Life” mission and enable the program to continue the deliverance of these lifesaving services in Southeast Texas.
For more information about Champagne & Ribs, please call the “Gift of Life” at (409) 833-3663.
