Sharita Kyles Wilson is a native Missourian. Her multi-faceted career journey began shortly after graduating with Bachelor’s Degrees in Speech & Drama Secondary Education and Speech Communication from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She obtained her first teaching job at her high school alma mater (Berkeley Senior High) in St. Louis. After teaching for several years, Sharita decided to return to M.U. to obtain a Master’s degree in Speech Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations.

Completion of that Master’s degree lead to another stop in her career journey: entertainment public relations. This amazing opportunity was presented to her by her brother (comic-actor Cedric “The Entertainer”) as his career was on the rise. While handling Cedric’s publicity needs, Sharita also created her own company, Impressive Publicity and co-founded The Cedric The Entertainer Charitable Foundation, Inc. (CTECF). With a mission of “Reaching Out & Giving Back” to the St. Louis community, CTECF has been encouraging academic excellence and educational travel through its Scholarship and Entourage programs for the last ten years.

Her passion to serve and support youth and families brought Sharita back to Columbia, MO in 2000. Since then she has taught public speaking and media relations at the University of Missouri and worked as a Family Support Specialist for ParentLink—all while wearing the title of executive director of CTECF. After several years of juggling all of the above, Sharita made the choice to preside over the foundation on a full-time basis. She considers it a labor of love to provide hope and tangible support to young people in the St. Louis area though the foundation’s Scholarship and Entourage programs. Future plans for the foundation include expanding its outreach beyond Missouri to the national level by continuing partnerships with organizations such as the United Negro College Fund.

Rosetta Boyce Kyles

Rosetta Boyce Kyles earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. She received a Master of Arts in Education from Southeast Missouri State University.

Mrs. Kyles was also certified as a Reading Specialist through completion of extensive study and training from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the University of Illinois in Champaign–Urbana. Mrs. Kyles is currently retired from the Ferguson-Florissant School District. She held the position as a Reading Recovery Teacher Leader and served 32 years as an educator.

She remains an advocate for the reading education of young children. She believes that, “Every child across this nation has the right to be taught the fundamentals of reading and writing.” Mrs. Kyles has worked with the Cedric The Entertainer Charitable Foundation, Inc. for several years. She supports the mission and focus of the foundation to provide higher learning opportunities through travel and scholarships. She is proud and honored to serve as a member of the board of the Cedric The Entertainer Charitable Foundation, Inc.

In a career spanning 20+ years at Mathews-Dickey, Barbara A. Washington has initiated numerous youth programs and raised millions of dollars to support them. As Vice President of public relations and special events, Washington is the official Club spokesperson and directs and manages communications with the Club’s key audiences, including members and parents; staff; volunteers and alumni; corporate sponsors; funding institutions, such as the United Way of Greater St. Louis; community leaders; and the general public. She manages and directs a professionally skilled volunteer force of hundreds, who assist with fund-raising and program development. She is a Certified Special Events Professional and former president of the International Special Events Society (ISES) Missouri Chapter.

The acclaimed vocalist is well-versed in Gospel, country, adult contemporary and patriotic music. In 2004, Washington released “Calvary Lord,” a gospel CD to establish a scholarship foundation for the organization’s “The Sky is the Limit” career-readiness program. The campaign goal is to raise $40,000 for scholarships through the sale of the CD at $20 each, with the proceeds to be announced at Washington’s 50th Birthday gathering on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2005.

William B. Green is a native of St. Louis, Missouri where he completed his early education through the public school system. He received his Bachelor and Masters in Education from Central Missouri State University. Mr. Green taught at the high school level for six years before embarking upon a career in Finance.

He began this career at Equitable Life in 1976. A promotion to Agency Manager moved him to Louisville, Kentucky in 1981. Two years later he relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana to assume leadership of a larger agency. The year 1991 yielded another promotion and move-this time to his hometown of St. Louis.

Currently, he is semi-retired spending most of his time on the golf course and servicing his clients. Mr. Green volunteers in the RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) and the Mentor St. Louis Program for which he received the Mentor-Of-The-Year Award in 2002.

He is a long time board member of the Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club. He and his wife Josie are members of West Side Missionary Baptist Church.

Deborah Tansil Graham is a native St. Louisan. She has served the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) as Area Director for the Missouri/Kansas region for 6 years where she spearheads fundraising efforts that provide scholarships to minority students and
supports the 39 UNCF member schools that are all historically black colleges and universities. Under her leadership, over $4.5 million has been raised in this region to provide access to a college education for thousands of young people. Previously, Deborah held positions of Director of Alumni Relations at Fontbonne University; served as Director of Student Activities for Maryville and St. Louis Universities; and served as Manager of Public Events/Programs at the Missouri Botanical Garden, where, under her leadership, the annual Japanese Festival was voted one of the top 100 events in North America. For six years, she operated her own fundraising and special events firm, DTG Events Group.

Deborah received her bachelor’s degree in Communications from Maryville College (now Maryville University) and is a graduate of the CORO Women in Leadership Program and FOCUS Leadership St. Louis. She has served in various volunteer capacities including Boards of the Cedric “The Entertainer” Charitable Foundation, the Maryville University Alumni Association, and Citizens Review Panel for the Regional Arts Commission. Deborah has received professional recognition from Maryville University – Alumni Professional Achievement Award; St. Louis Public Schools – Preeminence Award, Role Model Experiences Program; Smithsonian Institution - Minority Museum Professionals Award for Outstanding Achievement; and Annie Malone Children and Family Services – Advocate for Children. She is also an accomplished pianist and a member of the Washington Metropolitan AME Zion Church, where she sings with the Inspirational-Gospel Choir and is a Class Leader.

Cheryl is President and General Counsel of Obasi Enterprises, LLC, her real estate development company, and serves as Of Counsel with Bryan Cave LLP, an international law firm. She is a committed community volunteer as exemplified through her service as a member of the Board of Curators of the University of Missouri System, a member of the Board of Commissioners of Tower Grove Park and a member of the Board of Directors of the Cedric "The Entertainer" Charitable Foundation, Newberry Group, United Way of Greater St. Louis and St. Louis Venture Partners.

Cheryl is also a published poet inspired by the spirits of love, victory, jazz, blues, and hip-hop. Her works have been published in Break Word With The World (Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville), Drumvoices Revue (Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville), Eyeball Magazine (First Civilizations, Inc.), Mischief, Caprice and other Poetic Strategies (Red Hen Press), St. Louis Muse (Vaughn Cultural Center) and When the Lions Roar (Washington University). Cheryl’s husband, Thomas, and her son, Kamau, provide her the love, support and energy necessary for her to enjoy her career, our community and the arts.

Larry D. Richardson

Larry D. Richardson is currently with the investment firm AG Edwards as a Financial Consultant and Vice President-Investments. AG Edwards is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Larry has his office in the firm’s Frontenac Branch located west of downtown at 10369 Clayton Rd.

Larry D. Richardson has been securities licensed since 1983. Most of his time, approximately 20 years, has been with AG Edwards. Larry D. Richardson is civic, charitable, and community minded and has been involved with numerous organizations in the St. Louis Metropolitan area.

Currently, Richardson is on the boards of the Cedric The Entertainer Charitable Foundation, Inc., United Negro College Fund, Peoples Health Centers, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company, and Investment Advisory Board of the YWCA of St. Louis.

Richardson has his Bachelor of Science-Business Degree from Washington University-St. Louis and a Masters Business Administration degree from Webster University-St. Louis. Larry is married and he and his wife, Janice reside in North County, St. Louis in Florissant, Missouri.



Freeman Bosley Jr.

Mr. Freeman R. Bosley, Jr., is a native St. Louisan, was the first African-American to be elected to the office of Mayor of the City of St. Louis. He served as mayor from September 1993 to April 1997. As the City of St. Louis’ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bosley was responsible for oversight of a multi-million dollar annual budget and over 6,000 employees. Under his leadership, the City of St. Louis attracted $200 million dollars in new housing development.

In September of 1997, Mr. Bosley joined the law firm of Caldwell Hughes and Singleton as Counsel. He helped build their personal injury practice and established a strong base of corporate clients in the area of construction, real estate and public advocacy.

In May of 2004, Mr. Bosley started Bosley & Associates, a law firm which offers a broad range of services. The firm’s client base consists of business, municipal agencies and individuals. The main areas of concentration include Corporate Counsel, Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury, Public Finance and Employment Discrimination.

Freeman R. Bosley Jr. holds degrees in Political Science and Urban Affairs from St. Louis University and graduated from St. Louis University School of Law in 1979. Mr. Bosley resides in North St. Louis and has a 14-year-old daughter named Sydney.

Eric C. Rhone

Mr. Eric C. Rhone is a genuine, business savvy “Powerhouse.” As a seventeen-year entrepreneurial veteran, Mr. Rhone uses a keen sense of insight and a high level of integrity as tools to make multi-million dollar business decisions.

As President and CEO of Visions Management Group, Inc., as well as A Bird and A Bear Entertainment LLC and C&E Investment Group, Inc., Mr. Eric Rhone is directly responsible for managing the careers of many nationally known artists, including the successful comedian and actor Cedric "The Entertainer". Through the firm, A Bird and A Bear Entertainment LLC, he inked a multi-year, multi-million dollar production deal with MGM studios in 2004. In the summer of 2005, Rhone produced the New Line Studios Film “The Cleaner”, starring Cedric "The Entertainer", Lucy Liu, and Nicholette Sheridan. In the Fall of 2004, Mr. Rhone produced the much anticipated Paramount film “Honeymooners.” He also produced the very successful Fox-Searchlight film “Johnson Family Vacation” in 2003. Mr. Rhone will produce the films “Mr. Lucky,” in addition to “Flash” and “Preachin’ Ain’t Easy,” both films created by Mr. Eric Rhone, through A Bird and A Bear Entertainment LLC. Mr. Rhone made his debut as a television show producer on Fox Television’s hit show “Cedric The Entertainer Presents,” which premiered Fall 2002.

Through his firm, Visions Management Group, Inc., Mr. Eric Rhone has sealed the deal on projects such as the phenomenally successful “Kings of Comedy Tour,” as well as the “The Original Kings of Comedy” film. He has negotiated multi-million dollar sponsorship deals with McDonald’s, Nike, and Anheuser-Busch, which includes award winning Super Bowl television ads for Bud Light.

Mr. Eric C. Rhone is a politically astute entrepreneur and consultant. He has been awarded many honors and awards due to his stellar achievements. To his credit, Mr. Rhone was featured on the cover of the August 2000 issue of Money Magazine, which labeled him as a business savvy…“Millionaire in the Making.” Most recently he was named the 2005 State of Missouri Entrepreneur of the Year, as well as an Influential Business Leader by the St. Louis Business Journal.

Mr. Rhone obtained his bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Lindenwood University. He currently sits on several local and national boards for education, film production, and community awareness.