On September 20, 1986, Bill Nelson (William H. Nelson, Jr.) received the Kuchling Humanitarian Award (then known as the Black Tie Dinner Humanitarian Award) from the Dallas Black Tie Dinner, the largest annual fundraising event in the City of Dallas. The following is the written text of his acceptance speech that evening before an audience of approximately 500 guests.
“Thank you.”
William H. Nelson, Jr., in 1986
This unedited transcript of Nelson’s speech that night is not posted here for humor only. In fact it has been often quoted by subsequent Kuchling Award recipients because it was such a clear statement of the basic humility of one of the greatest “movers and shakers” in the history of the Dallas LGBT community. His skills of oratory could capture the attention of thousands, literally, in public demonstrations, especially during the AIDS crisis in Dallas, making his simple “speech” at the 1986 Black Tie Dinner in Dallas all the more memorable decades later. Much additional information is readily available on the life and times of Bill Nelson, both on this website, and in the Portal to Texas History curated by the University of North Texas.