Oldest Black Newspaper Marks 125th Year With Gala For 1,250 Guests

November 19, 2009 6:16 p.m. EST

Philadelphia, PA (AHN) - The Philadelphia Tribune, the nation's oldest and the Greater Philadelphia region's largest newspaper serving the African-American community, will celebrate its 125th year on Saturday with a gala for more than 1,250 people.

Robert W. Bogle, president and CEO of the newspaper, Edward G. Rendell, governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Michael Nutter, mayor of Philadelphia will lead the event to be hosted by Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC program Hardball and the keynote speaker.

The reception at 6 p.m. will be held at the Great Hall of the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Arch Street. Dinner and program starts at 7 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom.

Invited guests are Joseph A. Frick, president and CEO of Independence Blue Cross; David L. Cohen, executive vice president of Comcast Corporation; Robert Archie, Esq., a partner of Duane Morris LLP; Dr. Ivory Nelson, president of Lincoln University; and Michelle Howard-Vital, president of Cheyney University.

As part of its 125th anniversary, the Philadelphia Tribune had unveiled a marker for its founder, Christopher James Perry Sr. aside from holding a worship service commemorating the newspaper's community service, a networking event and reception for historical African-American social clubs and the publication of the 125th Anniversary coffee table book, which highlights major news headlines of the paper's 125-year history.